The daily Republican., 1902-12-04
WORKHOUSE FIRE.
Weccacoe Defe.ds Chief Engineer and
Condemns Trustees.

Wilmington, DEL, Dec i, 1907
At the regular stated meeting 0
the Weccacoe Fire Company. hell
December lst, the company appoint
ed a committee 10 DR. aft resolutions
condemning the trustees Of the count.
workhouse for their uncompllmenta.
remarks about Chief Enginee
| Michael r. Conway. The committee
which was composed OF all th'
members who were present at TIT
fire. reported the following resolu
tions, which were unanimously
adopted:
"Whereas. We have noticed thai
the trustees Of the county workhouse
have condemned the chief ngineer s
action and management Of the work.
house fire to such an extent that we
feel that great injustice has been
done him, and that we have resolved
to take exception to their wholesale
imperliuence aud lngratitude. We
therefore wish to state that Mr..
Michael II. Conway. IN all Of h is
elg tteen years OF membership and
service in this company We have
rever known him 20 shirk his duty.
but 10 act the full part Of a fearless
( full.1edged. honorable fireman;
therefore, lie It
Resolved, That we believe and
say that he did his full duty when,
he refused to order any of the
trucks from the city to that fire,
when there were no lives in danger,
for the trucks are the only live say
ing apparatus that we have in the
department. And if any outsider
had the audacity to disrespect the
laws of the department and order
any apparatus over the chiefs head
he not only insulted the chief, but
the whole department, for which
we think he should be dealt with by
City Council. For if the chief is ig-
nored the department is ignored and
there is no organization.
Resolved, That we commend
the chief for his action in refusing,
at the last minute, to have the hose
moved from place to place to suit
their timid and nervous curiosi ty
as every move was fatal and meant
more damage, We also agree with
the Chief that il the streams had
been Kept in the centre of the build
ing the wing. contain ing the war
den's residence would have been
saved. And we further agree with
the chief that when he took the
last stand and refused to move his
men and hose again, and the trustees
appealed to Chief Of Police Black to
make him move, as they claimed
the Jail would be doomed, when he
manfully exclaimed; 1 have taken
your last order, and if the jail burns
down blame me for its destruction.
If it is saved give me the credit.
We also feel that we have Il chief
second to none, but being Of humble
circumstances he did not want to
insult or abuse those of higher
standing, but at the last minute his
sense Of duty compelled him to use
practical Judgment aDdbecome boss,
and we appreciate his stand. We
appreciate his yalor, his ability as Il
fireman, and we admire him as a
gentleman.
Resolved, That we censure the
trustees Of the county workhonse
for their actions. That we consyre
Warden Mcserve for his false and
artfu! story of a prisoner in the
attic. That we commend our chief
for the stand that he took and
should have taken it sooner. That
we commend and look mp to with
the greatest Of respect and gratitude
to every fireman who worked so
Zealously and hard, and we especial
ly commend those mon that stood
waist deep in the lake to keep
places dug for the suctions. We
therefore rise to ocXClaim with pride
that these men are the men who
obey the chief. These are the men
who respect the chief! These arc
the men who take their orders from
the chief, These are the men who
at the bcckOn Of the chiefs finger
would have thrown down their
arms. These are the mon, wemight
say, martyrs, who never think Of
telling the chief how to manage
fire
"ReSolvcd That these resolutions
be published in all the daily papers
Of Wilmington and also lie entered on
the minutes Of the company.
"Commi;Lec - William NJ. Connolly,
Edward J. McGrath, James A. Mca-
ley, Dennis S. Shields, William j.
Baylcy, Michael MaIoney, Thomas
+. krnney, James kclrigan, William
Il. l1Ikens, Victor Dehan, John Muir.
rhy, James o DonneIl, John A. Con.
nor, William Day, John Connolly,
Harry klenIe, James Quinn. Owen
H"ughlon, Martin \. McGrath, Ed
ward Mealcy."