New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-09-28
CHIEF ENGEL To Retire
Refuses to Stand for Reelection
as Fire Chief.
Department Is in a Quandary as
to His Successor.
EngeI Has Been at Head of Fire
Fighters for Six Years.


Fire Chief Henry Engel had handed
his resignation to the fire company
with the reasons he cannot accept
| another term in the high Office and
| when his time expires the first Of the
year he will step down and out
although remaining member of the
New Ulm volunteer organization.
The principal reason for Mr.. Engel S
action is that his duties as head
miller of the New Ulm Roller mill de-
mand his whole time and attention and
leave him too little time to attend to
the duties of the Office. This will be
especially true now that the big ad-
dition to the mill is being built; the
increased capacity with new machinery
and more men means increased work
and responsibilities for the head miller
and Mr.. Engel feels that he cannot
leave the mill to run to every fire, as
he must do as head of the department..
The resignation was handed in at
the last meeting Of the fire department
and was made now because at the
first meeting of the city council in
November the department must recon-
mend man for chief and he wished
to give the company enough time in
which to canvass the available candi-
dates and make a selection. The
council considers the recommendation
and makes it's appointment at the first
meeting of the new year, almost always
electing the choice of the fire boys.
The positive refusal of it's chief to
accept the Office again leaves the de-
partment in something of a quandary.
The move was not anticipated and
other men for the place had hardly
been considered, so that although, Of
course, there is plenty of available
timber, the company has not yet come
to any choice. Several names are be-
ing considered and anyone of them
would make an excellent chief. Fred
Pfaender, first assistant, Louis Vogel,
second assistant, William Koch and
Charles Stoll arethosemostprom
ly mentioned. AS far as is known
none of them has signifed wish in
the matter of election either way.
Henry Engel has been chief of the
| New Ulm fire department for the last
six years and has made a record in
Office that has won him the love Of his
men and the respect of the community.
Under his direction the department.
has been greatly advanced and stands
now with the best volunteer freight
| ing organizations in the state. When
he took charge of it the department
was in fairly good condition, but there
were many Improvements which could
be made and these have been effected
In the last six years two new hose
wagons have been added to the equip
ment, as has also a new ariel hook and
ladder truck. A new fire alarm sys-
tenn has also been installed.
/ In considering the services Of the re-
firing chief it should be remembered
that a volunteer company is the hard
est organization to direct in the world
and that to govern it wisely and firm
/ ly requires no little tact and diploma
tic skill. It is only just to Mr.. Enge]
to say that in this respect his success
has been complete. He has maintain
ed high displine in the company and
at the same time has retained the love
and respect of all the fire boys.
/ Mr.. Engel is IS years old and al
! though born in Chicago, has lived in
New Ulm as boy and man since 1869,
moving to this community with his
uncle in those early days.