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(' ■I, ^.« REPORT OF JUDGE- PROWSE On the Fire of 8th and oth July, 1892. .1 St. John's, Ni:\vfoun-|)I..\ni>, August 17th, 1892. To the Hon. SiK W. V. WiliTEW.W, K.C.M.G., Attorney Gcmral,— 5n<, — Having been requested by the Government to make an in- vestigation of all the facts and. circumstances attendant on the disastrous fire which destroyed a large portion of St. John's on the 8th and 9th July last, 1 have the honor to report as follows Concerning Origin and Commencement of the Fire. Hefore commencing proceeding-- I wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Municipal Council, informing them of the enquiry. Tlv^y ap- pointed Mr. VV. Horwood as the counsel, who attended the enquii>-. Hon. E. W Morris attended on behalf of the Government; In a second report 1 will refer to the facts connected with its subse- quent destructive progress through the eastern portion of the town. The fi.e originated in the S.VV. corner of a barn owned by Tiniothy Brine; its origin is so far a mystery, and whether it resulted from the wilful act of the man Fitzpatrick (now on trial for cutting the tongues of Brine's horses), or resulted from accident, cannot now be ascertained ; it coidd not have arisen from a spark from the neighbour's chimney, as the fire would then have burnt outside, whereas it commenced in- side, and did iu>t burst out for some time. It broke out between 4.30 p.m. and 4.45 p.m. on Sth July. Notice of the fire was received at the Central Fire Hall at 5.09 p.m., through a messenger sent by Constable Courtenay. The Tank or Reservoir. Immediately opposite to Brine's house, and about thirty feet distant, was a tank or reservoir, specially constructed for the protection of the neighborhood from fir:. This tank was under the charge of Superin- tendent Dunn; it was partially emptied, and was never again completely filled or attended to ; at the time of the fire it had some water in it, but was certainly not full. This is a case of gross neglect on the part of the F"ire Department. Turning off the Water. Jos. Horwood, watchman at the Central Hall, arrived at the scene of the fire about 5.15. He states the fire had not then broken through the roof of Brine's barn ; he was powerless to do anything as there was no water on from the General Water Company's mains. The water had been turned off from the town at 9 a.m. that morn- ing, and was not put on until 3 p.m. same day. This was done by order of Chairman Mitchell, of the Municipal Council, but without the authority of that body. In my opinion this largely contributed to the terrible calamity. No urgent reason can be given for such an act which, in view of the forest fires, the phenomenal heat of the previous two weeks, and the consequent danger to the town from fire, cannot be too severely cen- sured. It was a piece of criminal carelessness. By turning off the water the town was left practically defenceless f.um fire; by 3 p.m._ the water had all run out of the pipes, and it would lake at least three hours running of the water in the mains before a {)ressurc could be brought to such a high situation as Timothy Brine's. The town has a second public supply of water from George's Pond, Signal Hill, anti this supply should be used on all occasions when it becomes absolutely necessary to turn off the Winsor Lake supply. The Steam Fire Engine. Much contradictory evidence is given with regard to the working of the steam fire engine on this occasion. It is quite clear to me, from Hope's and Mr. Burchcll's evidence, tliat there was a fatal delay in getting up steam — from twenty to twenty- 5 five minutes. This was partially caused by the Council having disallowed the former practice of keeping the boiler always heated. The laying and stoking oi the engine fire must also have been defec- tive. The two important factors on which the town had to rely for do- fence against fire were, first, the ample supply of water from the pipes, and, second, the Fire Brigade with its steam er.gine. Both broke down when urgently required. Management of Fire Brigade and Municipal Council. The Fire Department is under the control and management of the Municipal Council, and the universal experience of every one present at the late fire was that the Fire Departmeni vas a starved, mismanaged, rotten institution. It will hardly be credited that the whole Fire De- partment possessed but one single old hook, with a short chain, and a rotten rope, which broke at the first pull. Complete apparatus for pulling dowa houses and making a break are most important for the prevention of the spread of fire. If this work had been done at Cookstown or Corbctt's, probably the town mi[,dit have been saved; but the Fire Department failed in this and every '^ other respect. ' Report on Gourley's Death, 1890. The condition of the Brigade as regards discipline, organization, arrangement and equipment was not unknown to the Council. I brought il very forcibly under their notice in the case of Gourley, the moulder, killed saving his children, 1 8th January, 1 890. No stronger evidence could be given than what was then produced against the Department. I warned the Council that the next serious fire in St. John's would be a terrible calamity, owing to the existing defects in the l-ire Organization, and I strongly urged them to reform and reconstruct tfie w'lole Department. After consideration of this report at several meetings, the only result was the ordering of some new hose. The town will never be even in a fair condition of safety from fire until the whole Fire Organization is taken out of the hands of the Muni- cipal Council and placed under the absolute control of a skilled and compi tent fire expert. hi the (lourley enquiry, and now, I strongly recommend the tormJ=' .