The sun., 1898-06-30
By the Firemen Of the City Of
Wilmington.
LIBERAL DONATION OF COUNCIL
That is Presented Monthly to First
Lieutenant Sasse of First ReSi-
ment Delaware Volunteers.
Paid Department Discussed
by Prominent Men.

| the fire department of Wilmington thai
mayor OF the city," was the remark mad'
by George W. Sasse of the Washington
Company, prior to his election to tina
position on Tuesday, May 10, 1898.
Since then some of his warmest friend
who supported him during his candidac,
stated that he should have added, ''Bu
l would rather be first lieutenant OF Com
pany d, First Regiment, Delaware Volun
teers, than be chief engineer of the firt
department of the city of Wilmington. .
1t is strange what fools we mortals be
and to what steps that tickle dame fortune
will some time carry persons, for at the
present time Mr.. Sasse has the honor ol
being the chief engineer OF the fire depart
ment at a salary Of $400 per year, and il
first lieutenant of Company D of Dover
and receiving the magnificent sum OF Sl5t
per month from Uncle Sam.
Within very short time Mr.. Sasse
will be still further smiled upon by
fortune, as he is to be elected captain o.
his company at the salary Of $l85 pei
month, and will thus hold two positions
which will net him $2lS.33 as long as ne
deems it proper to pursue the course that
he has so far adopted.
For the past two weeks there have
been rumors of. dissatisfaction existing
among both the combine and anti-com.
bine companies in the city, and matters
have reached such crisis that the
Washington company at their last meet
ing on Monday June, 9th, requested Mr..
Sasse, through their secretary,to resign as
Chief Engineer and leave them name his
successor.
Mr.. Sasse subsequently replied to the
letter sent him to Middletown and stated
'that he would hold the matter under
advisement." He is still engaged in this
pleasant pastime and the municipality
is paying him $33.3' per month, super
vising the extingnishing of fires, at a
distance of twenty-five miles from where
they occur.
This action of Mr.. Sasse has had one
effect and that is that OF not only further
increasing the breach between the COM
bine and anti combine forces, but also
threatens to create dissension amongst
the companies that supported and elected
him to the position that he was so
anxious to secure.
The assistants elected, at the time Mr..
Sasse was honored, were William Joyce,
of the Phoenix, and James Purcell, OF
the Weccacoe. At a recent fire in this
city Mr.. joyce, first assistant, was acting
as chief engineer during the temporary"
absence of Mr.. Sasse at Middletown.
Mr. Joyce issued an order to one Of
Al, >f HI M p,I
was politely informed that he could 60
to still warmer place than where he
was at. as he was not the chief engineer.
Mr.. Joyce, of course, refused and this
is only one of the many petty annoy
ances he has been subjected to during
the time he has been acting chief.
EVERY dog has his day and some have
two," remarked one of the member OF
the Washington company day or SO
ago, 'and ii Mr. Sasse does not soon
make up his mind as to what he intends
doing, why we will see what can he done
with the subject by referring it to the
City CJunciI,' he concluded,
This, however, is not healing the old
wounds between the Friendship, WASH
ington, Ph,enix, Liberty and Weccacoe
companies on the combine side, with the
Water Witch, Fame, Reliance and Della
ware. ahti-combine, on the other.
"Instead,' remarked a prominent fire.
man yesterday, 'the action of Mr.. Sasse
is creating disruption amongst both fac
tions which will ultimately result in
Wilmington becoming a paid fire de-
partment, something that city of this
size should have had years ago"
This appears to be the concensus OF
opinion with the firemen of the city, ,and
while large number are opposed to a
paid department, yet they say "we
might as well have it now as any other
time"
While this open lissention is becoming
more and more manifest daily Mr.. Sasse
is apparently" in sublime ignorance OF
the status CT affairs and is still calmly
holding ont his lands for the pocket
money which the City Council donates
to him monthly for Services rem
ftnrnI "