Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-06-02

o'clock yesterday morning 1t was
/ arranged that Mr.. Comings should
render the badges and keys to the
incoming chiefs at the apartment of
the Lincolns, so accordingly he was
Ia ny lsments fer tthis ta<T OF the pro-
gram. He arrived at the frehouse
about 1870 and was greeted by s
| large number of the Lincoln men
and foremen of the other companies
of the city, who had been invited.
| Seeing that they were ready for the
| incoming chief the Lincolns then
sent delegation by means of the
hose wagon to the home of Mr.
'O'Hara, whom they brought back to
the house with great pomp and with
much cheering.
Before releasing the badges and
keys to the incoming chiefs, Mr..
Comings heartily thanked Paul M.
Woitscheck and Mr.. O'Hara, who
had served under him, the former as
second assistant and the latter as
first assistant, for their faithful and
obedient services, stating that he be-
lieVed there existed no more efficient
volunteer fire officers In the United
States. Mr.. Comings also highly
praised the proficient manner In
which the men had served under the
three chiefs, their bravery at a fire,
and their dauntlessness when 1t was
a case Of running q new hat, suit or
other articles OF clothing in fighting
the flames.
Then the retiring head of the de-
,r{, cd
O'Hara, of the Lincoln Engine Com
pany, with the insignia of the office
of chief; Paul NJ. Woitscheck, of the
Garfield Engine Company, with the
symbol of first assistant chief and
Frank E. Tooker, Jr., of the McClel-
Ian Engine Company, with the badge
of second assistant chief. He also
presented them with the keys men
toned above. Just then In a lusty
voice Foreman Munoz, Of the Lin
coins, proposed a big cheer for the
chiefs and the ex-chiefs, which was
vociferously responded to, and made
the little building tremble and out
siders on the street stop to ascertain
the meaning Of SO much eXuberance.
Refreshments were then serevd, but
when the minute and hour hands of
Mr.. Comings' watch reached IL
o'clock, the retiring chief was at box
No. 81 sending in the taps which told
the city that the new officers had sas-
sumed their positions in the fire de-
partment. Hardly had Mr.. Comings
returned from the box to the fire.
house before a terrific clatter OF
horses hoofs we're heard outside and
members Of the Eagle Hose and
Chemical Company were on the scene
yelling In no modest tones, Long
live the chief"
When Ex-Chief Comings was seen
at his home today and asked about
his year of service as chief, and what
principal happenings had taken place
he said:
"The total fire damage during my
year was s162,790, which is a record
year, as there were an unusual num-
Der of big fires since | took office last
June. There were seventy alarms
sent in, five of which were false. The
fire causing the largest damage was
that at the New Jersey Terra Gotta
Company on September 8, of last
year, with $4,000 damage. The next
largest damage was caused by the
Pardee Works fire December IS, of
the same year, with 100000 dam
age" other fires the chief mention
ed were as follows: Carbon and
Strieff, variety store in State street,
$4,000; the fire consuming the ice
| house and other buildings in the
vicinity of Miller street, November 5,
$1,000; Wilentz tobacco factory, De-
cember IS, $4,000, and others rang
ing around $4,000. though most OF
the fires during the year did smaller
/ damage.
| Continuing Mr.. Comings said
\ CONTINUED on page 2.l