Evening journal., 1898-09-08
THE =" WASHY !" KICKS
Fire Chief G. w. Sasse Not
Satisfactory to That Company.
THINKS HE SHOULD RESIGN

FROM THE STATE MILITARY OR
GIVE UP HIS POSITION AS FIRE
CHIEF-WILL Take THE MAT
TER TO COUNCIL.
The Washington Fire Company is |
getting very impatient at the actions
of CHIEF Engineer George w. Sasse,
first lieutenant OF the First Delaware
Volunteer Regiment.
AS everyone knows,t Fire Depart |
ment of this city is volunteer ono, |
and has been from time immemorial. |
Every two years a chief executive Of
ficer Of the entire organization is
chosen from one of the nine
companies now in existence. This
method of electing the chief has been
sanctioned and commended by City
Council, inasmuch as the department
is almost self-sustaining., and also that
it could not cause any i'll feeling as to
supremacy in office or favor to any one
company.
The time OF some one company to
choose a chief therefore comes every
two years, and the nomination Of a
, member of that company means con-
frmation by the entire department and
the appointment by City Council. Each
! company feels honored when its turn
comes to place one OF their members
!, at the head OF the department and en-
deavors to place the best and most ef-
- fcient member OF the organization in
: nomination.
SASSE WAS CHOSEN.
!. This year the lot fell to the 'FWashy'
"a to select a man from it's membership
to wear the ensignia of chief, and di-
- rect the movement Of the tepartmeni
: in times OF fire.
After some discussion and delibera-
ton George w. Sasse was decided upon
!. as the most suitable man to fill the po-
- sition, and, accordingly, on May 10
in 1898, Mr.. Sasse was nominated ane
90 confirmed as the chief Of the Voluntee
Fire Department of Wilmington
Previous to his being chosen as chiei
however, besides being a member o
the "Washy," he was also membe
OF the First Delaware Regiment, bein
rs color sergeant. Rumors OF war ha
Is been prevalent for some time. and, i
accordance with a call by Presiden
IN Mckinley, Mr.. Sasse went with h.
M. regiment to Camp Tunnel on April q
Ms 1898.
AS he was a candidate for electic'
tic fer fire chief at the time. some discus
aU sion arose among the members OF tn
nd Washington as to the ACCESSIBILITY {
e,ecting a member from thsir compan
,eD who might be unable tobe present in tn
or city in time OF ne ed to occupy the pos
On ton. On the night OF the election, how
ever, Mr.. Sasse came up from Midd''
rs town AND assured his supporters th'
i'm his stay at that place would only
est temporary, lasting some ten CT twel'
are days. until he could get the "boyi
NJ straightened out. He declared tn
rh, when this duty was finished he wou
tr,- resign and added that he would rath
has be chief of the Wilmington Fire ID
partment than mayor of the city. A
he cordingly, he was elected by the col
NJ many on a vote CT SO to "a, and W
subsequently, confirmed by the rest
the department and accepted by Cou
D. Gil.
inst Satisfied with the honor conferr
ugh upon him, Chief Sasse returned to
n d regiment at Camp Tunnel He "
ack promoted to a lieutenancy and becal
) by infatuated with army life. He appli
'le's to Council for a leave OF absence frS
re- his duties as volunteer chief until
} OF war was over, and at once became v
unteer lieutenant in the First De
ware Regiment. There he has rema
ed until the present time.
wen In the meantime, Assistant On
Dsrs Joyce has been filling Chief Sass
'lrs' 'lrs' position, and the Washington comp'
lnei- does not feel it is being used justly
my the matter, as when it came It's u
'ei@- s to have chief, and after it chose n
'i0'' he turned his duties over to some
L else. This is the only time in the 4
eighteen years that it can select
-, chief executive. and its members
desirous Of having the benefit OF Il
- turn. But those who wish his reno
80 say that CHIEF Lieutenant Sasse
mains obllvious to the desires ot
fellow firemen and remains with
70" soldier friends, never having att
V~e I'd a fire since his appointment
chief.
TAB The members Of the ''Washy"
therefore written Mr.. Sasse that
v has must either resign one or the othe