The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-21

Circumstances attending the serious
collision between the Phoenix Chemical
and Crystal Hose wagons on Adams
avenue Thursday morning will prob
ably prevent any formal investigation
and consequent censure. The incident
has, however, awakened the joint fire
department committee of councils to
sense of duty long neglected, and which
will result in a shake-up of incompe-
tent men.
Under ordinary conditions, TrOpp,the
Crystal driver, would be blamed for not
observing the rigid rule that Phoenix
company has the right of way on all
alarms in the district. Tropp knew this
rule but he stOutly maintains that the
heavy rain obstructed his sight and
hearing SO effectively that he neither
saw nor heard the Phoenix company
until the crash came. The latter's per-
manent men also aver they discovered
the approach of the Crystal wagon too
late to avoid the collision.
\ point against Tropp is raised by
officials in the fact that each company
had exactly the same distance to travel
10 reach the corner of Adams avenue
and Linden street. This. the officials
say, should have caused Tropp to slow
up after crossing Washington avenue.
The same complaint is not raised
against the PhoCniX men as they are
supposed to have the right Of way.
ONE HORSE INJURED.
one Cf the Crystal horses is the only
one of the four out of service. Her in
jures are slight and will permit her
return to duty in a few days. The
places of Campbell, George and Till
man, Of Phoenix company, are being
filled by Joseph Heitman, Century
company, driver; Charles Becker,
PhoeniX company, engineer, and Vic
tor Koch, (FhoeniX company, hose
man. None of them is ordinarily a
permanent fireman. Isaac TiCe, a per-
manent Crystal man, has been APP
pointed hose driver Of that company
and John CoOney engine driver. Cooney
is a member of the Crystals, but is not
a permanent fireman.
Political influence has hampered Chief
Hickey and the joint fire department
committee in regulating the service Of
several permanent men. Several driv-
| crs are known to have been without eX-
perienCe with horses before securing
| their appointments. The habits of ona
| who has been for some time in the SER
| vice are notoriously bad and in addi-
! tion he is handicapped by stiffness.
Another driver has a physical imper-
| fectiOn which dcbars him from heavy
| work. He occupied seven seconds in
| climbing from the floor to his seat dur
| ing the recent inspection. a South
| Side company contains men recently
| censurCd by the mayor for drinking in
quarters and being absent on several
| occasions without leave.
COMMITTEE WILL ACT.
All these facts are known to the Joint
| fire department committee. The mem
| bers have refrained from attempting to
| remedy the defects but they realize the
| time has come for action. 1t is promis-
! ed that the first evidence of incompc-
| tency among the permanent men will
cause the committee to take action or
TO give Chief Hickey that authority.
! Thomas Campbell and Lincoln Till
man are the only ones at the hospital
| OF those who We're injured in the coll
! lision at Adams avenue and Linden
street Thursday morning. They will
be around in a day or two. Tillman
is the least hurt of the two, and is
! suffering muscular pain from the shak-
ing up he got. Campbell's right shoul-
| der was dislocated, and it will take a
few days longer for him to be around