The herald., 1896-03-12
IT'S ENGINEER MYERS COLT.
Little Beast Almost Disrupts
an Engine Company
MUCH TALK, LITTLE FEED
The Engineer INDICATED and Callman
Mays Promptly Bounced
Driver strohm Of Engine Company No. s Disc
missed for Drunkenne ss-vacancy Filled.
Fire Commissioner Meeting
MUCH TALK, LITTLE FEED

At the meeting of the board of fire com
mssioners yesterday morning Commis-
sioner Vetter presided, in the absencs OF
the mayor, with Commissioners Kuhrts,
Bolts and Order in attendance. Chief
Moore was also present.
The chief reported that he had received
$50 from Hallett & Pirtle as testimonial
of the work of the department at the fire
in their building. which he had paid into
the firemen's relief fund, together with the
following fines: Frank Willoughby, $50;
ID. w. Brown, So c. P. Harrison, $40;
Frank Willoughby. So; Fred Nessler, $50.
The chief reported that VIM. Mays, .
callman of engine company No. z. had
charged Engineer P. G. Myers of the same
company with 'using feed belonging to the
city of Los Angeles for his own private
use.'
Mays appeared before the commissions
ers and stated that he had seen Myers on
at at least four occasions take bran and
hay from the city supplies at the engine
house and feed it to colt which he owned,
and which he kept in lot adjoining.
Engineer Myers also appeared before the
commission and made q statement. He
admitted that he had fed the colt In ques-
given the colt little bedding. The entire
amount taken would not. at the outside,
exceed in value 10 or Is cents. He had
done this openly, and there had been no
attempt at cOncealment.
There was some further talk. in which il
came out that the colt in question was
about the size of Newfoundland dog, and
that at the most it could not have bank
rupted the city. Myers also showed bills
OF feed which he had bought.
The two permanent men at the engine
house fully corroborated the statements
made by Myers.
Several affldavits of residents in the inn
mediate vicinity, to the effect that they
had seen Myers carrying both hay and
bran to the colt. were presented and filed.
CAllman Gridley of engine company No.
Z was next called, and stated that he had
on a number OF occasions seen Myers
taking feed to the colt, and that on several
occasions he had seen him taking feed
from the cty's bins. Gridley freely admit
ted that he was prejudiced against the en-
gineer on account of some remarks of .
personal nature made by him.
Callman Gardner knew that Myers had
bough feed, and showed it to him. He said
that things had not been moving along
smoothly for some time past, and that the
trouble was caused from outside influences.
Callman Hughes thought the whole thing
was trumped-up charge against Myers.
He said that there was clique in the COM
pany who were determined to cause
trouble, and that differences had existed
since the first of The year.
On motion of Commissioner Kuhrts the
charges against Myers were dismissed, a.
the allegations had not been sustained.
On motion of Commissioner Kuhrts,
| Callman Mays was ordered dropped from
the roles, as he had been absent more than
three times, and the chief was instructed
to "read the riot act to the members OF
the company pretty strong, insisting that
discipline must be maintained.
Engineer Rohrer, of engine company No.
6, charged ohn Strohm, driver of the hose
cart of the same company, with reporting
at the engine house on the morning of the
9Th in an intoxicated condition.
The engineer appeared before the board
and gave the details. He said that Strohm
had been given leave of absence. and on
reporting the following morning was in
Driver Strohm also appeared and cheer
fully admitted that the charge of intoxica-
uon was correct, but said that he was lying
off and had a man in his place. He had
notified the engineer, and thought that he
understood matters.
Assistant Chief Smith also appeared be.
fore the board and told what he knew
about Strohm's condition, instancing sew
eral cases where he had been derelict in
his duties.
On motion of Commissioner Bolts, and
after remarks by Commissioner Vetter as
to the efforts of the board to maintain dis
ciplne in the department, Strohm was
dropped from the rolls.
Commissioner kuhrts remarked that he
was disposed to be rather lenient than 9TH
erwse in anything except the matter of
drunken ess. and that was one thing that
could not be tolerated.
A number of demands for various sup
plies were presented and allowed, the most
important being for five horses at 500
each, which the chief stated was a great
bargain.
Commissioner kuhrts said that he had
some days ago seen a statement in a paper
to the effect that the insurance Ates i'll Los
Angeles were very high for the reason that
all the hose in the department was rottcn.
Mr. Kuhrts said that he had made a per-
sonal examination of the hose and that it
was ia good condition. He therefore had
no hesitation in denouncing the statement
as false.
Commissioner Vetter Endorsed what Mr..
Kuhrs had said, and added that to his
personal knowledge the matter OF hose
had never had any effect whatsoever OIL in
sIrance rates.
Cailman George w. Cornart was pro-
NOTED to the position of permanent fire.
man. and, after some general talk. the
board adjourned.