The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-28
STIR AMONG FIREMEN
NUTLEY DEPARTMENT TORN
BY MANY DlSSENSIONS.
Men Accused of Drenching Each Other.
Avondale Company May Disband.
Officers Resign.

a special meeting of the Nutley Fire
Commissioners was held in the Council
chambers last night for the purpose of in
vestigating the charges and counter
charges arising from the wet down. given
the members of Avondale Hose Company
at the Erie Railroad bridge fire in West
Nutley last Wednesday morning about 8
O'Clock. One version. is that while the
Avondale company were working under the
bridge In the eulvert First Assistant Chief
Wright Sutteliffe slipped, and. to save
himself from falling down into the hole
underneath. grasped George Hawkesworth,
the president of the company, who had the
pipe directing the water on the flames.
This caused Hawkesworth to swing around
the nozzle and some of the member of
Yantacaw Engine Company were ~sprinkIed
quite freely. 1t is alleged that some Que
ordered the Yantacaws or West Nutley
Hose Company to turn the hose on the
Avondale boys, which was done with a
vengeance, three of Avondales members
being soaked With water.
Naturally they made a determined kick,
but were not sustained by Chief Henry H.
Stager, of the Nutley fire department, and
talk OF suspension was heard, which did
not tend to settle the difficulty.
Another story is that the engineer of the
milk train which WAS held up by the fire
wanted TO cross the bridge with a lantern
TO ascertain whether 1t would or Would
not be safe, and the Avondales, who were
working underneath the bridge, were or
dered to turn off the water from their hose,
but owing to the noise did not hear the
order, or. II So. did not understand, and
the hose from above was turned on them.
drenching several of them so that the
water ran out of their shoes.
Commissioner William N. Halsey, chair
man of the fire committee, called the meet
ing to order and stated that the meeting
had been called for the purpose of hearing
he evidence in reference to charges to be
preferred by Chic ~Stager. The chief
charged that the members of Avondale
Hose Company had violated several sec
charged President George Hawkesworth
and Secretary Robert *. Donaldson with
having said that the water was turned on
them by orders of the chief. This was
emphatically denied by Hawkesworth, who
claimed that what he did say was that the
chief was standing near when the order
was given.
Councilman Henry f. Banta said that he
heard that Hawkesworth said the chief
ordered the water turned, or understood
him to so state.
Chief Stager said that If Hawkesworth
would publish a retraction over his name
In the paper, he Wonld be satisfied. as he
had to protect his reputation and his bust
ness. Hawkesworth declined to make a
retraction, claiming that he could not re-
tract something he had never said.
Secretary Donaldson was charged with
turning en- the water at a fire IN Avondale
some months ago without authority. This
was proven to be an error, however, as it
was clearly shown that this was the act
Of a man not now a member of the depart
ment. He was also charged with infrac-
tiOn of the rules.
Both Hawkesworth and Donaldson were
suspended awaiting the action of the Fire
Commissioners Chief Stager claimed that
the members of Avondale had refused TO
take orders from is assistants.
Second Assistant Chief Lester Kierstead
rendered his resignation as such, giving his
reason that his orders were not obeyed.
and when Hawkesworth and Donaldson
lad turned in the badges and fire KEYS,
First Assistant Chief Wright Suttcllffe
marking that Avondale Hose Company
would meet on Thursday night, and init
mated that the company would iisband.
Chief Stager said that he was sorry, but
the feeling that existed between the cont
paHies should not be allowed to continue.
that he had nothing personal against any
member Of Avondale Company, but what
he was doing was to try and bring about
harmony in the department. During the
discussion about the hose playing, Frank
stated that he had charge of the nozzle
when the AVondale boys were drenched,
but stated the water from the Avondale's
hose was thrown through the bridge from
underneath and struck him In the face. He
said thet he shouted to them to turn the
water the other way aid TO look out. and
had hardly got through talking when he
got a second dose. He then turned the
water down in the direction the water
came from thar had wet him..
Councilman Conrad A. Joerg, who Is one
of the fire committee, endeavored TO per-
Suade Hawkesworth to publish n retrac-
ton. but he still reiterated that he had
not said the chief had given the order to
adjourned to await the action Of the Fire
Commissioners