The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-27
TIE HARNESS ROTTEN
How Driver Talbot Accounts
for Smashing Fire
Truck No. |.

The only thing of Importance at the
meeting Of the Fire Commissioners last
night was the trials and they took up
fully an hour.
"A communication, through the Mayor,
was received asking the Commissioners
to remove the alarm box from the corner
of Wilton street and C~ommunipaw ave-
nue. to Pine and Lafayette streets. This
communication was received by the Mayor
from Mr.. Schipmann of Pine and Lafay-
{ cite Streets, as he claims the box is too
far away from his residence, and in the
neighborhood there are a number of
stables and small shanties. 1t was re-
4ferred to the proper committee.
The total umbe of alarms for the two
weeks ending May 26 was thirteen and
bell alarms four. Superintendent Arrow
smith reported that during the two weeks
fourteen horses We're under treatment
and ALI had been returned to duty.
The clerk then read a communication
from the Chief Engineer in regard to
placing on trial Captain. Murdoch of En-
CINE Company No. |, for going outside
the city limits to a fire without the per-
mission of a superior officer. The COM
munication was referred to the COMMITTEES
of the Whole. This is an echo of the
Hoboken fire row.
Next on the list cam the trials and the
fun began. The first to be called was
William Talbot. driver of Hook and Lad
der Co. No. 4, for reckless driving on
May 20 to Station So. Talcot pleaded not
guilty and made a long statement, at in
tervals being interrupted by the Com
m~issioners. He had two men from the
truck to. give testimony in his case.
Young, the tillerman, said that the night
of the fire they took the same route they
had always taken to that station, which
is down Ocean venue to Claremont,
which is asphaIted to Garfield avenue,
and down Garfield avenue to Grand
street. Garfield being mostly macadam
road. At the corner of Garfield and
Claremont avenue, a trace on one of the
horses broke, but it was not noticed by
Talbot until they had got about two
blocks farther down, and Young said he
heard Talbot shout to get down and grab
the horses. but he was powerless being
at the wheel. Truckman Cushin jumped,
but could do nothing in stopping the
horses as the weight of the truck kept
pushing them on the steep grade. The
truck at last swerved suddenly towards
the curve and collided with a tree on the
walk. Truckman Cushin gave testimony
similar to that Of Young.
Talbot gave as his reason for swinging
so close to the curve that just in front
OF him he knew there was a drop in the
Hill Of about five feet. and if he at
tempted to let the horses go over the
drop with a broken trace the conse-
quences would be the breaking of the
truck and possibly death to some of the
firemsn. He thought he did exactly right
in drawing close to the curve. After he
had been ensured by the Commissioners
and cautioned to be more careful he was
Mr.. Young got excited in living his tes-
tmony. He said the whole fault was in
condition: Commissioner. Brennan then
said Why did you not report it to your
Young said he mad repeatedly but il on
his monthly report. Commissioner Minis
then produced last months report. and il
sta stated 1 everything was in frstsciass or
yestigate this. The report was signed by
H; II, MeGuckin. foreman up to. May L.
porter that. during the last three years
anything. asked for by the men in charge
of the different houses has always been
attended to by the Commissioners very
Captain .William H. Brennan. of En-
gine company no. 2 was placed on trial
ror lncorreet count of the gong. Mr..
Spelcher, Superintendent of Telegraph.
stated that there is a slight difference in
the striking of the first blow and the
second, and Mr.. Cone moved that the
case PC dismissed without censure, and it
The case of Captain George Murdock
81 engine No. 1, for going out
SIDE me city limits without orders from
talk. Murdoch pleaded guilty. He stated
tnat ne vas called to box No. Is. When
lie arrived There hpE had AcnapH = -
proceeding to Hoboken and there beina
nobody at Box rs to give him orders. he
TOOK 1t as an open invitation for him 70
follow. All three Commissioners smoke |
at length and then acquitted Murdoch,
some claims and the payroll We're
passed the Board adjourned to nert
Wednesday night. Ie
IN lnn nrr,i .