Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-01-26
ANOTHER ACHILLES.

Between nine and ten O'Clock CHS
morning, time when people engaged
in publishing an afternoon paper are
compelled to utilize every minute the
telephone bell rang. An at1ache
dropped important work to answer
the cali. The party at the other END
asked for the editor and was told he
was out. The man who had called
up said: Chow does he like the
speed made by the motor, engine
Yesterday? A house burned down
before it reached the fire."
AS will be seen elsewhere in the
Gazette, between two and three
o'clock yesterday afternoon mes
sage reached the police station that
a small unoccupied house N West
End, about one mile west Of the
present limits of the city of Alexan-
dria was burning, and requesting the
aid of the fire department immedl-
ately The motor engine started
for the scene, apparently under
steerage way only. and continued at
this speed until it passed Roberts
Lane, the western limit of the city,
when, It is said, it was "opened up"
When it reached its objective point
the house, which was a small frame
structure, was virtually destroyed,
as would have been the case had the
geni which removed Aladdin's palace
from the capital of China to Africa
come along and picked up the truck
and placed it at the fire as soon as
the message reached the city.
But enough of this. The party
who called us up is Of the Achilles
stripe, who are now sulking in then
tents because Mayor Fisher acting
upon the suggestion of the Gazette
and the remarks made in the City
Council last Tuesday night. ordered
the driver of the new adjunct to our
fire department to- operate it at a
safe speed, under pain of fine and re-
moval.
Friction in fire companies is akin
to trouble in choir lofts of churches,
and Alexandria seems at present to
be suffering from this periodical
malady. AS will be seen. William
Wood, who was elected engineer of
the Columbia fire apparatus, has de-
clined the position, and Edward j.
McDermott, another pad employee,
the extra man of the department, has
rendered his resignation. while those
in charge of the city's apparatus
seem bent upon running through the
streets at a much less speed than
allowed by thar superior officers.
The Duke of Wellington was once
asked by a disgruntled officer what
course to pursue under certain cir
cumstances. The IRON duke viewed
his lnterlocutor closely in q stern
manner and asked. what are your
orders?' Stonewall Jackson was
brought up in the same school. Our
firemen would do well to take this
hint.
A few days ago we referred TO the
danger of running the auto engine
at high speed through The streets,
of the city, especially at night.
When ere Engine No. Is Of Balti-
more rar wild for few minutes yes
terday afternoon Henry T. Tomlin-
son, the chauffeur, was thrown from
his seat against a house.
Tomlinson was driving the engine
up Calhoun street in answer to fire
alarm which proved to be false. Near
Freshman street the steering gear,
broke and the big engine swervcd
to the right and jumped uo on the
curb. The machine struck tree,
which saved the houses, but Tonllin-
son was unseated He was rot hurt,
but the tree and the engine were
damaged.