The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-12-05
Take Sides In COveny
Fire Controversy
Continued from page sne)

Inc ire IN question broke out
about 1000 Wednesday evening
in the barn which was attached
to the building. 1t is not known
how the fire started. A call was
received at the st. Johnsburv fire
station, and Chief Johnston res
pended with the big combination
truck. Subsequent developments
at the fire have been interpreted
in one way by the St. Johnsbury
fremen, and in an opposing way
by Chief Johnston and the men,
who accompanied him to the scene
of the fire.
Following is the letter received
at the Caledonian-Record office
ST. Johnsbury Center
Dec. 3 1921
As citizens of the village of St.
Johnsbury Center:
We would like to reply to the
report that was published in the
Caledonian-Record on Thursday
and also to some suggestions made
by your Chief G. r. Johnston. Of
course we do not expect every
fire can be extinguished, but we
do expect that when the chemical
is called from ST. Johnsburv it is
to be of some benefit, but in this
case, it proved a failure and so did
the chief of the department.
When the chemical arrived az
the Coyeny house our firemen as
sisted in putting up the ladders
and getting the hose ready Mean
while Mr.. Johnston was calling
for a telephone instead of start
ing the chemical as was his bust
ness to do, his fireman not proving
able. However, one of them in five
or ten minutes accidently got the
right valve, and in five or ten
minutes more were a help. But
their chemicals soon ran dry and
instead of refilling as you would
expect in a fire of this nature
preceded to roll up their hose and
go home.
Now according to Mr.. Johns
tons theory a bucket brigade
could have stopped the fire. AS
he had charge or was surposed
to have, why didn't he order it
done. And as it goes on to say
the hand pump was brought on
the scene, but as the packings in
the valve were dry it refused to
work. But let US tell Mr.. Johns
ton one thing that we made an
effort to do our bit and not stand
against the fence and give orders
that did not amount to anything.
We have had the chemical up
here twice this summe and it APP
pears to be managed by bunch
of inefficient men, and the way it
was handled was about equal to
some boys at play. AS is costs
about $50 tr'- the people in the
town who pay taxes feel it should
do something toward putting out
4 fire.
Mr.. Johnston further states
should sufficient apparatus been
provided it would have been pos
sible to have saved part of the
We would like to know
what he means by that? We did
practically all that was done with
our own chemicals and from our
point of view the only reason the
chemical came up for was to sec
the fire. Let US tell Mr.. Johnston
if we had, had the apparatus that
he had to work with and couldn't
made and better showing than he
has made at the last two fires at
the Center, we would resign and
get out.
Trustees Of the village of st. !
put back your old
Chief and firemen so that the peo- |
pie in st. Johnsbury and sur |
communities where their |
property is threatened by fire, !
may know that it will be protected |
by men who are experienced in |
fighting fire.
Signed,
St. Johnsburv Center fremen
c. i. Lafoe
B. l.. Gardner, 1St assistant Eng.
f. f. Emley, Chief Engineer
Dean Hall
James Johnston
n. r. Durham
V. K. Boyce
John +. Drew
George p. Wheeler
Il. A. Lafoe
f. 7. Brewer
H. c. Wheeler
f. l.. Morrill,
Frid Robinson
A. l.. Chaffee
A. o. Astle
A. B. Goliath.
The apparent failure on the
,art of fireman to open a valve
IN the combination truck, Chief
ohnston explained Monday morn
no was due to the fact that it is
necessary to wait a few minutes
ftcr turning a chemical mixture
n rnt nrosS1re sufficient TO fight