The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-04-12
INVESTIGATING THE FIRE.
Board Of Fire Masters Take Testi-
mony and Make Recommendations. .
.... Full Report.

Excelsior Hose Company; and John
B. Eigleberger, president of the Truck
Company Of colored fire department.
Of Newberry, held a meeting on Tues
day afternoon to inquire into the
causes and incidents connected with
the recent fire at Newberry so that
they might make report to the comp
troller general, as required by law,
and to the city council. The examin-
alton of witnesses was conducted by
Mr.. T. H. Dominick, city attorney.
Their report will be submitted to the
city council along with the evidence
taken at the hearing.
The Herald and News prints in this
connection a stenographic report of
the testimony taken before the board
of fire masters. While the report has
not yet been written out, The Herald
AMID News understands that the report
will concur in the recommendation Of
the chamber of commerce as to in
creasing the area Of the fire limits. It
will also recommend that a building
inspector be appointed and employed
by the city to inspect all buildings
that may be erected hereafter and to
see that the chimneys and flues are
properly protected so as to make
them as nearly fire proof as possible
The report will also request the com
missioners Of public works to re-
quire the superintendent TO go to the
power house Immediately upon the
alarm Of fire being turned in and to
remain there so as to see that if pos
sible the machinery is kept in good
working order and that an employee
of the commissioners shall also go to
the standpipe and remain there dur
ing fire.
AS to the causes of the failure of
the water supply during the recent
fire at the "critical moment,' the
report reaches mo conclusion, but
simply submits the testimony. 1t
does the same as to the cause Of the
fire.
The report also recommends the
purchase Of another power pump to
be put in the second well, and also an
air compressor. 1t is also recon-
mended that an authomatic self-re@is-
tering pressure gauge be procured
for the superintendent s Office, which
will register the pressure at all times,
and which can be filed away so that
the pressure any given date III the
past nav be obtained by reference to
this register. 1t is also recommended
that a pressure gauge be placed on
the side of the valve at the stand
pipe next to the water main, so that
the man at the standpipe can tell II
the pressure is off from the pump.
Testimony In Detail.
Testimony taken before Board OF
Fire Masters on Tuesday, April .,
1907, at 6 p. m.
Mr.. r. C. Williams, being duly
sworn, says:
O. Do You own the building, Mr..
Williams, in which the fire started
on Friday?
a. Yes sir.
, @. About what time Of day did the
fire bcgin7
! A. T do not know exactly, but I
Ashould say about II :45 or - O'Clock.
@. Where did the fire startq
m A. was in the store, which [ oc-
klupied at that time, and the building
h which the fire started.
@: When did you first see the fireq
A. I saw it after the fire bell rang.
O. Tn what condition was the house
that time7
IA. A small flame was going one or
DO feet above the house.
Q. And the flames were near the
: he?
H.. Yes sir. The flames seemed to
near the comb Of the roof, is my
l,llection, but the flue was further
I'm. The flue was nearer the caves
athe house than the comb, but I
Rnot positive where I saw the fire,
ther it was in Main street or
md street. One Of my sons came
ugh the store and said the fire
was ringing. T was sitting at my
Some one told me that my
was on fire. Mr.. Ray Watts said
bid me, but I do not remember