New-York tribune., 1896-01-29


Fourteenth-st. on the Fourth the boiler Of one OF
the engines exploded at Seventeenth-st., mme-
diately opposite where the Everett House now
stands. Four or five persons were killed outright
and many were injured. / happened to be within
a block Ok the scene. and being the only Alderman
on the ground. proceeded promptly TO act in my
magisterial capacity. l used the cars TO carry
the people away rapidly possible and i'm
pressed into service all the private conveyances
could 10 take the wounded to Bellevue Hospital
While was thus engaged the president Of the
railroad came 10 me and asked by what right /
was giving people free rides on his road | told
him he had better keep hands off and let the peo-
pie got away. unless he wanted a mob. lie then
Joined with me In aiding to get the people away.
have been told tnat the newspapers were full OF
II all but was too busy 10 read any OF them. A
friend recently brought me an old copy of Jersey
paper containing four columns about the disaster.
when I moved up to Manhattanvie in 1899
there was quite a village there There were sew
eral satinette factories and umbrella factory.
The old house whore l took up my residence was
then nearly fifty years old. l enlarged IT, and put
on the broad verandas 50 it stood until torn
down few years ago"
"REMINISCENCES OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER
Mr.. Tlemann paused a moment shook his head
as II over doubtful "reminiscences. and went on:
After serving out my two years Alderman in
1890 thought OF politics for good.
But suppose retained n taste for II from the
time when. before ] was twenty-one. was clerk
OF the Ward Committee. That body appointed the
Nominating Committee and ran the ward politics
generally. In 1851 the circumstances were such
that could not refuse my friends or my political
enemies-for many OF the latter wanted me 10 run
and so ran for Alderman in the Twelfth Ward.
and was elected 1t seemed 10 be my fate to be
elected President OF the Board whether that
Democratic or Republican. rather Whig
I'm 1853 was elected TO what was known az the
Board Of Ten Governors of Charities and Correc-
ton. The term was for five years. In the fourth
year OF that term 10 my great surprise. friends OF
mine came TO me and urged me to run for Mayor.
The fight was against Fernando Wood and Tam
many Hall methods in politics. There was an up
rising of citizens much as in the last Mayoralty
campaign Citizens Committee was organized
and the determination expressed that Wood
and his kind Of politics would have to go
Il had always been a Democrat but local So
called Democratic politics had got to such pass
that 1t was necessary to have a radical reform
And was heart and soul with the reformers.
those who were demanding a nom partisan ad-
m.nisratIon at the City Hail
AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.
"A friend OF mine came to me and told me the
Citizens Committee wanted me to run for Mavor
| had much thought Of running for President
Still, told him would give him my answer the
next day at - o'clock our office In Fulton st
near Pearl-st About II o'clock the next day
stranger came into the office and asked II see
Daniel f. Tiemann presented myself Are
you the Daniel f. Tiemann the Citizens Com.
mittee want to run for Mayor" he asked me-
II am. replied.
Then don't you accept the nomination eN
claimed the man. adding: 7 want 70 see Wood
defeated; but there Is only one man who can do it,
And that is General
'ITe named General Somebody: I forget the
name.
Where do you llveT I asked.
In Brooklyn
Well. you had better go over 10 Brooklyn and
look after politics there retorted had made
up my mind to decline the nomination but In view
OF your advice shall accept it,
And did. Well. the Citizens Committee CAV.
me dinner at the Astor House and after 1t was
all over the chairman OF the committee asked me
what principle would follow in making appoint
ments II were elected Mayor told him that II
the choice In any instance should lie between q
Democrat and Republican. and they were equal
ly honest capable and efficient, would appoint
the Democrat; but that II the Whg were In any
way the better man he would get the office. The
chairman said that would be perfectly satisfac-
tory So there was no pledge given by me In that
campaign, and none was asked. And did not
put up any money.
when entered office determined that there
should be no politics in It, l appointed jeremiah
Aud Mayors Clerk. He had voted for Wood bH