The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-07
BISSELL GOES.
Captain Of No. 7 Company
Dismissed From Fire
Department.
BOYLE'S BRAVERY REWARDED
Driver Risked His Life to
Save Others Promoted to
the Vacancy.
BOYLE'S BRAVERY REWARDED

At the conclusion Of the routine busi-
ness of the Fire Board last evening the
Board went into caucus to consider the
cases OF Captain Henry o. Bissell OF No.
Z Engine Company, detailed to No.
Truck Company. for neglect Of duty, and
Driver John F. Mccormack of No
Truck Company for careless driving.
Both charges were filed on May Is.
At the meeting of May q both men
were given hearing before the Com
nissioners. Captain Bissen had very
poor account of his doings to render and
frequently contradicted himself. The
charge was failing to notify his relief
company when an accident occurred to
the apparatus, of which he had charge.
The accident happened on May IS, while
responding to an alarm sent in from sta
tion A2. As the truck approached the
corner of Central avenue and Prospect
street. at full speed, Captain Bissen gave
orders to make a turn at that point,
which was almost impossible, as the ap-
paratus was on down grade and Driver
Mccormack had intended going a block
further for the turn. Mccormack said
that he knew he could not make the turn
in safety, but had to obey orders. CAPTAIN
Bissell swore that he did not give any
such orders and that none but an insane
man would. Mccormack had the rest of
the members of the company present, and
they corroborated his statement, saying
that they heard Bssell say. make this
turn" The truck was overturned. smash
ing the ladders and injuring 1t so badly
that it could not proceed any further.
Captain Bissell should then have gone
to the nearest box, which at that time
was only half block away, and notified
his relief, but instead he ran to the en-
gine house, three and half blocks dis
tant and notified Fire Headquarters. The
consequence was that there was no truck
company at the fire.
After the conference President Hennes-
sey had Clerk Charles Esterbrook read
a resolution dismissing Captain Bissell
from the department. The vote in favor
of the resolution was unanimous.
President Hennessey then called Driver
Mccormack, who Is still using cruthes,
and said:-''Mr. Mccormack, the Board
has decided to dismiss the charges against
you, as we think you were not at fault.
In the future if you are about to make
turn like the one that caused this aeci-
dent we would rather that you go block
farther 1t is a very lucky thing it was
not more serious than it was"
Commissioner Erickson then introduce
ed the following resolution
''Resolved, That Roger Boyle. hoseman
of Engine Company No. 1S, detailed to
No. Company, be and is hereby pro-
NOTED to the position of Captain of En-
gine Company No. z. to fill vacancy caus-
ed by dismissal of H. o. Bissell, to take
effect June 15.''
Captain Boyle has been in the depart
ment since December l, 1892, and IS a
brother of Superintendent of Street
Cleaning Andrew j. Boyle. Boyle will
be remembered for his act of bravery
in responding to an alarm of fire on
July 6. He was driving the three
horse engine of No. Company. 1t
turned into Grove street. Driver Boyle
urged the three powerful black horses
along the asphalt pavement in front OF
the City Hall and turned into Montgom-
cry street. A trolley car filed with pas
sengers was on the down track, going the
same way as the engine, a car was on
the up track, about 200 feet distant. The
engine gong changed as a single to tho
down car to hurry UP.
Ex-Mayor Wanser, City Clerk NJ J.
ODonnen Colonel Samuel Dickinson and
others shouted to the moterman of the
up car to stop, but he kept right on until
he reached Henderson street, when ne
stopped and the two cars abreast blocked
the street As the engine came dashtng
along, Driver Boyle saw there wds one OF
two things to do, either collide with the
cars at the risk of killing some of the
passengers, or make a sharp turn into
Henderson street, at the risk OF his own
life and those of Captain Dingler and
Engineer Hayes, who were on the foot
board of the engine.
He did not hesitate a moment. With q
powerful pull he swung the galloping
horses around the corner. just grazing the
cars. The engine went up on two wheels,
tottered and fell over on its side. Boyle
was thrown heavily to the pavement
CAPTAIN Dingler and Engineer Hayes were
pitched from the footboard and it was
thought for a moment that they were
pinned under the engine but they escaped.
The firemen were painfully but not dam
gerously wounded. 1t was a marvellous
escape.
resident of the Fourth Ward. was ap.
pointed to fill Boyle's place at Ne. II
Engine Company. The Board then adj
journed to meet Wednesday, June 20.