The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-05
S40KHR HAYES TRIAL.
The Fire Board Aequits Him Of
Neglect Of Duty-More
Money for Building
Wanted.

John Hayes, stoker of Engine Company
No. 13, detailed to Engine Company No.
3, and Familiarity known in the Fire De-
partment as Buckle Hayes was on
trial last night before he Fire Commits
sioners on charges of neglect of duty.
1t was alleged in the specifications that
in responding to IN alarm for the fire at
Henderson and Fourth streets ON Novem-
Der IA, Hayes neglected to properly ar
range THE harness On the team of the
engine, thereby causing delay in getting
the apparatus to the fire, and that he also
neglected to start the fire In the fire box
before leaving the engine house, as re-
quired by the rules, in consequence of
which the engine, on arriving at the fire,
had not a sufficient head of steam to fur
nish the adequate force of water.
Hayes pleaded not guilty, and several
witnesses were called, and from the evil
dence ELECTED it appeared that at the
time the alarm came in the drivers of the
engine and tender and the engineer were
at dinner, and Hayes and Patrick J..
Rooney, hoseman, were the only men in
the engine house. They hitched the
horses and Hayes mounted the engine to
drive. One of the horses was new, having
been in use by the for two days,
n was not thoroughly broken in, and
being a little obstinate, when the harness
was "cut loose ind fell, jumped to one
side, and it did not land on the animals
back. AT the same instant the doors were
swung open by the same contrivance
which adjusts the harness, and before
Hayes could hold them UT the three
horses plunged ahead and reached the
street before they were stopped. BY this
time the refractory steed, being free from
the harness, turned around either to In
spect the engine or see what Buckle
was about, and put his head where his
tail ought to have been. Driver Thomas
Dillon and Engineer George Dingler ar
rived at this moment, got the horse in
his proper position, adjusted the harness,
took their places and went all right to the
fire.
Dingler soon discovered the fire had not
been started, and on turning from Mer-
Ger street into Henderson, lighted it, and
he says had five pounds of steam on when
arriving at the fire.
Engineer Denmead stated that the OBJ
ject in bringing the charges was to ac-
quaint the Board with the fact that sew
eral accidents of a similar nature nad oc-
u VI at SilAAS tNN
charge. In one particular case he ran
the engine across the street, badly 1nJur-
ing one Of the horses.
At this Hayes jumped up n charged
Denmead with prosecuting him through
jealousy. He was called to order, and
Denmead, facing the Board, declared
ditional charges against the accused, as
he would not allow the insinuation to be
made that he prosecuted any man; al
he wanted of Hayes was to have him do
nc Ld1tfxr likn tho nfhnT man.
Hayes exclaimed, 4 always do my
duty"
In his defense Hayes claimed that it
was no neglect of duty that caused the
trouble with the horse and consequent
delay, it being impossible for him to have
avoided it under the circumstances. 1t
regard to starting the fire, he thought he
had lone so, as he pulled the chain Wnlcn
starts the fire box as he passed arouna
the back of the steamer, put ne Iounu
afterwards that the appliance did not
After recess President Minis announced
to Hayes that from all the evidence they
had come to the conclusion that ne was
not guilty of neglect of duty and not de-
serving of punishment on that charge,
but cautioned him to be particularly care
full in the future and guard well against
repetition Of the occurrence. The Pres
ident further suggested that some means
be adopted by which the doors OF the
engine house be held closed until the
QIlVeT HAS LII " 5Ot -
horses, as under the present arrangement
people passing along the sidewalk in front
of the house at the time of an alarm are
in danger of being run over.
The other business transacted consisteo
of the receiving and ordering fled an
application from Lorenzo J. Jaquins'
hoseman at call of Engine Company NO.
8, for promotion to permanent hoselnan
or truckmran. The resignation OF Lincoln
Moulton as truckman at call of Hook and
Ladder Company No. z, as ne nag pseh
appointed chanceman In the Police Pc,
partment was accepted. The representa-
tive Of the North River Insurance Com
pany of New York was furnished with a
fire badge.
Chief Conway reported eight alarms OF
fire during the last week, four of them
being bell alarms. Surgeon Arrowsmlth
reported that six horses were SICK last
week. two of them being still off duty
on account of lameness. --
Clerk Esterbrook reported the following
list of men at call who have failed to do
50 per cent. of duty during the last quar-
ter as required by the rules, and they
s mei is next meeting r. Smith and P. Te-
chan, of Engine Company No.. l; a. BUCK
ingham, of Engine Company NO 3; mos.
B. Nugent and Charles F. Snyder, Of IN 2
seph Mederle and Joseph Buskey, of Hook
and Ladder Company No. 3.
Resolutions were adopted requesting the
Board of Finance to transfer the sum OF
TO that for rebuilding Fire Department
Headquarters, the appropriation Of SS,5V
already made for that purpose belng m
sufhcient to alter and enlarge the build,
ing according to the plans adopted, and
authorizing the Committee on Supplies
to advertise for bids for furnishing a2oo
feet of r5lbber-lined cotton fre nose. Inc
raw roll of the men at call for the quarter
ending November 30, aggregaflng S~4,lz9.oS,
was nassed. and warrants ordered drawn.
The Board adjourned for two weeks.