The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-17

Chief Engineer Martin and the other
members of the fire department are
justly indignant at the unwarranted
attack on the Wallingford fire depart
ment made by one of the New Haven
Sunday papers. The attack is certain
Iy an unkind one, and the statements
as to ''promptness" and Capabilities"
should better have been left unsaid. 1t
is always very easy for an outsider who
is out of harms way, looking on at the
hard and many times dangerous work
of the firemen, to criticise and see what
appear to them to be mistakes, while
in reality the fireman is acting wisely.
The fire in question Friday night was
peculiar one in many respects, and
the department had to work under dis
advantages. The wallace Hose compa-
ny was promptly at the scene of action
and found that there was no way of
getting near the fire, owing to the high
fence which is on the outside of the
grounds. AS there was no night watch
man the gates We're locked and the
only way of getting inside the yard
was to chop through the fence, which
of course took more time. The doors of
the burning building We're found locked
and the windows had to be smashed in,
which naturally gave more draft to fan
the flames. Owing to the smallness of
the water main there was not so much
force to the four streams as could be
desired. In the second story We're sew
en- barrels of oil, which soon started
and helped along the flames, which, to-
gether with the fact that the building
was of wood and dry as finder, also
made matters worse. The fire depart
ment is not a paid one and the men,
bers risk their lives and health without
any compensation, and whatever mis-
takes might have been made, the fire.
men work hard and faithfully. All
through the cold night, with the mer-
curry at zero, they did their best to save
the property which was burning, and,
considering the start the fire got at the
outset, did remarkably well and Ger
tainly deserve credit for what they did
do, rather than censure for what they
could not do. The criticising of the
language used by the firemen at the fire
is rather far-fetched. AS a general
thing the men who volunteer to act as
firemen and fight fire, without compen-
sation, are not found among the divin
ity students or the theological class,
and it is not surprising that some of
the expressions used at an exciting fire
would be exactly proper in heightened
drawing room. The recommendation
10 he oyIp a. fn fhn n iza ffnn
of the fire department is also ill-timed
as that official has plenty of work look
ing after the other affairs of the bor-
ough without interfering with matters
that can take care of themselves.
Owing to yesterdays storm there was
but one session at the schools.
Robert F. Hall and his son Linsley,
who have been visiting his sister, Miss
Sallie G. Hall, for several weeks, start
ed yesterday for his home in Portland,
Oregon. He will go to New York for a
few days and from there to Montreal,
Canada, and home by the Canada
Southern route.
"The White Crook is booked for the
opera house Friday evening.
The Wallace Hose company has de-
cided on the square coat for the new
uniforms
Bishop Williams will be at st. Pauls
church on Thursday evening, April 29.
| There will be quite a large class for
confirmation.
The funeral of Miss Della Shaw, who
died on Sunday of consumption, aged
| twenty-one years, will occur this morn
ing at o'clock from the Holy Trinity
church.
The Consolidated road has presented
to the selectmen a written proposition
regarding the changes proposed in the
extension of South Colony street. The
proposed changes have already been
noted in the Courier
The Simpson, Hail, Miller & Co. Fun
eral Aid association has elected Howard
James as secretary of the association
in place of r. S. Horton, deceased.
The condition of Mrs s. J. Hall is
extremely critical and but slight hopes
are entertained of her recovery.