Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-22

TWO more OF the engines 10 the
Kinder Refuses Request
Robert IL. Irons, of the Central
Iron and Steel Company, yesterday
made known his desire for two more
engines to Fire Chief Kinder and
Assistant Fire Chief Verbeke. Nei-
ther of them could see his way clear
to send two additional engines to the
iron company plant, IN view of the
fact that two of the engines were
out of use while beirS repaired.
They were acting in accordance with
instructions of Mr.. Gross, they are
alleged to have said.
Alarm Is Sounded
The iron company official is then
reported to have declared that he
would sound an alarm and have the
engines respond through that meth
od. Assistant Fire Chief Verbeke was
at one of the firehouses and had
started to telephone to the different
houses in the district, requesting
that they should not respond in the
event of an alarm from Box 442 at
the Central Iron and Steel Company
plant.
Hardly had he picked up the re-
ceiver for one of the calls when the
alaHh was struck. Immediately aft
er the alarm had stopped ringing,
he stepped to the fireboX and sound
ed the three taps to indicate that
the fire was unGer control, and so
only the Washington Hose Com
pany responded.
Mr.. Irons then took up the matter
with Mr.. Gross, who. in turn, despite
his alleged previous orders, ordered
Chief Kinder to send the Citizen
and Good Will Companies to the
scene of the fire.
IA Hours i'm Action
At that time the Susquehanna
engine had been at the plant operat-
ing for 144 hours continuously, and
the Hope and Paxton engines were
being repaired. So only the Friend
ship fire engine and the bumpers
of the Camp Curtin and Mount
Pleasant Companies were available
for Immediate use. The Citi-
zen and Good Will engines could
have been brought into the city for
use after considerable delay, while
the Susquehanna engine was en'clos-
ed in a house at the iron company
plant, built for it's protection during
its long period of work.
The Paxton engine became avail
able for use again this morning
when battery troubles had been re-
paired.
Irons Praises Men
Mr.. Irons to-day did not care to
make any comment in reference To
the situation. He said the three
engines now at the plant, are CO.
operating to the full extent OF their
power and that he expects that the
fire will be eXtinguished before eve
ming. 1t was said by others, how
ever, that the iron already melted, is
entirely lost. The value of the iron
in the heap is said to be 10000.
Mr.. Gross, in giving his side of the
matter, said the Central Iron and
Steel Company, had asked that the
entire fire department be sent to the
fire. At first he said, he thought
the Susquehanna company engine
could render all assistance necessary.
The Paxton engine had been at the
fire for several days until it de-
veloped mechanical trouble, he said.
When the matter was presented TO
him later, Mr.. Gross said, he decided
to send the Citizen and Goodwill
engines. Chief Kinder he said, was
not disposed to send additional en-
gines. feeling that it was necessary
70 have engines in each of the CITY
districts.
Chief Kinder. it was said TODAY.
had advised against the location of
The Citizen and Goodwill engines at
the iron company plant