-*v> t on of a .ma 1 pa>d. permanent Fir. Hri,,ade. in which a certain number o pohce shall be mcorporated. withnower tc call in vuhmteers. and at a fire to have authority to enlist ^tanders. under a severe penalty for refusal to work; all such assistance to be paid for at a fixed rate. The Supenntendent or Captain to have complete command at a fire. thi, f !?'' ''?"'"" '' '''" °"'>' '^""^^" ^^^^g"^'-^ «g-i"=^t fire. On th.s fatal occasion everything failed. The water supply, tank supply. the steam engme. hooks, hatchets, buckets, hand engine, ropes, hise wh.ca we rched for protection against fire, failed in the most ignominious nunner. and .f th.s department i. ever left again in the same hands, all 1 can say is that we deserve to be burnt. con. ^" ^"/'^^, l^'^t^'-y of «•■" in great cities, there never was such a uZ, . I " "'"• ^^^''"^ "'^^ ^^^"^'"S- --^ t° ^'- Super- intendent s absence at Councillor Power's country house. This question of protecting our town from fire is far too serious a matter to be played with as a game for sectarian, political or selfish purposes. It shouid no longer be made a job. but be worked with the bet men and the best possible w^y for the defence of the city. rhe hay in Brine's barn made a furious blaze, and. owing to the high w.nd and the dry atmosphere, the spread of the fire down Long's Hill was terribly rapid. ^ It seems to me. looking at the matter entirely from a public point of vieu-^ that the keeping of large quantities of hay (Brine in the winter ^vouldhave 60 tons) and both the keeping of a large stock of cattle, and allowing them to roam at large, is most objectionable and dangerous, t IS not allowed elsewhere. It is a practice very disagreeable to people .ving m such neighborhoods. I have known several cases in which it became a most disgusting nuisance. In making this preliminary report. I am aware that many indepeii- ' t observers at the fire consider that after the fire got fairly under '''J below Brine's, no fire organization could stop it. I cannot accept •.cvv. If there had been any real organization and appliances, a c uzcn of the rotten old houses in Cookstoun would have been pulled down to make a.firebreak. a firebreak could have been madeat Corbetfs Aitenvards. with miserable appliances, the fire was fought opposite ^n the Cortvent, at the Hrigade Hall, Cochrane Street and elsewhere '.vith success. One terrible defect in the Fire Department was the want of a con* trolling power, with legal authority to order the destruction of houses. Where were the Municipal Councillors, cx-officio Fire Wardens? I have made this as an interim report, and will endeavor to makd the next report more complete. I have the honor to be, sir. Your obedient servant, D. W. PROWSE. •^Oi ^^^~ ORIGIN OF THB FIRE. (No. I.) rATKlCK FiTZl'ATRlCK (Carman) sworn: I have been a servant with Mr. Timothy Hrine, I-Vcshwatcr Road, for about nine years. Ax. the time of the fire we had ten cows. Six cows were in the barn, behind Hrine's house. After we had milked those six cows (Ann Norris and \Vm. Ryan were milking with mc), I went in the other barn to milk the other four cows. I went in this barn first, I was not smoking. I had no pipe in my mouth that day. I was in the barn about ten minutes before the fire broke out. I saw the fire first in the southwest corner of the barn, just under the roof. It was blow- ing a gale of wind from the westward, and the spark must have come from a house to windward of ours. I got the cows and horse out. I made no attempt to put out the fire. By the time I got out the cows and horse, the whole place was afire. There was no water only in the pump. It was fifteen minutes fronj the first alarm of fire before the first engine mc arrived. There was no water in the hydrant only wind. 1 here was a long space of time that not a drop of water was thrown on the fire. We had six or seven tons of hay altogether. Only five or six cwt. in the barn that caught fire. There was only one cask of kerosene oil in the shop. If there had been water thrown on the fire when the engine came, there was a good chance to put out the fire. If houses had been pulled down, the fire might have been sto; ped. For the first half an hour no attempt was made to stop the fire. • PATRICK X FITZPATRICK. mark. Sworn before me, at St. John's, this 17th day of August, A.D., 1892. D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. il.) Ann Norris, sworn: I am a servant of Mr. Timothy Brine. We kept a lot of milking cows. I remember Triilay. 8th of July, evening of the great f^rc. On that evening a boy named William Ryan, who \s employed by Mi. Hrinc. and Patrick I- itzpatrick were milking,' the cows with me. We commenced milking the cows about 4 45 1>"^- °' 4-50 p.m. We all milked first in one stable. Kitzpatrick. another servant of Mr. Hrine's, left us to go and milk in another barn or linhay behind the stable. We milked first in the barn behind the house, l-itzpatrick -vas not gone from us over seven or eight minutes before we heard the alarm of fire f^om l-itzpatrick. When he called fire. I ran out into the dwelling house. The end of the barn where Kitzpatrick had been milking was on fire. I have been a servant of Mr. Timothy Brine's for eleven years. Fitzpatrick has been a servant of Mr. Urine's for about eight years. He has been turned away several times and taken back again. ANN X NOKRIS. mark. this 12th day of August, A.D.. 1892. \ D. W. PROWSE, Stipiniiiary, NewfonmUanii. Sworn before me, at St. John's, (No. 3.) Harry HoI'E (Rigger), sworn: I live near Brine's. I was on the spot when the fire broke out; it was between .;.30 p.m. and 4-45 P n^- I ^aw the smoke from Brine's barn when they gave the alarm of fire. It was nearly half an hour from the alarm of fire before the steam engine arrived. When the steam engine arrived it was not in working order; steam was not up. There was only about two and a half feet of water in the tank. Some weeks before that the fire engine had been practising up there and the tank was then more than three-parts emptied, and was never refilled. At the time of the tire it had only two and a half feet. The tank was more t lan ten feet deep. Sub-Inspector Sullivan told me to get a pole to Pleasure the depth of water in the tank. The fire in the steam engine v.oi'ld not burn, and there was not enough of water in the reservoir to pump The steam engine was on the ground an hour or more before it got into working order. They came to my place and got two gallons of kerosene oil, the fire began to burn up then ; but it was ..o^ until the steam engine got water through the hose at the head of Long's Hill, that the steam engine really began to work. This was fully an hour Id a/ter the engine arrived. The fire had not got down rtiore than twd houses on the Freshwater road before the engine began to work. My son-in-law, Kelly, sounded the tank after the practice; he found only three feet of water in it. I sounded it for Sub-Inspector Sullivan after the fire ; I only found two and a half feet in it. HENRY HOPE. Sworn before me, at St. John's, > this 9th day of August, A.U., 1892. S D. VV. