Evening star., 1914-08-23
YEARS Ago
In THE STAR

Washington was greatly interested in
its fire department at this time fifty
years ago, and espe-
New Fire Alarm cially in the matter
r,.:.s of the new automatic
GAPioAneu. alarm system Just in
stalled. In The Star Of August IS. 1884.
is an article descriptive Of the first ring
teenth Street Baptist Church by means Of
electricity. The same article also con-
tains the following directions to the hold
ers of keys to the fire alarm telegraph
boxes:
Upon the discovery OF positive infor-
nation Of a fire near your signal box the
key holder will unlock the door and turn
the crank slowly and steadily about
twenty-five times: then wait a few mo-
ments. and, II no ticking in the box or
alarm on the large bells is heard, the
crank will be turned as before until the
alarm is heard. The key holder should
never open the box or touch the crank
except in case Of fire, nor should he
allow an alarm to be given for a fire
seen at a distance. Care should be taken
that the box be locked before leaving 1t
and the key never allowed to pass out of
the holders possession, unless to some
responsible person. for the purpose OF
giving an alarm or when called for by the
superintendent. By a strict observance
Of such rules there would be but little
danger Of a false alarm Of fire.
Xxx
An interesting case arose in court hall
century ago relative to the right Of
street railway passenger
Street Car to travel on q transfer
r.e that did not strictly COM
AioneAeAs' ply with the regulations
Of the railway company. The Star OF
August 20, 1854, has an account Of the
proceedings, in part, as follows:
"This morning at II o'clock Justice
Clayton heard the evidence in the case
Of E. Ryneal, conductor, and - Roberts
driver Of street car No. 50. 7th street
branch, who are charged with assault and
battery and with fraudulently and mali
ciously ejecting William g. Coffin from
said car on the 18th instant It appeared
from the evidence of Mr.. Coffin that he
started in a car from the eastern part OF
the city and at the 7th street junction got
transfer to go north on the 7th street
branch to the patent office. He kept the
transfer in his hand and got on car No.
5S, and when the conductor passed around
Mr.. Coffin presented the transfer. The
conductor declined 1t, which refusal sur
prised the prosecutor, and he remarked
that he had just got it from the conductor
Of the car he had left The conductor
replied that he could not help it; he could
not take the transfer. Mr.. Coffin replied
that the conductor would have to sue fol-
the fare. The conductor replied that he
would not do that, but he would put him
of. Mr.. Coffin replied that he had better
not undertake that, and inquired how he
would do it, by bowie knife, pistol or 9TH
erwise? The conductor rang the bell and
stopped the car and, calling the driver.
ordered him to take hold Of Mr.. c. and
help put him off. By one pulling and the
other pushing they got him to the front
platform and there he resisted again.
"Mr. T. B. Griffin, sworn. corroborated
the evidence Of Mr.. Coffin, except that
Mr.. C. offered to fight the conductor with
manner of Mr.. c. was calculated to ex-
cite those inside and alarm. The conduc-
tor and driver did not use more than
necessary violence to put Mr.. C. OF. Be-
fore the offer Of the transfer Mr.. c. was
quiet.
THE transfer check was offered as evil
dence. 1t was dated Monday, August Is.
and was checked for the morning trip
(the trip upon which 1t was offered was
in the afternoon about o'clock. Justice
Clayton decided that the ticket ought to
have been stamped upon the other side
to indicate evening. But the passenger.
by the company's charter, had a right to
ride to the terminus of the road and the
act of the conductor on the main road
was the act of the company, for which
the passenger is not to suffer. he having
a right to ride to the terminus Of 7th
street, and the check being informal gave
the conductor no right to eject the pas
senger. The defendants were held to bail
for court In $500"
X
Washington had a cleanup experience
at this time fifty years ago, special ef-
forts being made by the
Clean City authorities to rid the
re.., streets Of accumulated
"AsS' dirt and filth. In The
Star of August 20, 1884, is this para
graph.
"a large force of contrabands. under
the direction Of Capt. Merritt, have re-
sumed the good work Of cleansing the
streets of this city Of superauous mud
and filth. The military authorities attend
to the streets and avenues and the gut
ters thereabouts and they require that
occupants of houses shall attend to their
back alleys and keep them clean by
oil lrf Nd nd