The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-12
BOARD WAITS
EXPLANATION
BY CHIEF
Won't Retire Kiersted Till
It's Made Oelkers Would
Dislike tOPrefer Charges.

There was surprise and regret among
many members of the fire department
last night when they read in the night
edition Of the EVENING STAR thai
Chief Robert Kiersted had rendered
his resignation to the Fire Board
earlier in the day. He has been in
the service SO long that he had come
to be looked upon as a fixture of the
fire department, with which he has
practically grown up.
Chief Kiersted has seen the depart
ment grow from practically a bucket
brigade to one of the best equipped
h%re-fghting forces in the country.
While the chief is enjoying a special
leave of absence until December 81,
which was granted to him by the board
yesterday afternoon without any hest
tation, the board did not grant his re-
quest to be placed on the retired list
January 1, as he asked in his resigna-
ton. The commissioners felt that
Kiersted was piqued over a difference
of opinion with President John B.
Oelkers, because the latter had granted
a leave OF absence to Battalion Chief
McDermit after the latter had been
refused 1t by Chief Kiersted. The
board will not accept Chief Kiersted's
resignation until they are assured that
he did not tender it simply because Of
differences with MI. Oelkers.
Chief Kiersted, after the meeting, de-
MED tha he had acted in a hasty man.
ner, and said he had intended to tender
his resignation at the boards previous
meeting, but had decided to wait until
yesterday. However, the ink in the
Communication was quite fresh looking.
President Oelkers said after the
meeting that he would not vote to ac-
cept the chiefs resignation until the
latter assured him that the statements
were untrue, as alleged to have been
made by the chief as published denying
President Oelker's right to grant a spe-
cial leave of absence to any person In
the department, after he, the chief, had
denied that permission. 81 do not want
to believe that the chief made such
remarks said Mr.. Oelkers. because
it would not only be u~nbecoming to
him as the head of the department. but
render him liable to charges of in
subordination, which I would certainly
feel loathe to make against him after
his long service in the department, and
his SPLENDID record as a fire fighter and
a disciplinarian.
while 1 was confined to my home at
the time the alleged remarks of the
chief were published, and therefore I'M
able to see him to learn Of their truth
.fulness, yet he has not thought 1t worth
his while to deny being the author Of
them since I have been at fire head
quarters. Probably he has overlooked
the matter and will do SO later. but
I will wait to near him say that the
statement was untrue"
Chief Kiersted Joined the department
in 1871 and was attached to Truck No.
1, and O year later was made driver
of the truck. In 1886 he was made
chief of the department, and has held
the office ever since.
The chief said today that he wanted
to retire from the department, as he
had contemplated for some time past,
he had built a home for himself In
Sixteenth street with that OBJ
ject In view, as he was satisfied to rest
now.
In the meantime Deputy Chief Will
lam C. Ashley will be acting chief, and
II the board does accept Chief Kier-
resignation at the end Of the
Deputy Chief Ashley would have
to be confirmed by Common Coun-
ell after being appointed by the Fire
Board.
Among the new rules adopted by the
board yesterday was that the deputy
chief shall designate two days each
week between the hours of 1 and in
the afternoon when the companies
shall drill at least thirty minutes. and
the commandments of each company
shall see that every man in the COM
.any shall thoroughly understand all
parts of the work.
Company No. 10. made a request to be
on the half pay of a lieutenant.
The secretary was requested to
Fireman Van Duyne that he
could be retired on his own pay, but not
that of a lieutenant.
The board decided to advertise for
bids for a new second-class engine and
two new combination chemical and
hose wagons, and also for new hose, to
opened November 20.
The board made an inspection of the
new fire-alarm telegraph system placed
in the City Hall and were much pleased
with it. It will be completed by
Wednesday and will be turned over to
the City Hall Commissioners at 4
by the manufacturers, and then
that body will place it in charge of the
Fire Board. The formal acceptance will
place later in the month.