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. 4.) Timothy Brine, sworn: I own a range of houses on the Freshwater road, and I keep cows and horses. Before the late fire I kept twelve milking cowi. A woman servant, named Ann Norris, and two men, Patrick Fitzpatrick and Wm. Ryan, used to milk the cows and at end to my three horses. I was away driving on the day of the fire. Fitzpatrick has been my servant for several years ; I have often discharged him for being drunk, and my wife hao oegged me to take him back again. I remember when the Fire Brigrade were practising with the steam engine, it was the end oi May or June. The tank was not full, it was not filled after the practice. I saw the firemen fill it after the last fire ; it took several hours to fill the tank. The tank was placed there to protect the neigh- borhood from fire. There was about ten or twelve tons of screwed hay in the barn, but in the beginning of the winter I have about seventy tons. his TIMOTHY X BRINE. mark. Sworn be me, at St. John's, I'his 12th day of August, 1892, having first been read over and explained. D. W. PROWSE. Stipendiary, N-w/oundland. (No. S.) JuMN Squires (Shoemaker), sworn: I live right opposite Timothy Brine's, Cookstown Road. About half-past 4 or 4.45 p.m. I saw smoke coming from the corner of Brine's barn, where he keeps hay. The smoke was coming out of the north- west corner of the barn, slight smoke. I bawled out an alarm to John Smith. No one else to be seen at the time. John Smith and I ran II over to save Mrs. Powe.'s furniture. She lived in a little house ,two or three feet west of the barn. The fire burst out through the barn be- fore we had saved all Mrs. Power's furniture. Mr. Ryan's house caught next There was not more than ten minutes between the tmic I first saw the smoke and the burning of Ryan's house. I should judge the f\re originated in the floor of the barn. It was fully half an hour before the engine arrived. There were police there within the first ten mmutes. The reservoir is only about 40 or 45 'e^t from Brine's barn. The tank was three parts full. All Brine's premises were afire. Three or four buildings were on fire, and the barn and contents were nearly consumed before the engine arrived. The weather had been terribly dry for over a fortnight, and it was blowing a westerly gale. The buildings conse- quently burnt very fast. It was fully a quarter of an hour after the steam engine got to the fire before it commenced to throw water It was playing near a quarter of an hour before it started off on an alarm of fire at Long's Hill. The engine, after the fust quarter of an hour, was throwing a good force of water. b,.t it did no good. I asked Dunn, the Superintendent's brother, to give my little house a sprmkhng. He was then playing on Hunt's house, which was afterwards burnt. My house was saved through wet blankets, wet quilts and the assistance of a lot of friend.. But I had a very narrow escape. I was only 18 feet to windward of the fire on the end. The first duty of the firemen was to have pulled down houses and made a break, and a break could easily have been made there,>ith the exception of Brine's, my house and Myers' all the rest of the houses were small tenement houses, very old and easily pulled down, and a break could easily have been made on the Cookstown Road. I did not see the Fire Company provided with grappling irons and ropes. I saw some laborers trying to cut down a barn at the back of Hunt's house. I did not see the Fire Company provided with any hatchets, gr-^ppling irons or rope to haul down houses. If the old houses could have been hauled down, the fire might easily have been stopped. No hauling down whatever wrs done. If old Mr. Doyle's house, Cookstown Road, had been hauled down, it would have given a space of IOC feet, and^would have kept the fire from Joe Murphy s J r- . • t-Tiii lOMN SQUIRFS. range and Carters Hill. jwi'^ Sworn before me, at St. John's, ? this 9th day of August. A.D.. 1892. ) D. W. PROWSE. Stipendiary, Newfoundland, 13 (No. A.) J HUN Courtney (Police Officer), sworn: I sent a boy from the fire to the Central Hall, Long's Hill, to give the alarm. I saw the first of the smoke. It was five o'clock when the fire broke out. I went first to Brine's, and worked at Brine's barn ; took out a set of cart harness. From there I went to Mrs. Brine's, house, and helped her to vake out her furniture. It got too hot there and we had to go to the next house ; saved some furniture there. A lot of the police were on the scene then. It was quite twenty minutes after the alarm before I got down to my own house, which is situate at the top of Long's Hill. I asked my wife if the fire engine had gone up yet; said it had gone up long ago. I tried for water at the tank. Long's Hill, supplied from the General Water Company's main pipe ; no water there at that tin:e. I believe there was no water ♦^nrned on there at the time. , 'HN COURTNEY, Constable. Sworn before me, at St. John's, ( this 1 2th day of August, 1892. '^ D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. Condition of the Tank. (^o. 5-A.) rATkicK MVRON, of St. John's (Blacksmith), who on his oath saith: I live at No. 70 Cookstown Road — the last house on the road. I am just opposite the tank. About the