Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-05-10
FLAG IS
FLOATING OVER
CITY OF JUAREZ
ROCKS, CHIEF
OF FIRE DEPT.
O'Hsra Wins for Second
Assistant Over kroeqsr.

E
Patrick Rocks was elected chief
engineer of the fire department last
night; Frank Comings first assistant,
and William P. O'Hara second assist
ant. Rocks received 1873 votes, while
Comings received the full count of
191. O'Hara won over Peter Kroeger
by majority of SO votes.
The election was held in the as
sembly room of the police station
and was in charge of Chief Theodore
Anderson, assisted by the secretaries
of the different companies. Although
the polls were opened at Z o'clock
very few votes were registered before
s o'clock. Everything ran along
smoothly for the chief and first as
sistant, but this was not the case for
the second assistant Wagons and
automobiles were used to bring the
delinquent votes to the polling places
by the candidates. Electioneering in
front of the city hall reminded one
Of a bitter struggle for alderman or
some other important office.
Large Vote Polled.
Total enrolment of the bonifide
f1remen in this city numbers 210 and
out of this number 191 responded at
the polls last night. At $50 O'Clock
line Of men from the sidewalk in
front of the city hall to the balloting
place were waiting to cast their vote
for their choice. Promptly as the
clock sounded the hour of nine Chief
Anderson ordered all votes invalid
that were not cast.
The task OF counting the votes
lasted until 9:35 o'clock. Patrick
Rocks received 1873 votes, losing
three. Frank Comings was unani-
mously elected, receiving the total
number of votes cast William P.
OHara forged way ahead of his op-
ponent, Peter Kroeger, polling 1876
votes against Kroeger's 66, winning
by majority of 90 votes. AS soon
as the fremen ascertained the result
of the contest they hooted and yelled
for over ten minutes and lighted the
park with red and green fire,
Taps Sounded for Winner.
Three taps were sent in at High
son, denoting that O'Hara was the
choice of the fremen. Forming In
line in front of the city hall and
headed by the present chief, followed
by the chief and assistants-elect to-
gether with the firemen and appara-
tus, to the music of the Washin gton
Fife and Drum Corps started on par
DOWN Hfgn street TO SrrYv,r- -rr.--
marched, up Smith to State, where
they went as far as Chauncey street,
where they countermarched back
down State street, whench they
marched to Moose Hall, where a re-
past was served. All along the line
Of march red fire illuminated the
way. When the procession passed
Mcclellan house yells of three cheers
for billie" O'Hara rent the air. The
usual custom of the incoming chief
to make a speech of acceptance and
thanks was this year eliminated at
the banquet. Chief Theodore Ander-
son will accustom Mr.. Rocks TO his
new duties and on June 1 will turn
over the keys of the department to
him.
Mr. Rocks is a member of McClel-
Ian Engine Company and well
thought of by the members of his
own company and other firemen in
this city. Frank Comings, an earnest
der Company No. l, as first assistant
received the total vote cast.
Second Assistant Contest.
The fight for second assistant be-
tween O'Hara, of the Lincolns, and
Kroeger, of the Eagles, grew out of
differences caused by the Eagles
sending a man in this contest this
year as the chief last year was a
member of their company.
The following men acted as tellers
of the election: George T. Larson,
Eagle Hose & Chemical Company;
Anton Wodder. Mcclellan Engine
Company; Walter Martin, Lincoln
Engine Company No !; Andrew An
derson, Washington Hose & Chemical
Company; Joseph Hornsby, Protec-
ton Hook & Ladder Company;
George Miller, Of Liberty Hook &
Ladder Company, and Nelson Smith,
of the Garfelds. George Mead and
James McCabe, both of the Protec-
ton Hook & Ladder Company, each
received one vote for chief.
Chief Anderson's Record.
Chief Anderson has worked hard
for the good of the department while
in office, always ready to do anything
that meant improvement for the de-
partment. Very few alarms have
been missed by him and he has al
ways performed his work in credit
able manner and will leave the head
of the department with a record to
be proud of. The many improve
ments in the department can be at
tributed to his untiring efforts and it
was he who advocated placing two
men in each fire house
The Chiefs Rig.
Nothing definite as yet has been
decided relative to giving the incom-
ing chief a horse and wagon. The
rig now used by the chief is the prop
erty of the city, as we'll as the har-
ness, but the horse is the property Of
Chief Anderson. Alderman-at-Large
VOORHEES, said 1t is probable that the
council will hire a horse for the use
of Patrick Rocks, who takes office on
June