Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-18
SPEED BUGS MUST
NOT CHASE TRUCK
AUTO MANIACS RACE TO FIRES
IN WAKE OF NEW MOTOR
APPARATUS.
WOULD BURN BARNS
Lads Reported to Have Attempted to
Destroy Buildings in Order to
Watch Machine Make
Run.

The police department and city COM
missioners are hot on the trail Of those
who becoming auto mad, race their
cars in the wake of the fire truck when
| it is answering alarms. A number OF
instances is reported by the firemen
and others who have been endangered
and the police intend to prosecute to
the limit any persons caught offending
in this manner in the future. A glar-
ing instance of this was seen Friday
evening when the fire truck was called
to vacant house at 1917 West Main
street.
Gallagher is Aroused.
Chief Gallagher in speaking Of the
matter this morning said he would like
to know the trio in runabout that
raced after the truck Friday evening.
He states that the Rock Island pass
enger train had just arrived and he
was on Washington street coming from
the depot when the truck passed.
Coming right behind the new truck
was this bunch of madmen. There
were three Of them in runabout and
they passed Washington street so
fast that was unable to recognize any
of the occupants much less get their
number. The horn was kept going
and they made nearly as much noise
as the fire truck. I would willingly
have given SIS to have known who
they were and they would have been
given the limit.
"This kind of madness has to stop.
1t is not only foolish thing to do,
but is most dangerous to life and
limb. The firemen are endangered be-
cause when they near the place of the
fire some of them drop off and drag
the hose from the truck which con-
tinues on.
"They have no means of protection
from this speed maniac Neither has
the person along the street. 1t is
natural for the people on the sidewalk
to step into the street as soon as the
fire truck passes In order to see
where the fire is. Such are the prey
of the mad autoist who run reckless
ly as did those Friday night My
search for the offenders has not STOP
ped and If they are apprehended they
will pay for speeding and endangering
lives Of others on the city streets"
Nor was this all that aroused the
ire of the police and fire departments.
The sending in of false alarms and the
actual starting of incendiary fires by
small boys apparently to see the new
motor truck race to the blaze or an
swer the phony alarms, is a new past
ime that has been discovered by the
police. The fire run on West Main
street last night was one of the false
1oy nj
police have thus far received as to
the sender is that it was small boy.
The alarm was sent in from the Cas-
tor cement block factory on South Nc
Lean street after 7 o'clock last even.
ing after the shop had been closed and
the employees all gone. The depart
ment was told the fire was at 1917
West Main street and upon reaching
that place found 1t to be a vacant
house and no signs Of fire apparent.
Mr.. Caster was not aware Of the
alarm and the police think that mis-
chievous boy in order to see the truck
make a trip, broke into the shop and
used the phone.
Several cases Of incendiarism and
attempted incendiarism are reported
to the police on the south side. The
cases are being investigated and the
officers have at number of young boys
under surveillance. A short time ago
a barn was fired on the south side but
the tenant Of the place on which it
stood discovered the fire in time to
extinguish it without the need of the
department. A more recent case was
but a few nights ago when another
barn was made the object of attack.
Here in the manger was found board
and IN this was bundle Of light wood
from which cigar boxes are made. A
quantity of coal oil was poured on the
fuel. The woman residing at the
place saw the boys before the fire was
started and fastened into the barn in
time to prevent its destruction. The
police department believe 1t is a
mania Of some of the lads for sight
of the motor truck in action, but a
strict lookout is being kept and the
suspected youths are being watched.