last week in May the Fire Brigade exercised on the Freshwatei' Road ; they had three streams of water — two frum the steam engine and one from the Water Company's works. They were playing there for an hour. They pumped a good deal of the water out of the tank, and the tank was not refilled from the day of the exer- cise until the day of the fire, 8th July. I saw the Fire Brigade filling the tank ; last week they were at the work between three and four hours. It is over seven feet deep; it is only partially filled up now; there is not more than five feet three inches of water in it now. The fi -e broke wut at about 4.40 p.m. ; it was not quite five o'clock p.m. The engine arrived about twenty or twenty-five minutes after tSe fire broke out, and it was fifteen to twenty minutes after the arrival of the engine before it got up -Steam ; the fire did not burn up. Joiin McNamara tame into n our house (Henry Hope's) to get two gallons of kerosene oil to help them to get up steam;' in seven or eight minutes after they used the oil they got up steam on the engine. They pumped some water from the tank, but the steam engine did not appear to work with any force and the water was muddy ; the tank had not been cleaned out since it was first erected ; there are four inches of mud in the bottom. When the engine got the water-hose on from the main ; it threw a good force of water over Squires' house. The Hon. Moses Monroe, I believe, ordered the engine to Long's Hill. George Morris asked him to sprinkle Squires' house before they left ; they sprinkled Squires' house before they shut off the water. The water in the tank was of little value for a fire; it was Wt unfilled. PATRICK MYRON. Sworn before me, at St. John's, } this nth day of August, A.D., 1892. S D. W. PROVVSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. a-B.) Henry Kelly {Shoemaker), sworn: As near as I can remember, the Fire Brigade were exercising with the steam engine about three weeks before the 8th of July fire. The engine'got water from the res( voir. The tank would be about ten feet deep. I measured the reservoir on the Sunday after the fire; I found what I considered two feet and one-half of water. Mr. Hope considered there was three feet of water. his HENRY X KELLY. mark. Sworn before me, at St. John's, ) this lOth day of August, A.D., 1892. S D. W. PROWSI^:, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. Workmg of Fire Brigade and Turning Off the Water. (No. 0.) JosEi'M HoRWOOD, szvorn: 1 am watchman at the Central Fire Hall. I was awoke by the alarm of fire about five o'clock p.m., 8th July. The other watchman, William Dunn, telephoned to the engine house. We rang the^bell. 1 look No. I carriage, u-th four men assistin- ne, and I arrived first at 14 the fire. Timothy Brine's barn was on fire. No fire had burst out. There was only smoke. From the time I arrived until the steam engine arrived was about five minutes. There was no water in the Water Com- pany's main when I arrived ; there was not a drop of water in the Water Company's mains. The engine had not got up steam. I went to Hope's to get some kerosene oil — two gallons. Hove some down the .'unnel of the engine and more in the fire grate, and then threw kerosene oil on the fire again. It took seven or eight minutes after'the kerosene oil was thrown on before the engine got up steam. I put the suction pipe of the engine into the reservoir. Tiiere was no steam up then, and water was thrown by the engine from the reservoir. The engine was ordered off almost at once by Mr. M. Monroe, who told me to go down from the hydrant to Long's Hill. I came very quickly after him. We sent a man named George Hesketh to Hayes, the vater man, to turn on the water. Whilst he was gone, the Wesleyan Academy and Masonic Hall caught fire. There was no water then to do anything at all. After the practice the reservoir was not refilled. It would take two hours and one-half to three hours with the hose to fill the reservoir. It is the Superintendent's business to see that the reservoir is kept full. The reservoir was built for the protection of the town from fire. Whilst the practice was going on there was water going into the reservoir and two streams coming out. I am not aware that the reservoir was lefi.ied after the practice, which took place in June. his JOSEPH X HORWOOD. mark. the I ith day of August, 1892. $ D. W.' PROV/SE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. Sworn before me, at St. ^ohn's. (Wo. r.) Thomas Mitchell (Chairman Municipal Council), sworn: Since last February the Council has control over the Fire Brigade and Water Company. On the 8th of July the water was turned off at 9 a.m., at Rawlins' Cross, from the main supply pipe. It was also cut off at DuJer's farm. A public notice was given, by order of the Muni- cip?' Council, and inserted in three daily papers, 7th July, that the water supply for the town would be shut off on the 8th July, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. I gave the order to shut off the water, as Chairman of the Municipal Council. The Municipal Council did not authorize me to give that order. I had no engineer's advice about turning off the water, but I made a strict enquiry as to time. The water was being extended over to LeMarchant Road. A number of men were engaged there at work; There is a considerable rock-cut on LeMarchant Road. A number of men were on the rock-cut and a number on the gravel-cut. In order to facilitate work, the connection was made at Rawlins' Cross, and in order to make a connection, it was necessary to shut off the water. I gavd the order, after having made a strict enquiry that the work would bd completed between the hours named— from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The '.vork was completed, and the water turned on at 3 p.m. on Ihat day. Two. p.m. was the time I wa^ assured that the work would be completed. We had a carriage and horse waiting at Rawlins' Cross to go out to Duder's to turn the water on. The man returned to Rawlin's Cross at 3 p.m. Consequently the water was turned on a few minutes before 3 p.m. There was no discussion about danger to the town in turning off the water. I discussed the matter with Hayes as to the closest time in which the work could be done. I learnt it had been a common practice when pipe-cleaning to turn off the water between 9 a.m. and six p.m., and sometimes it was off for two days. My belief was the pipes would be filled in an hour or so. THOMAS MITCHELL, Chairman Municipal Council. Sworn before me, at St. John s, ? this 1 2th day of August, A.D., 1892. 