The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-03

Captain John Stab and Subordinates
Involved in Fistic Battle.
TELEPHONE is THE CAUSE
CHARGES TO BE FILED ON BOTH
SIDES.

Charges will be filed against Captain
John Stab of the Salt Lake fire de-
partment by Fireman Charles Gulbran-
sen as d result of a fistic encounter,
which occurred at o'clock Friday
evening in the alarm office at the Cen
trail fire station. Captain Stab also IN
tends TO prefer charges against Charles
Gulbransen, Fireman Frederick Gull
bransen. brothers. and Fireman An
drew Eikrum, and to have the affair
officially investigated by Chief William
Bywater when he returns from the Fire
Chiefs convention.
The row commenced while Fireman
Charles Gulbransen was talking 70 his
wife over the telephone. While they
were in conversation the telephone bell
rang on the second circuit. Captain
Stab was in the office at the time and
ordered Gulbransen to leave so he could
answer the call. GIlbransen asked
Captain Stab to wait just d moment.
but the Captain pulled the plug out
OF the circuit and tried 10 take the re
Ceiver out Of his hand.
Then trouble ensUed.
Peacemaker Becomes Involved.
Stab struck Gulbransen. who lost a
leg through an accident while fighting
a fire. Fireman Andrew Eikrum inter
ceded aS peace-maker and pushed 10th
men apart. He was kept busy lodging
swings and jabs. and tried TO get Gul-
bransen out of the office when his
brother, Frederick Gulbransen, APP
peared on the scene. Angered because
Stab had struck his brother he mixed
things with Stab and succeeded in land
ing on him. Several of the other fire
men rushed into the office and separat-
ed the men.
Charles Gulbransan made a state
ment yesterday on the affair as fol-
lows.
Il was talking with my wife over the
telephone when the bell rang on an
other trunk line. We were discussing
some matters of Importance TO me. We
were Just about through when Captain
Stab ordered me away from the phone
and / asked him to wait a second. At
that he pulled out the plug and tried
to take the receiver away from me. l
refused TO give it up and then he struck
me. saying;
4 will see whether I'll wait or not"
/ tried TO put the plug back in again.
He struck me again on the nose and
then almost floOred me when he hit
me on the jaw. Andrew Eikrum was
separate US.
When my brother came in the office
he saw there had been trouble and de-
manded of Stab what he was doing.
Stab denied that he had hit me-. but l
said that he had Then my brother
struck at Stab. who tried to choke him.
They tussled for a moment and Fred
landed on him several times"
Calls Stab a Bull. Dozer,
This is not The first lime Stab has
done such a thing. He mas struck 9TH
ers He tries To bull-dOZe every man IN
the department. He has done this thing
repeatedly because he is a superior Of
ficer. He knew that physically he Was
my superior and could handle me. He
knew that il was not a fira call or the
alarm would have struck. l intend 10
prefer charges against him as soon "a
Chief ByWater returns and have the
matter investigated.
The story Of the affair told by Fred
erick Gulbransen and Andrew Eikrum
corresponds with that of Charles Gul-
bransen.
Captain Stab tells his story as fol-
lows:
While GuIbransen was talking at the
phone the bell rang and l got up to
answer. il. I waited about two minutes
and then asked him to give me the re-
ceiver. He replied: Wait until l get
through. AT that | pulled the plIg cut
and connected up the circuit for II
might have been a fire, l was IN
charge of the Office and il was my duty
to answer the calls. When 7 Went TO
take the receiver out of his han Is he
turned and struck me. Then he ST 'Jck
at me again and I pushed him away
from the phone Andrew EikTum also
jumped in and moment later Fred
GulbTansen came running into he "f-
fee. lie tried 10 throw me down. but
/ chOEed him. He struck at me before
I made an attempt to defend myself.
Just as soon as Chief ByWateI eturHs
from the east | intend to file charges
against all three men and have an in
VeStigation made of the matter.
Captain Stabs face shows some evil
dence of the fight. 1t received several
scratches, beS3des a couple of bruises.
Charles GulbTansen has an mflamel
nose which he claims Is the result OF
one of CAPTAIN Stabs punch1,.