The Washington herald., 1921-03-30
ALEXANDRIA FIRE
FIGHTERS IN HUFF
THREATEN fOQUIT
Anti-Speeding Law and
Chiefs Resignation
The Cause.
THE HERALD BuREAU,
A. 8. noniphan.
72T King etrsef

LIE abhALD BUREAU,
-. 8. Doniphan,
TT King Street.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. March "a
Alexandria's fire department fire.
works exploded with one resound-
ing bang tonight.
The volunteer fremen, about $50
OF them. held mass meeting. They
told the city authorities just where
ehey stand and threatened to resign
In body unless some rather radf-
cal changes are effected in a hurry.
Ftrecrackers have been popping
thick and fast around the engine
houses for the past few days.
Practical joke.
The whole trouble started, the
nremen say, when some smart citi-
zen. in Joking mood. tried to en-
gineer "a collision one day last
week.
The Reliance company's station is
on Patrick street. downtown. The
other two companies' houses are up
town. All the houses are connected
bysa private telephone line.
Over this wire. the firemen say, an
diaE III CatuC ihNo Tie IkctldhCe nOu6t
for a fire at Union Station, uptown.
simultaneously the alarm was sent
to the other Stations for a firs at
the wharves on King street, down
town.
Near snash-up.
Drivers for all three outfits
stepped ON the gasoline har1 to,
answer those alarms. As q result
they met on Alfred street md only
some particularly cool-headcd driv-
ing prevented bad smash-up.
Now both alarms, 1t turned out,
were fakes. Careful investigation
convinced officers of all three COM
panies that whoever turned them
in climbed a pole and tapped the
wire.
Their indignation at this dirty
trick was increased MANIFOLD when
city authorities. hearing of the near
smash-up. promulgated an order
that hereafter fire apparatus should
not be driven through the streets
faster than twenty-five miles an
hour. Such an edict made them
the joke of the countryside, the
fire fighters declared.
Snich hSSbhBh ms
Fire Chief Kenneth w. Ogden
threw up his hands. The day after
the order was issued his resigna-
ton was in the hands of Mayor
Duncan.
Chief Ogden Is an old fire fighter.
He is eff1cient. He never sends
flremen where he dares not 60 him
self. As a result members of the
Alexandria department love him
from grizzled regulars to raw re-
cruits.
Criticism Resented.
An especially large firecracker
popped when the efficiency Of the
department was criticized in quar-
ters close to the city administration
and the near collision used as an
example. 1t was even intimated, the
nremen say. that they themselves
turned in the false alarms, just for
a little practical joke on each other.
Chief Ogden's resignation came
hard. The three companies held in
dignation meetings.
This forenoon they placed their
case before the Chamber of Com
merce.
mas gone 100
damned far. We're through they
told the distinguished citizens who
comprise that body.
Demands Listed.
A call instead of an alarm sys-
tenn.
An undetermined increase in pay
for the permanent men,
An increase from $3.50 to $500 a
year in convention money for each
of the three comps nies-
Unless the council grants all
these, the firemen say, there won't
be any fire department in Alexan-
dria pretty soon.
Chamber Protests.
mo, for heavens sake. don't"
pleaded the chamber officials. Wen
see what We can do"
Then tonight's mass meeting was
arranged. Mayor Duncan was there,
also a goodly representation from
the chamber.
When Chief Ogden spoke he re-
ceived an ovation without prece-
dent in the annals of the depart
ment.
I'm with these men to the last
ditch" he said. II have resigned.
The people of Alexandria, have
asked me to stay. Do you men
want me?">
Give Demonstration.
I'VE. do" they cried from all cor
ners Of the hall.
Then when give orders to
drive fast to a fire, that's what
mean. and that's what I intend to
have DONE" he said, referring to
the '25-mile ordinance. I'll use my
best Judgment about breaking
speed limits"
The matter rests here until the
next meeting of the city council.
Chief Ogden will stay So also will
the firemen until they find out
whether the city will grant them
these points:
Chamber Action.
The board of directors Of the
chamber of commerce at a meeting
held this afternoon. adopted a reso-
luton expressing their appreciation
of the work of Chief Ogden and also
expressing their appreciation of the
volunteer firemen of the city and
asking the chief TO withdraw, his
resignation, and that the chief be
appointed 2 committee of one to use
his best efforts 10 prevent the fire.
men from disbanding.
In addition to Chief Ogden those
named on the committee were Carroll
Pierce, r. s. Jones. r. f. knight,
and B. Wril.
Struck by Auto.