5 D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. §.) John Hayes (Pipe- Layer General Water Company), sworn: I have charge of turning off the water. In order to lay a new line of water pipes from Rawlins' Cross to the LeMarchant Road, a connec- tion should be at Rawlins' Cross. One pipe was connected and a sluice made, and the valve of this sluice was at once closed This connection coulc^' not be made without turning off the water. Pipes are laid up at LeMarchant Road, and we were laying another 6-in. pipe from Rawlins' Cross :o head of Long's Hill. Water was turned off at 9 a.m., day of fire, 8t'i July, and it was turned on again at Uuder's farm, old Cove Road, at 3 p.m. The turning off the water for 6 hours would run all the water out of the pipes. And when we turned on the water, at 3 p.m., i6 it had to go all over the town and fill all the pipes. The water would run to all the lower points first, and the last place to feel the pressure of the water would be such points as the Cathedral and Freshwater Road, the highest points. It would take full two hours and one-half to put afull ^.ressure on the town. To put a full pressure at Tim Brine's, corner Freshwater Road, I would cut of: the whole town at Rawlins Cross, and would put a fair pressure at Tim Brine's in one hour, of s.xty to eighty pounds to the square inch. The pond was at its lowest pomt. the lowest for many years. The pressure from Windsor Lake was below the average. There are about twenty miles of pipe, mam and branch, to fill I consider it was prudent to turn off the water from the town, notwithstanding the dry weather and the forest fires. The water has been often turned off for two days and a night. At the time of the fire, 8th July, the water was on, not at full pressure. For a month before the fire there had been no pressure of water at Long's Hill or the I'olicc Barracks. ,^.^ JOHN X HAYES. mark. Sworn before me, at St. John's, ) this 1 2th day of August, 1892. ) D W. PRCWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. O.) HerheRT C. Burchell (Government Engineer), sworn: I was at the fire 8th July. I was on my way home when the alarm sounded I arrived at the fire before the steam fire engine came. Al- most immediately after I arrived the ei.gine arrived ; the steam engine took a little longer than usual getting up steam ; L should think there was at least fifteen or twenty minutes delay in getting up steam. I went to the engine and spoke to Ford Winsor, the engineer. He said the delay arose from having to fire up with cold water in the boiler. All throug.. the winter he had been allowed to keep the heater in operation to keep the water warm, latterly he had not been allowed to do so. It makes a great difference starting with cold water; if they had started from the engine house with warm water in the boiler, he would have had a good head of steam on when they arrived at the fire. Starting with cold o. hot water in the boikr would make a difference of between five and ten minutes I consider in a place like this, with wooden buildings, it is ad- 17 visable always to have hot water in the boiler. If the water from the main pipe was turned off at 9 a.m., by three p.m. the pipes would be nearly all empty. When I saw the hydrant opened opposite to Watson's house it blew air ; I did not sec the water come. This was ten minutes after I arrived at the fire. There is a direct pipe from Rawlins' Cross to the scene of the fire ; six-inch pipe part of the way. I did not see a (uU pressure of water on durintj the fire, though there might have been so. I believe there are two branches in the direct pipe from Rawhns* Cross— one to I5arnes' Lane and one down Garrison Hill. I. therefore, cannot say how long it would take for the water to reach the scene of the fire. Considering the state of the weather the 8th of July, and the forest fires, I would not have allowed the water to be turned off from the town cxcopt for some very urgent reason. The engine was put to work at the tank; it worked steadily; I cannot tell how long; as far as I know it was ordered away to another point. The engine exhausted its coal and I gave them a further supply. The houses to wmdward of the fire, and Watson's house opposite, were protected by the engme. The engine did not put out Brine's fire. If the engine had been in full working order when it arrived it would not have put out Brine's fire- possibly it might have confined the fire to Brine's. People were work- ing on the houses that were saved. It was an extraordinary time of dry weather, heat and wind . and there was very great delay in givmg the alarm and there was delay in getting up steam— great delay in g.v.ng the alarm There is always an accumulation of air at high points, and there should be special appliances to get rid of the air at these points. T»- increase of air would arise because there are no house connections, e vents, on this line, which is being in course of construction. H. C. BURCHELL. Sworn btifore me, at St. John's, } this 12th day of August, 1892. > D W. PROWSE, Stipe nciiary, Newfoundland. Working of Fire' Brigade—Steam Fire Engine, &c. (No. 10.) Michael Dunn (Suptrintcndcnt fire Brigade), sworn: 1 have been over three years superintendent ; I succeeded Frederick Winsor. I am responsible for everything connected with the Fire Dc- i8 partment. The three buildings owned and controlled by the Fire Department are: The Eastem Fire Hall, at the head of King's Road where engme and stables are kept, Central Fire Hall. Long's hill, and F.re Hall at