Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-07-10
FIRE CHIEF COlNINGS
ANSWERS QUESTIONS.
Ao0eored Before the Board aldermen Last Night and Explained
the Action of Lincoln Hose Company Questioned BY aldermen
Campbell and Eckert-- Told IN Detail About the Matter

------
Chief Comings, of the fire Depart
ment, appeared before the Board OF
Aldermen last night to explain the
action of Lincoln Hose Company in
not going to fire when the alarm
sounded whether they have horses or
not. The chief answered all questions
put to him and when it was found the
hose company had received no orders
from him to remain in their house
until horses arrived, the interview
ended.
When the chief was given the floor
he walked to the front of the Council
Chamber and asked what questions
the aldermen would like answered.
Alderman Campbell, chairman of the
Fire Committee, said the board want
ed to know why Lincoln Hose refused
to answer alarms without horses
Because they have orders not to
do so' replied the chief.
"That's just what we're after, =
said Mr.. Campbell, 1--WE want to know
who gave those orders. -
ssThose ORDERS said the chief,
"were given to both Lincoln Hose
Company and Protection Hook &
Ladder at the same time when Mr..
vanHorn was chief and William
O'Hara was chairman of the Fire
Committee. At that time the hook
and ladder had no horses Of their
own
Is it not true, Mr.. Comings, y ask
ed Alderman -at-large Eckert, "that
former Mavor Compton warned Lin
coin Hose Company some time ago
when they had waited for horses, that
if the alarm rang again and they did
not respond that he would suspend
the company and prefer charges
against the members?"
s'I never heard OF any such action, =
the chief answered.
81 have been informed that such
was the case, Mr.. Eckert continued.
Here lately there have been three
fires, one in McCollough's, Washing
ton street and in Elm street and there
I has been complaint about all three OF
them.'
"The recent fire in Washington
street was the only alarm that the
Lincolns did not leave their house, =
the chief explained "Of course there
has been number of times when they
have been late in responding because
of no horses. 7"
II understand, Mr.. Eckert went
on to say" that the Lincolns had
orders to respond to two alarms with
out horses. Now, if they can pull
their carriage to those boxes, cannot
they pull it to other boxes?"
''The hose carriage used to be
equipped with a hand pole," Chief
Comings said, and about fifty-feet
of rope and they used to run with
that. Now that they have horses that
has been taken away. The company
used to get confused sometimes when
they would get down to Hotel Central
corner and find that o telephone mess
age had been received saying the fire
was away out in Eagleswood, then
they would have to 60 back and get
Shorses. Before they had orders to
.4gait for horses the first man at the
house would probably trip the harness
and get ready to pull the carriage,
when some other member would come
in with horses and by that time the
harness would be in tangle on the
floor. AS q result the order was issued
to wait for horses. Now the orders
to the members Of Lincoln Hose are
to go direct to the fire and but two or
three members go to the house to Tide
ON the carriage, so that if they try to
pull by hand there are only one or
two members to do the work while if
they all ran to the house, it is likely
horses would have been secured and
the members who have to turn around
and run back TO the fire. /"
Mr.. Eckert then remarked that as
Chief Comings had not issued the
order to Lincoln Hose, the aldermen
were through and the chief retired.