The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-13
GOOD MEN LEAVE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Numerous designations Followed
by Rulnors That Others
Will Quit.
TRANSFERS ARE NUMEROUS
Believed That Board Will Be
Forced to Investigate
Conditions.
TRANSFERS ARE NUMEROUS

| That there is serious disruption IN
| the Fire Department is evidenced by
| the fact that three men--Captain Ram
key. originally of Engine Company No.
); Engineer William M. Lucas, OF the
same company, and w. r. Reyes,
driver in No. Company--have re-
| signed, and there is rumor OF more
designations to come. Such wholesale
designations signify. said citizen last
| night, that something is wrong, and
| when one of the Fire Commissioners
was asked what was the cause OF the
trouble he had nothing to say except
! that 1T was, perhaps, due to the fact
into their heads that they are deserv-
| ing OF something better
| The original trouble seems to have
started in Engine Company No. 5, on
| Brook Avenue, where not long ago, for
| some reason not yet explained, the men
| did not speak to each other except
| when on duty. That trouble has never
| been explained, either by the men in
| the company or by the Board Of Fire
| Commissioners.
| Got Dispositions.
But so it was learned yesterday, the
| board thought seriously enough OF the
| situation to have every man in that
! company make a deposition. But what
that deposition was for or why 1t was
| necessary TO ask Tor ~ mas not yet been
| learned
The iiremen--those who know best
not talking. Chief ~. II. Joynes has
said several times th2t he did not know
an avalanche Of designations. But the
main seat of the difficulty seems to
be in No. Engine House. on Brook
Avenue.
On June Engineer Goodman, OF
Company No. 10. located on West
Broad Street, was transferred to En-
CINE. Company No. o. on Brook Avenue
Engineer Goodman Is related by ,,n mar "a r
keppler Goodman is also brother
in-law to Captain Gill, formerly OF
Engine Company, No. on Third
Street, who was transferred to Engine
Company No. 5.
! Fire Commissioners is considering the
question of transferring Driver B.sby
from No to No. z. Captain Gllrs
Captain Gill's brother Is driver. Thus
in Engine Company, No. 5, If this be
followed out according to rumor, there
the three men tracing some relation t.
: Fire Commissioner Keppler. 1t wa:
rumored yesterday that Engineer Mil
:. Ter, who has been in the department
forty-twS years VIII resign on &c
. Assistant Chief Wise. The disagree
. ment occurred. it is said. week ago
q There are also rumors of other resig
- nations to come.
d Attitude of Chief.
- Though no one has come out directl,
:, to say 1t. there Is also said to be som
:. dissatisfaction among. the men abou
), the attitude of Chief Ioynes The mel
- are said to be disgruntled because o
q certain arbitrary rules originated b.
!, Chief Joynes. For instance. 1t Is sal
= that the men In n. =, cert'aia esompan
"a unexpected arrival short time age
J., ~ They were playing dominoes in tn
ID room, above their quarters. Suddenl
~ turned and the dominoes were scat
Dr. tered all over the floor.
s, Every man took his position, read
re for a fire alarm They saluted the chic
"a as he passed by; He salqted in return
OF dominoes was finished. and ther
r seemed to have been no, occasion 70
w the Interruption. To the assemble
ne desire for show. The show lasted oni
IA a few minutes. It is said that Chic
e. Joynes had issued an order that when
n ever he appeared the men were to tax
It their proper positions and salute. The
&c took their positions and saluted.
Another reason assigned as one. G
= the causes OF the designations is tina
"a the firemen, being assigned to. certai
90 companies, make their homes nearb
&c their companies, so as always to b
rs rs ready for duty and SO as to be cor
~ venient to their companies at the time
~, they are supposed to be free frol
~ work.
"a Transfers Expensive.
81 Transfers from a company in or
n n part OF the city to company In til
a., other end means that the fireman mu!
S make a new home. or else be put to
a lot of Inconvenience. Every firema
W; it is said. makes his home as near {
possible to the engine company
a which he is assigned. II the is change
IN he must make a new home, for he
It, free from duty only three days
d. month, and then, paradoxical as it me
as seem, he is still on duty. II an alar
of fire is rung in, he must respond. ]
matter whether he be .sut with his wi
r and family, or not The hrem ,,,. ayr
he they want little more recognition
81 what they term their rights.
as The present trouble will probably r
,e. suit in a general Investigation, 1t
er said for wholesale designations fro
H. among the best men, on the force wi
ee it is feared, seriously hamper the q
nd partment in performing efficient work