Hutchings' Streets. The three buildings are connected by telephone. The Fire Brigade is under the control of the Municipal Council; ,t has twelve officers and fifty men. Sever, besides myself are paid, permanent men— two watchmen for each hall, west and central' one night watchman at the engine house. The driver of the engine and engineer are both on watch during the day. Trebble is the night watch- man at eastern hall. There is also a Fire Brigade on Southside. near Long Bridge. Besides the steam fire engine we have two hand fire engines— old machines— very little use; very small power. We had a set of extension ladders that would go fifty feet; we had one chain with a hook, about twelve fathoms of chain and a good rope The only ap- paratus we had for hauling down houses-hook and chain-were k^pt^ m the Central Hall ; extension ladders in each hall. We had about seventeen lengths of good hose-forty-five to fifty feet lengths ; some of them were th^ee years old. I got this hose (900 feet) three years ago ; no new hose has been got since that. The new hose was tested and tried • 900 feet was new canvass hose obtained from London. We had one hatchet on each hand-cart. We trusted entirely to the supply of water from the Water Company's main and the steam engine. We received the alarm of fire at 5.09. I live at Livingstone Street, about 200 yards from Central Hall. Councillor Power telephoned to me before i o'clock to go out to his place, about three miles from town to protect his house from fire. I consulted the chairman. Mr. Mitchell ; he did not agree to let the steam engine-go. but four of us went out to Power's with the hand engine. I was on Mundy's Pond road when the fire broke ouf I got to the fire in fifteen minutes after I saw the smoke. There was no water on when I arrived at the fire. After we left the fire at Brine's and went down to Long's Hill, there was no water in the main The water was then turned up to Brine's. There was no pressure of water until we came opposite to the New Era ground gate. Mr. Monroe I think, suggested to me to take the engine down to the New Era ground gate. No attempt was made by the Fire Brigade to pull down any houses. The rope we had was an old rope. I don't know how long the engine had been there. Engine was working full power and ihrow- mg water from the rcseaoir. The steam fire engine was working full I 19 power from the reservoir for three quarters of an hour, and all the time had a full supply of water. We did no good to put out the fire. The tank we were drawing water from is only 30 feet from Brine's. We could play as close to Brine's as we liked. We did not do the least good on the fire ; but we helped to save the houses opposite and to windward. The greatest value of all apparatus for putting out fires is quickness. The first five or ten minutes at a fire is of vital consequence. Our steam engine should get up steam in ten minutes. The fires were not kept banked up. The fuel is laid all ready to light, but everything has to heat up. Never had any trouble in getting uptfull steam in ton minutes. Ford Winsor is the engineer. We have no trouble with the present horses. They haul freely and go at a fair pace. We arc able to get ready and leave the hall in one minute from the first alarm. MICHAEL DUNN. Sworn before me, at St. John's, > this 1 2th of August, A.D., 1892. \ D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. II.) Ford Win.sor (Engineer of the Steam Fire Engine), sworn: I have been engineer of the steam fire engine for seven years. We can get full steam on the engine in about len minutes. The engine is always ready with the fire laid, only wanting a match to light it. On the afternoon of 8th July I received the warning by telephone: — " Fire at Tim Brine's, head Long's Hill." I rang the alarm. The horses were harnessed and the engine started in one minute. It took about six minutes to get to the fire. Steam was not up when we got there. Hor- wood was the man who brought us the two gallons of kerosene oil. I only ufed about a pint to hurry up the fire. About four minutes after we arrived at the reservoir we had sufficient steam on to start two streams of water from the reservoir. We had ninety lbs. steam. Full pressure is 12' lbs. In two or three minutes more we had full pressure. There was no delay whatever in getting up steam. We had full force of water on from two streams playing on the fire opposite to the tank. TI:; fire was fully under weigh when we got there, coming out from the stable at bG:h ends. We did not stop that fire which burnt the town. All the statements made about the delay in getting up steam on the lire engine are untrue. There was no delry whatever. It sometimes takes more than ten minutes to get up steam; sometimes less. e .. , F- J. WliNSOR. Sworn before me, at St. John's, ) this 1 2th day of August, A.D., 1892. 5 D. W. PR0W3E, Stipendiary, N 'v/ouudlaua. (No. Itl.) Michael Dalton, sworn: • I am in the employ of the Water Company. At the time oi the fire we all ran to the fire. When we got there the smoke was coming out of the roof of Brine's stable. We helped people to get things out of their houses. It was ten minutes after we arrived before the steam fire engine arrived. It was ten or fifteen minutes after the engine arrived before it began to work. There was some delay in getting up steam. By 5.30 p.m. there was water enough in the main to send the water up two stories high back of Brine's stable. I helped to bring in a hose. Cannot tell where it was connected with. The water from the main pipe was on. I could not exactly say in full force. The water from the main pipes was running. The water I saw may have been a stream from the engine. MICHAEL >< DALTON. c t ^ . mark. Sworn be.,>re me, at St. John's, ^ this 1 61th Jay of August, A D., 1892. I D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (Wo. 13.) JoSKPH O'Reilly (Head Constable), sworn: On the evening of the eighth of July last I was a little late in arriv- ing at the scene of the fire. Corbetfs dwelling houbc was in fiames. A suggestion was