Evening journal., 1917-12-14
CITY FIRE Chief
Denounced: FAME
MEN IN service
contlnued from First page.

IOlInueQ from Ilct fdtts
was the only one heard by the Coun-
cilnen, who held a recess and discussed
the subject after a communication had
been received from the fire chief stat
ing that he had suspended tho Fame
Fire Company.
Following the action Of Council last
nieht, and Just as Council adjourned,
members Of Council were attacked YER
hally by George Donohoe. a brother OF
First Assistant Fire Chief Donohoe, who
Is member Of the Phoenix Fire Com
panv and reported to be slated for the
position OF chief engineer of the do
psrtment at the next election. Mr.
nonohoe declared Council had acted
unfair in not giving Chief Golden a
chance 10 explain his side Of the case
after they had heard witnesses asainst
him After Mr. Donohoe started his
TRADE the room was in an uproar, and
within few minutes debates were
warm between Mr.. Donohoe, Jacob
Zimmerman, a former Councilman. who
shouted that the fire chief should be
hanged for refusing 10 help people In
distress. William J. Lutz and other fire
men. Several Of the Councilmen took
sides In the argument and endeavored
10 explain that the action of Fire Chief
Golden in suspendng the Fame Com
pany had caused a change in the propo-
-ition 10 hear the chiefs side Of the
,ase. as had been planned ON Wednes-
lay night. Several others present APP
peared TO think that Council should
have given Chief Golden a chance TO
explain his reasons for not sending help
10 New Castle. but they all appeared
10 think that he erred in not respond
.ng to the call
The matter was brought TO The at
iention Of Council by Councilman John
son, Of the First ward. chairman Of
The IRE committee when he presented
fhe letter from Chief Golden stating
hat the Fame Company had been
suspended for thirty days for leaving
he city without his permission. The
etter was laid on the table, and after
he regular business Of Council had
'een disposed of, a recess was taken.
At this conference Chief Of Police
Black was sent for lie stated that ON
Wednesday morning he received word
from the telephone exchange that o
serious fire was in progress at the
munition plant at New Castle and that
help was NEEDED Chef Black said ne
.old the operator to get in touch with
he fire chief. and the operator said
he had refused 10 send assistance.
chief Black then related how ne finally
got Chief Golden on the phone at the
lire chiefs room and asked him what
he had done about the New Castle fire.
aud the flro chief replied that nothing
had been done At The same time Chief
Golden. according io Chief Black start
ID to tell him something about sending
ure apparatus 10 another fire there
some time ago, but that the apparatus
WAS not used. Chief Golden also said
lkat he was in authority in such mat
lers and was the ono who should be
consulted before any lire company was
ordered out Of tho city
Getting Mayor Lawson on The phone
ne chief said the mayor wanted 10
know il the call for help had been CON
lrmed Efforts 10 get New Castle on
NE phone ai that time failed Chief
Black said and shortly afterwards the
Telephone operator called again for
help, saying ihst the explosions were
recurring at tho plant because help
lad not been sent.
sc that time ths report Of the de-
donations were heard here, and Chief
Black explained how he called CITY
Councilman Johnosn and the Fame Fire
Company and told them of lho calls
Tor help being received here. Chief
Black said that in case the fire ap-
paratus was not wanted Go nglt the
flames 8t the plant they could have
been used as ambul9nccs. IL NEEDED. and
ihe firemen could have assisted in re-
moving the cases of shells from the
burning plant. llc also explained how
ihe police patrol had hceu rushed 40
the scene loaded with strclchcrs
Councilman Johnson then told how
on receipt of the messago from Chief
Black he called Chief Golden and told
him Of the fire and Of The fire chief re-
fusine 90 do anything unless the call
wac -sidrmed. Thc fire chief. Johnson
said, -5t 10 his breakfast l,aicr when
he, Nh Johnson. informed the fire chief
al the Fame company being ordered TO
the fire. Chief Golden according TO Mr..
Johnson. s9id tnat he was fire chief and
would have 90 be recognized as such.
Councilman Nlearns "a member OF the
fire committee. said that ho had been
advised OF the call by Mr. Johnson ali
he ordered him 20 use his own iudg-
ment in the matter offering 90 stand
behind hum and 30 send 0ne-half the
city apparatus il necessary.
The Council recess was then con-
ruded and on the return of The Coun-
cilmen 20 the Chambers, the letter from
lhe Ore chief was recalled from the
able. Councilman Mcarns Then made
motion that the action of the fire chief
10 suspending the Fame Fire Company
be not sustained Councilman Johnson
branded the letter from the Ore chief
% a disgrace, saving that IN times of
war when the soldiers lighting under
pld Glocy need shells that 70 was wrong
70 criticize flremen who risked their
lives IN trying TO save tho destruction of
nunition plants
councilman Nlearns spoke on The mat
ter before the vote was taken saving
There are many thipgs In Wilmington
we are proud Of and one OF them is ths
volunteer flremen. We are also prour
of our record IN behalf Of the Red cross
he Liberty Loan and other movements