The sun., 1897-12-04

To THE EprToR OF THE suy-Sir: II must not be
forgotten by those who critcise the shortcomings Of
the London nre briga lie that It is 90 to speak, In
process Of evolution Ten years ago It as under the
o1icial Jurisdiction of the London Board OF Works.
under the command OF Capt. Shaw. When the Lon
don County Council took the organization and con-
troll of the service into its own hands Capt Shaw re-
signed or, rather had to resign Another gentleman
who took his place as compelled to resign year or
90 ago because it W as alleged he took financial in
terest in an improved nre escape Of his own inven
ton. Commander Wells Is new to his work. and to
his inex perience practical fireman 10 attributed
the disastrous loss to property in tho nre He
is. however sailor. and most OF the under his
command have been sailors. or hold. at least, dis
charges seafarns men. This should count for
some thing In his favor.
Capt Shaw, or Sir william Shaw an he now is, was
admittedly the greatest chief of the London fire de-
partment tha, ever controlled 1t. He was not fire.
man for all that. He began life as lawyer and for
n fine pr.cticea Mt bis nro,ess,on pIs .uocsssor
whose name forget, began life mining engineer
He was fire chic of signal ability an inventor and
man OF ready resource In all emergencies HIS ability
If not his integrity. remains unquestoned. Com.
mander W.la IA heavily Mt the outset of
~ a.'. 49, 49, ,...-. -. .,.,1 y,
ms career ~ "re.In ~, Uy tue rscsh, os ''aae III
m ba xvaa concerned b,a inevitable mi.sortun. and
not his preventable fault.
None OF your CORES spondents 60 far as have seen
naS neu'ioheu =" h.' o''pihuhoaHo" tne unique
position which Liverpool holds in its fire department
Iiyerpool bas no regularly organized fire bripade
81 - -. oaa.,.,s ...,,,,e a.I'.. ~ 80" s
rue only hre oHc'a's' sFc'y speakinB' are the Su
periutendent and small stan OF engineers. For tho
Nat IN. nolca do dptv ma aramen Fv.rv ro,,o.ror
1890, ~ ~ a , -' 80 p ~M ~
IN LiVerpooi Is not nrcman' Dut every nreman In
the city 10 q policeman, and does duty in that
o.n.o,,v
0ApAo'S'
Strangers arc often surprised when they reach the
great aeanort on the Mersey 10 see nocema an nm bis
, : al, o.. 49,. a -, ~, -. n
rVuhus Win heaAo "hu hrekey stuck III MS oeit. nc
10 one OF liverpoors fire policemen He 10 ct hand.
trained areman in yyb,,syer nart NJ tho citx , Ira
~ Wv '' "
breaks out II Nc cahhot 40 anything 10 stay the
rAyaRes the flames until the al of the engines
e-o,, ,h. ,a..ast s,,tion n. ,u,oL, h-,,. a, Ioo,
..o-' ss Ns ' No f"'.A'' '''"b' ~ 'e"'s
his comrades to the spot by blowing his whistle, and
they are TO assist at the forces that
:. !. A., ..,... .,, -. -.
on ln' enB1ne' anu water 'o"er"
Liverpool has had some very serious fires within
roc.nt vas,s Along tbe line n, door. tb.re .ro
' e w $50 ~ ~ '' 90
large number OF cotton warehouses full to repetion
with baled cotton some three years ago scarcely
DAY passed without one or these huge warehouses
being ionnu on hro. ~ was very well known that
These nreb were the work or ncendlaries Detection
was FOUND 10 be at least no arrests were
male me superintendent OF The hre pol c" de-
elared that so long as damaged cotton continued to
o" ssvsSed so long wonld these hres continue. The
husbands or friends or the women who sorted the
uanaged COTTON Iounu means TO ignite ", which ID