made to tear down some houses on Long's Hill, so as to make a firebreak. There was nothing there for the purpose of hauling down a Duilding. I went to look for the hooks and rope that I thought the firemen were prov.Jed with. I was a long time before I got an^ in- formation of where it would be found. One of the firemen told me there was a rope and hooks attached to the ladder car, and that it was up near the reservoir I went up and brought it down to Young's 21 Street, and on Long's Hill the rope was put in use. It was a very old one, and broke almost immediately. It was useless for the purpose lor which it was intended. There were no hatchets amongst the firemen, and couM not get any, and did not succeed in making the firebreak. Any apparatus the firemen had seemed to be of the worst kind, and of no use when required. I was present at a fire in Water Street last year, and I saw that the discipline and organisation was most defective. The horses attached to the fire engine could not be controlled, and would not draw the engine. It was cither too heavy a loid for them to draw or they were badly trained. Happily the season was a wet one, and the fire was confined to the buildings near which it originated. I thought at the time that if a big fire got under weigh it would end in disaste*". JOSEPH ORlilLLY. Sworn before me, at St. John's, > this 1 2th day of August, A. D., 1892. ^ D. VV. PROVVSl-:, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. 14.) James Goodfeli.ow, sworn: I was at the fire, 8th July, about half an hour after it broke out. I was with Kvinneth R. Prowse. I saw the steam engine working. It seemed to be working with full force. I did not see any of the hydrants working. There were eight or ten houses afire when I saw the fire. The Fire Brigade had no control over the fire. It was spreading in all directions. I did not see any attempt made to haul down any houses to make a firebreak or to check the fire. When I saw that the fire was going to be a bad one, I drove out to the country and re- turned ininiec'.iatcly to town. I remember when Gourley, the moulder, was burnt saving his children. I remember a report being made by the magistrate, Judge Prowse, on that occasion. That report was brought before the Municipal Council. The report was discussed at one or two meetings. Some new hose was ordered then, and some regulations were made. That report recommenced a paid permanent staff of fire- men combined with the police. The report commented severely on the conduct of the ofF.cers of the Brigade at that fire. Nothing else was done to carry out the reforms mentioned in the report. The Council did not concur fully in the views expressed by the niagistrate in his re- ss report on Gourley's death and the conduct of the Fire Brigade, Some parts of the report were considered very good. J. GOODFELLOW. Sworn before me, at St. John's, ) this 1 6th day of August, A.D., 1892. > D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. IS.) P. W. Kelly, sworn: Secretary to the St. John's Municipal Council. All the records of the Council were burnt in the fire of 8th July. I remember Judge Prowse's report and the evidence concerning the death of Gourley, a moulder, who was burnt to death at Riverhead in the endeavour to save his children. I remember the magistrate having made the enquiry. I cmember the magistrate asking for a detailed statement of the expenses of the Fire Company. They had the report before them on two occa- sions or more, and the whole subject was fully discussed. They did not act on the report, which recommended the appointment of a permanent Fire Brigade combined with the police. There were observations on the conduct of the Fire Brigade on that occasion. There was no action taken on the said report, beyond ordering new hose from London. There is a committee of the Municipal Council appointed to superintend the Fire Brigade. That committee, at the time of the fire, 8th July, consisted of Chairman M^^chell, ex-officio, Councillors Carncll, Morison and Southcott. The Council are Fire Wardens, ex-officio. These are the only Fire Wardens. Nothing was done after January, 1890, to carry out the magistrate's report in Gourley's case. If the Fire Brigade had required anything, it would have been got on a requi:ition from the committee. I was not. aware that the Fire Brigade were so badly pro- vided with apparatus for hauling down houses. P. W. KELLY. Sworn before th efore mc, at St. John's, ) is 17th day of August, A.D., 1892. S D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. No. 16. Kenneth R. Prowse, sworn .• I arrived at the fire about 5.15 p.m. The steam engine was then working from the tank, and was delivering a fair stream of water. In •J about twenty minutes the engine stopped, and the forCe of water from the tank slacked. It was obvious that the tank supply had slacked or was exhausted. Mr. Goodfellow and Alexander Taylor (of Peace & Co.), were with me. The engine then got a supply of water from the main ; I believe so. The steam engine did no good against Timothy Brine's, and the other houses ; the fire had got too far ahead, and there was too much wind ; it did good in wetting the houses to windward, and also Watson's house opposite. The heat was so intense that the branch firemen had to be covered up with a tarpaulin. I saw Mr. Moses Monroe there ; he was most energetic. KENNETH R. PROWSE. Sworn before me, at St. John's, ) this I2U» day of August, A.D., 1892. J D. VV. PROWSE, Stipendiary^, Newfoundland, No. lY. William Coiighlan, Sergeant of Police, who, upon his oath, saith: I was at the fire a few minutes after 5 p.m. Brine's barn was full of smoke, but the fire had not burst through the roof. The steam en- gine was not there when I arriyed. I asked them if they had sent any one to the Fire Hall to give the alarm. Said, yes. I was at the fire about fifteen minutes before the steam fire engine arrived. The steam engine was fully fifteen minutes before they got up steam and it began to work. I was helping Mrs. T. Brine to get her out of her house. She only