The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-16
He Admitted that He Had Misread the
Call for the Haas Fire Last
sunday Morning.
sPRINKLING BIDS TOMORROW
FOR THIRD TIME THEY WILL BE RE-
CEIvED BY WORKS BOARD.
Attorney James w. Noel VIII Assist
the Council Committee in Inves-
tigating Logsdon Charges.

r. NJ. Sleight, the fireman of truck COM
pany No. 4. stationed on East Washington
street, who reported the wrong alarm to
the company when called TO the Haas hre,
was dismissed from the service of the city
by the Board of Public Safety yesterday
afternoon. He was charged by Chief Coets
with neglect of duty. .Sleight did not dis
pute the facts. He admitted that he had
mistaken the tane record ''S' for 49, and
had not switched on the house gong. He
said it was an honest mistake. and he only
asked consideration from the board.
The board considered all the circum-
stances OF the case and decided to dismiss
Sleight. The board was reluctant TO visit
such punishment on Sleight, as he had but
once before been before the board, ana
since that time had shown full recognition
OF discipline and was industrious. me
board, however could not overlook the faet
that such a mistake might cost much, and
that in the case of the Haas fire 1t might
have been serious If the rescue or Mrs
Haas and her two daughters had not been
accomplished without ladders.
Sleight is a Democrat, and had been on
the regular force since February, 1902. The
board appointed William Huber. Democrat.
10 succeed him.
The action of the board is meant to be
much more than a punishment of Sleight.
The tape which he misread was shown at
the board meeting. and was correct and
unmistakable record of the alarm. The
board intends its action as admonition to
every member charged with the sometimes
tedious but important watch duty to exer-
else care and vigilance. and is also intended
to mean that laxity will be severely dealt
with.
Chief Coots says the addition of the new
truck companies in few weeks will give
indianapolis nine companies and an abun-
dant supply of ladders. He thinks If in
terror alterations were made a combination
chemical and truck should be added at
headquarters to reach the central district.
Between Washington, Illinois, Michigan
and East streets there are a number of fat
buildings, only three or four of which are
recognized as freproof, and at any minute
a fire might make the use of ladders neces-
sary for lfe-saving- Chief Coots says there
is not now spot that could not be reached
In five minutes. The combination truck and
chemical. provided with extension ladders,
would always be seTviceable. he thinks.
The board resents the assertions OK an
afternoon paper that II had permitted the
public to be deceived as to the true cause
of the failure of Truck TO reach the Haas
fire since Sunday. This is not the fact
6a did NOT s IL euSe
ing that his duty led him TO report the facts
20 the board. The, charges reached Chair
man Keller, of the board, Tuesday morn
ing. He told Mr.. Bryson and Mr.. Schop-
penhorst of them during the day. and they
agreed that action must be taken at the
meeting yesterday afternoon. The mem
bers OF the board believe ii would have
been in the interest OF all concerned if
Chief Coots had made the real cause public
as soon as he learned of IL, but in the course
pursued by him they see his strict obedi-
ence to his superior authority which is one
of the chiefs characteristics. The repre-
sentaticn that the chief had recommended
the action that the board take was also
wrong. The chief sent no recommends
ton