Evening journal., 1920-09-02
FRIENDSHIP WILL
Fight FIRES
Continued From First PAGE J


need for going outside The city for ap-
paratus. His hope. however. proved
vain. Incidentally Mr.. Abrahams was
IN position by virtue of his business
connections and experience durlag ihe
war 10 acl authorltatlVely. To consult
with his fellow members Of the fire
committee would have create unavoid-
able delay and loss Of valuable time.
his data.
As result Of Mr.. Abrahams' activi-
iits by noon yesterday, or within u
hOurs after The five companies had alb
fuplly quit service the agent with
whom he had been in communication
was in Wilm ngon, summoned by
telephone, and conferred Yesterday
AFTERNOON and last night with mem-
Ders OF Council on The situation and
ms morning departed for New York
with exact knowledge Of what appara-
tus Is needed to bring the local depart
ment up TO. the required standard. He
= expected to return to Wilmington
late today or to telephone his informa-
tiOn.
In this connection if was further
learned today that efforts were made
yesterday and last night 10 purchase
some OF the apparatus owned by the
i've quitting companies. The company
oucefS, however, announced that all
live had determined e. stand or fan
to2ether and that il the city wanted
any Of their apparatus, they must
take 1t all-modern or old, good or
bad-in lump. The negotiators for
the city decided to take none at all
on such terms.
AS a happy offset to this stand by
Inc FIVE rnnng|1inE that B.
developed today that the Friendship
company, which weeks ago no.ified the
city Of its intention to retire from
service after an honorable career Of
14o years, had ordered its drivers to
remain at the fire house, Hamilton
and Tatnall streets, and respond to
any calls which Fire Chief William
j. Lutz might make upon them for
assistance. The Friendship has two
pieces of flame fighting apparatus. a
motor engine and motor combination
chemical and hose truck. This gives
the city seven equipped fire companies
or a majority Of the twelve which
formerly were in service.
The Friendship company upon de-
Gliding TO retire, gave the city first
option on its apparatus, setting the
price at $1,000. 1t is probable that
City Council tonight will avail itself
of this offer, and thus make the ap-
paraius a permanent part of the city's
fire lighting resources.
Throughout his negotiations, Mr.
Abrahams has been seconded at every
hand by Charles Forwood, chairman
of the finance committee Of Council,
who largely has control OF the city's
purse Strings. Mr. Forw0Od like Mr..
Abrshams, has striyen to effect a
compromise with the flve obstructing
fire companies. but realizing that
such efforts were vain, turned his at
tenlion to procuring sufficient ap-
paratus from outside the city to meet
/ such an emergency as has arisen.
Thus it was that little was done or
definite nature toward meeting the
emergency at the meeting Of City
4 Council in committee of the whole
I last night Several members brought
up the subject, but James G. Mearns,
who is a member OF the finance COM
mittee, and Mr. Abrahams shut of
, discussion by announcing that plans
were underway which would salts
factorily answer the requirements OF
the situation.
II is the Intention Of Council that
Chief LutZ assign the apparatus,
which will be purchased by the city
among the various fire houses which
have remained loyal, and which have
proved by their activities the past
twenty-four hours. that they are alert
and "on the job
For example. yesterday afternoon,
The Reliance Company responded TO
an alarm from Fifth and King streets.
Smoke was issuing from the rear
| basement OF the OGDEN Howard Com
pany The tiremen promptly broke
down the doors leading to the base
ment and dragged out a motor truck
and some smoldering materials which
in some manner had caught fire
False alarms form the chief fear
Of the loyal companies. There was
one Yesterday morning, at Tenth and
Orange streets, found to have been
purposely sent in by someone un-
known Then again there was one
last evening, at Front and JustsOn
streets. Investigation revealed that
two men were seen TO have driven to
Box %. on that corner. in a Ford car,
One of the men leaped out, broke the
glass in the box and sent in an alarm.
He then leaped back into the Ford
and drove rapidly off with his COM
paniou
This morning, about . o'clock the
firemen were given another monkey
run" caused by someone tampering
with the wires, according to the po-
lice. The number struck apparently
was i2i, but the box had not been
opened. The report made at the po-
lice station shows the numbers not
properly spaced, and was probably
due to someone using a piece OF wire
on one OF the strikers somewhere.
To put a stop TO such practices, II
is probable that the fire committee OF
Council will have City Solicitor Hux-
ley draw up an ordinance providing
for a Jail sentence for sending in
false alarms. The present ordinance
on the subject merely provides for a
fine Of from 500 to $50
1t further is probable that Council
will ask the police department to di=-
connect fire alarm communications
with the five striking company houses
and remove from them the strikers
and electrical equipment for signalling
all Of which belongs to the city and
not the companies
So far as was learned today there
has been no action as yet by under
writer's towards increasing the insur-
- Z