saved a few books and papers out of her shop. The engine was useless for at least fifteen minutes. WILLIAM COUGHLAN. Sergt. Sworn before me, at St. John's, * ' > this 1 2th day of August, A.D., 1892. ) D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland, (No. 1§.) A. O. Hayward, sworn: I was one of the first at the fire. The engine had not arrived when I was there first. Few minutes after I got there firemen arrived. There was no water in the pipes, or sign of water. I said to one of the firemen there was a reservoir near Tim Brine's, which I believed was full of water. I pointed out to the fireman where the tank was. Another fireman came and said there was no water there. At this time Tim Brine's house was I 24 all on fire. For fully twenty-five minutes there was not a drop of water thrown on the fire. No attempt made to pull down any buildings. I helped to remove things from Chancey's house. Up to the time I left the fire, perhaps half an hour, the firemen simply did nothing. When I arrived there the fire could have been stopped without any trouble. I believe afterwards it could have been stopped at Corbett'a. No doubt something might have been done to save the town, if houses had been pulled down. No one there to give authority to pull down houses. No effort whatever was made to tear down any houses. I am positive there was no supply of water. AUGUSTUS O. HAYVVARD. Sworn before me, at St. John's, } this i6th day of August, A.D., 1892. S D. \V. PROWSE, Stipcmiiary, Ncivfoumiland. (Mo. 19.) William Watson (Accountant Union Bank), sworn: . I live right opposite Timothy Brine's, where the fire commenced. I arrived home a few minutes after the alarm of fire, 8th July. The engine arrived at the ure a short time after the alarm of fire was given. I believe the first water came in i..bout half an hour after its arrival. I saw the engine over there, and Hon. M. Mnnroc running over to it. I did not see when it began to work. I have complained to the Municipal Council about the condition of Timothy Brine's place as a continual nuisance. Over twenty head of cattle were kept there. I made the complaint on behalf of the neighbours. I considered there was danger of fire from the large quantity of hay stored on Brine's place, and also his keeping a shop, and I kept myself fu!'y insured on account of this danger. W. W. WATSON. Sworn before me, at St. John's, \ this lOui day of August, A.D., 1892. S D. W. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. (No. ao.) William Walker Blacic\ll, sworn: I arrived at the nre about five. No firemen then on the scene. About half a dozen houses were then in full blaze on cither side of the Cookstown Road, extending over three or four acres of land. About I I 25 5.15 I saw some firemen appear for the rirst time with a sort of appH- ance, cart and hose. These men, who had a terrible sight before them now, immediately got the hose on and began to play on the leeward of the fire on Harvey Road ; but the force of water was so insignificant as to be practically of no avail. It was evident that there was no pressure from some cause or other. VV. W. BLACKALL. Sworn before me, at St. John's, ) this 15th day of August, 1892. S D. VV. PROWSE, Stipendiary, Ncxvfmudland. [As Mr. Jchn Martin's management of the Water Company was, to a certain extent, reflected on by Hayes' evidence, I considered it due to the Superintendent F.ngineer to let him give his own evidence in answer to these charges. D. W. PROWSl-:.] (No. ill.) The Examination of ]0\m M.VRTIN, of St. John's, Supciintcndent Hn^i- neer of the General Water Company, taken on oath, who saith: I have been luigineer of the General Water Company for 33 years. I do not remember the water ever being turned off for a whole day. Never off for more than eight hours. If the water was turned off at 9 a.m., by 3 p.m. nearly all the water would be run off, and the whole pressure and watir would be run off by noon. If the water were turned on at 3 p.m., it would take fully three hours and one-half (6.30 p.m.) to put a pressure of water at such a high point as Hrine's, I->esh- water Road. It is the driving the air out that causes the delay in filling the pipes. There are about 20 miles of pipe about St. John's, besides the 4^ miles .of main pii^e. Considering the dry weather that prevailed in St. John's all the months of June and July, I would not have turned off the water, even i! the Municipal Council had ordered me to do so. The forest fires also would render it most imprudent to turn off the water. There was no necessity for cutting off the water at Rawlins" Cross on the 8th July, 1892, more than at any other time. The con- nection could have been made after the pipes were all laid. I believe they are nul laid now. Hayes' statement about the water being turneil 26 off for two days and a night is not true. There never wi'l be a good Fire Brigade in St. John's until it is incorporated with the poHcc. The Fire Brigade should be a paid, permanent force, with a certain portion on duty night and day. Each fire station should be completely eciuipped and manned ready to start in full force at a moment's notice. The Superintendent should be a skilled and experienced fire expert, or who thoroughly understands all modern fire organization. Mr. Horwood, of counsel for the St. John's Municipal Council, de- clines to cross-examine Mr. Martin. If the water had been on in town when the fire broke out, would there be a pressure at Bnne's at the time of the fire? Answer : There would not be sufficient pressure for a fire except the water had been turned off from the east end of the town. When I i-ned off from the east the pressure at Brine's would be on in ten minutes. The pipes being full of water, there would be no air to contend with. The Fire Company should be provided with plenty of hatchets and saws, rope and grappling irons, with short, steel chains at- tached. Rope should be three-inch rope. JOHN MARTIN. Sworn before me, at St. John's, > this 2Sth day of January, A.D., 1893. $ D. VV. FROWSE, Stipendiary, Newfoundland. I c\