The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-08
FIREMAN GIBBS 70 Be DISCIPLINED.
He viii Not Trouble the Water Works
for Thirty Days.
Engineer Coffey's Charges Talked
Over by the City Trustees
Last Evening.


brought by Assistant Engineer Coffsy OF
the Water Works against his fireman,
George j. Gibbs.
CofTey had accused Gibbs of sleeping
on his watch for an hour at time. allow
ing the steam to run so low that the
pumps would barely move, insubordi-
nation, the use of vile language, etc.
Before the hearing was half over every
one present who was thoroughly dis
interested in the controVersy-so far as
the personality of the principals was
coneerned-was impressed with the idea
that the interests Of the city would be
best subseryed by lively shaking up in
the Water Works.
The idea of having on duty from mid
night until morning an engineer and
fireman who are red-hot enemies-one
asleep a good portion of the time-who
were constantly quarreling and threaten
ing personal violence, Is condition OF
things that should never have been
allowed.
ct the evidence taken last night
showed that these things have been going
on for year or more. and-latterly at
Ieast-to the knowledge Of one Of the
City Trustees.
Engineer Cofey had no lawyer to help
him manage the prosecution, and if talk
ing were All that would be required of
counsel he didn't need q lawyer, for ne
would have talked all the time ii per-
United 10 do so.
lie went on TO tell about Gibbs various
faults aud negligences, but said it was no
use tor him TO report them TO Chief En-
gineer Wolf, as that official did not seem
TO take much interest IN the matter. He
said there was evidently someone behind
Gibbs who had encouraged the latter to
treat him lCottey) as he had.
Referring 10 Gibbs having gone to
sleep one night on duty. Cofey said he
went 10 the police station and asked Ser
geant Plunkett to go with him and see
the fireman asleep in a chair, with the
steam running down, but PIunkett said
he did not care to get mixed up in the
matter.
Lawyer J. c. Brusie questioned Mr.
Cof1ey on behalf Of Gibbs, and in re-
Spouse COffey said Gibbs had banked up
his fuel several times a night TO the great
loss OF the city. He would have more
clinkers than all the other men com ined.
The last time that he reported to the
Chief Engineer that the water had been
let out Of The blast was since he had filed
the charges against Gibbs. He had re-
peatedly planned of his delinQuencies
10 the chief
Coney denied that he was actuated by
malice toward Gibbs He denied having
ever told Jack Ellis and others that he
was going to keep after Gibbs until he
got him tired.
one morning when Gibbs went to sleep
on watch the steam went down from
slXty-hVe pounds to thirty-five pounds
during the hour he slept Thirty
five pounds IS barely enough to turn the
wneel5 OF the pumps.
Cotey said he had awakened Gibbs fifty
or hundred times and had been so
abused by him for doing so that on the
occasion referred to he did not arouse
him. II ire had occurred at such a
time the tank pressure would not be suf-
ficient TO avert danger.
Trustee Pennish said he could not I'M
derstand why Coffey should allow q fire.
man 10 sleep on his watch without
promptly notifying someone in authority,
Coliey replied that he dare not do so, as
he had been threatened with personal in
Jury if he did anything of the kind,
" hen he accused Gibbs of having
women about there the latter threatened
to break his Jaw. He had repeatedly
gone and tired UP the furnace while Gibbs
slept aud otherwise neglected his duty.
Michael o. Conner, a water work ire
man, VINO was called as a witness, said he
had heard Gibbs acknowledge TO Coffey
that he had slept. He complained to
COuey about the manner in which Gibbs
drew his fire, and when Coffey spoke to
Gibbs about is the latter told Cotfey he
was talking through his hat.
4 young man named George Greene
testified that on the morning of July 18th
Gibbs asked him TO wet down the ashes.
Colley came 10 the spot and told Gibbs he
had been asleep, and Gibbs told him he
WAS 4 d-l. liar and was talking through
his hat.
Cooley said that one night Police Ser
geant Piunkett came to the water works
while GIbUs was asleep and asked to
have tho general fire alarm sounded, as
he had received a telephone message that
chair
Coney also said that City Trustee Kent
had seen Gibbs asleep on his watch, and
Mr.. Kent said 1t was so, but he had not
reported 1t because he was afraid he
would bo accused Of being in a conspiracy
10 Gust Gibbs.
Kent said W hen he dropped in quietly
one night he SAW Gibbs in chair. He
was dead TO the world" and having a
good time. He told some of Gibbs
friends 70 warn him that he should keep
awake il he wanted to hold his Job.
Trustee Davis said that IN that case
Kent had not done his duty in falling to
report the matter 10 the board, as he
should have done.
\. b. Hurd, maehinist, was called as a
witness Tor the defense. One night when
Coney SAYS the steam had been allowed
by Gibbs 10 90 down from sixty-five to
thirty-uve pounds he was there, but did
not notice any diminution in the running
oil the pumps.
CofIey interrupted and said that Hurd
was not present the night that Gibbs
slept and letthe steam go down. It WAS
night or two prior TO that time that Hurd
WAS present
Gibbs himself then made statement
lie said that one night he went to work
about ten minutes after midnight, but be
had an arrangement with the other fire.
man by which one would favor the other
in such cases.
He denied that he went to sleep on the
night of July 18th, IS charged by Coffey.
or that the steam went down to thirty
pounds during his watch. He had heard
that Trustee Kent had visited the Water
Works one night. but denied that he had
ever slept an hour while on watch. He
had dozed off occasionally for few min
utes at time, but never for an hour.
Gibbs further said that Coffey had been
insulting TO him on numerous occasions.
and had inierfered with him in the proper
discharge of his work.
Trustee Davis asked Gibbs if he had
ever broken any machinery while on
DUTY, ana lie replied that onc5 or twice a
Doll hao broken, but that was liable to
happen to anyone
AS TO the time that Gibbs had slept on
duty, Trustee Kent said that on the night
he visited the Water Works Gibbs was
asleep when he went there. and was snor-
ing when he again visited the place sew
euteen minutes later
Another witness was called who testi-
been asleep the latter replied that he was
o d liar.
Chief Engineer Wolf of the Water