The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-25
MAGUIRE FLARED UP
FIRE CHIEF WILL DOCKET ALDER
MAN j. VI. DIXON.
SHARP WORDS AT A FIRE.
TOO MUCH GUNPOwDER FOUND IN
MIR. DIXON'S WAREHOUSE.

When Chief Began Counting Up the
Cans the Alderman Charged Him
With Making n Mountain Out OF "a
Mole HiII-MaGuire Declared That
He Is a sworn officer and VIII Do
His Full Ducy-AnnOunced That He
viii Docket Chairman of Council
for Carrying More Than % Pounds
of Powder in His Place After
NiGhtfan - Fire Superintendent
Charges That There VVas Enough
Powder in the Building to Have
Blown His Men Into AtOms-EX-
pIoSive Moved TO Private Maya
zine.
For having more gunpowder in his
place of business than is allowed by
ordinance, AldeEman James NJ. Dixon,
chairman of City Council, will be plat-
ed on the information docket this
morning by Superintendent Mcguire of
the Fire Department.
morning by John E. Mcguire. Super
intendent of the Fire Department.
During the fire IN the wholesale
grocery of James NJ. Dixon & Co.
last night the fire chief and the al
derman, who is at the head of the
firm, had something of a tilt in the
presence of half dozen or more spec
tators. Immediately after the talk be-
tween the Two men Supt. Mcguire an
nounced that he would docket the case
and a small sized sensation was Great
ed.
The flames had been gotten under
control and an effort was being made
at the northern end of the building
when Mr.. Dixon stated that there were
several cans of gunpowder behind
door near the office. The fire had not
reached that section of the building
and there appeared to be no danger of
an explosion at that time. Two sman
cans of the powder were brought out
and placed on the platform. About
the same time Supt. Mcguire arrived
from another part of the building and
noticed the powder.
Began Counting Powder Cans.
''I'll jack up my Inspector about this
thing tomorrow" said the superin-
tendent, at the same time instructing
a fireman to remove any powder found
on the inside. Several cans were taken
from behind the door and placed on
the platform and the fire chief looked
in amazement at the display of ex-
plosives. lie instructed one of the fire.
men TO make a note of the number
of cans taken out and the weight OF
each car. At the same time he knee-
ed on the platform and figured on the
number of pounds of powder that had
al fro, trff n he, 49, ,f,,rr
building.
Mr.. Dixon was standing with several
others over the fire chief while the
performance was going on. He did not
appear at all pleased at the attitude
of the chief fire fighter and declared
that he was making a big fuss over
nothing.
Mcguire FIared Up.
II am a sworn officer of the law, Mr..
Dixon. and l propose to do my full
duty" retorted Superintendent Ma
guire. You are aware that there is
an ordinance prohibiting the keeping
on hand of more than twenty-five
pounds of gunpowder after dark. Shall
l have my men take charge of this
powder or will you accept this as
notice and look after it yourself?"
Mr.. Dixon stated that he would take
charge of the powder. He instructed
Two or his clerks to have it removed
to his private magazine on Bay street,
where it is permitted by ordinance to
be kept. Both the alderman and fire
chief were short and crisp and the in
cident was over in a minute, although
is was discussed on all sides.
VIII Do His Duty.
Il intend to do my full duty in this
matter" said Superintendent Mcguire
after the tilt. There was enough pow
der there to have blown us all into
eternity. The f1remen encounter dan
gers enough and only get $50 a month.
If they had been murdered by the ex-
plosion of that powder their widows
and orphans would be allowed three
months pay by the city, and then they
would be forgotten. The ordinance
permits no one to keep on hand more
than twenty-five pounds of powder aft
er nightfan, and for this reason there
is powder magazine. Our figures
show that there were in the Dixon
building l five-pound can of black
powder, five-pounds cans of Dupont
powder, ten-pound cans and 1 fifteen
pound can. l intend not only to dc
my sworn duty, but 1 propose to pro-
tect the lives of my firemen and the
welfare of their families
Only five pounds of black powder
were in the building and Mr.. Dixor
stated to a fireman that there was nc
danger in the somekleSs sort Super.
1ntendent Mcguire takes issue Will
him on this, however. and insists thai
smokeless powder will explode as read,
lily as the black sort