The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-13
IS DANGEROUS ID
 FOLLOW ENGINES L,J,ro Coooc;, Tb;nLe No,u o,1,
Judge Feagin Thinks New Law
 Should be Passed
WOULD PREVENT ACCIDENT
Ordinance Should be Made to Keep the People from Following the Fire Department on 6icy-
 cles and in Buggies.

Judge Feagin thinks that the mayor and board of aldermen should pass some or dinance to prevent people following the fire department on bicycles and in wagons and buggies, and also competing every ve- hicle in the city to stop when the fire apparatus Is passing
 In other cities there is a law which com pels every street car, every buggy, wagon or blcyclist to remain stationary while the department Is on the run. This pro- tects the department as well as the public.
 In speaking of the matter yesterday Judge Feagin said;
 "A law of this kind is needed badly in this city, and I believe that 1t would be a good idea for the city council to pass one without delay. A law of this kind protects the fire department and also the people. As 1t is now when an accident occurs it Is impossible to punish those who are criminally negligent.
 Brought to Ills Attention.
 ''The matter was brought to my atten- tion in the trials of the motorman and conductor of the street car which ran into the fire engine at Fourth avenue and Nineteenth street last Saturday night The evidence showed clearly that the motorman and conductor were guilty of running the car into the fire engine, and they should have been punished, but there Is no ordinance requiring the street cars to stop
 Tn a matter of this kind the depart ment Is in great danger from accidents. Not only are the horses liable to get killed. the apparatus torn up, but the flremen themselves are liable to be injured or mangled. Fortunately no one was hurt in the collision of Saturday night, but suppose the engine had struck the center of the car. The engine would have probably turned over, the driver and engineer probably injured and passenger on the car might have been killed by the tongue of the engine conn ing through the car.
 sAnother thing. The accident to the little boy when the chiefs wagon struck him would not have happened had there been a law prohibiting boys and men following the fire apparatus when 1t Is running to a fire. When the apparatus goes up the street here dozen or a score of boys and men jump on bicycles and follow it. They never think that right behind them there may be another piece of apparatus, and that it is liable to run over them"
 Actjno Chief Walton,
 Captain will Walton, who is acting chief in the absence of Chief Mullin, said:
 ''The drivers on the various pieces of fire apparatus are frequently forced to draw rein, and even stop, to prevent acci- dents. People seem to exercise no com mon sense in regard to the fire apparatus and will run almost under the heels of the horses. We frequently have to pull the horses to the launches to prevent running over some one
 People have no business following a piece of fire apparatus on bicycles or in bugges and wagons. as they add a great risk to the work of the fremen and also to themselves.
 Another thing that should be en- forced is to require all street cars, wagons and vehicles to stop when they hear the fire gongs ringing. The life of a fireman is at risk too much for such add ed useless risks of loss of life or limb to be added"
 It Is probable that at the next meet ing of the mayor and board of alder men an ordinance of the kind suggested will be introduced, as 1t has been brought to the attention of several members of the board.