Notwithstanding the statement made by Superintendent W. H. Masson, of the Fond du Lac Water company, Saturday, to the effect that the company had 90 pounds of pressure from the start, the company is being generally criticized for its failure to produce water pressure on the start when it was most needed. Hundreds of people are charging that the pressure was woefully weak and insufficient until after the destroyed structures were doomed. A report started that the water supply was giving out about this time, struck terror to the hearts of the people. Men ran along the streets and woke the people up warning them to flee for their lives.

Chief Should be a Commander.

In discussing the fire this morning a prominent business man said, “I want to be understood emphatically as giving the fire department great credit for the work they did. The men worked tooth and nail. They even took their lives in their hands in their effort to save property. But there was something about the work that I could not help but notice and that was the apparent lack of organization. It seemed that everyone was his own boss. The chief fire marshal should not personally give his time to hose, hydrant or any of the work that properly belongs to his men, but should be in full command of the situation every moment.”

“He should be the general of the army of firefighters. He should, on an occasion like the recent fire, be equipped so as to be in constant touch with the conditions at every point of danger. He should wear a uniform by which he can be readily recognized. He should give all orders and his orders should be obeyed to the letter. In no other way can organization and discipline be effected. The state requires its military companies to drill once a week. We are a progressive city, and why not progress in all departments. The city is constantly growing larger, so should our fire department be stronger and more efficient. I want to give the men, Chief Cleveland included, credit for doing everything in their power to save property. They put up a grand fight and we owe a debt of gratitude to them. But let us have more of the military organization in the fire department. If it is necessary for the state militia to drill once a week, when they are so seldom called into service – should not our firemen have training that will help fit them to better cope with such problems as they were called upon to face the other night.”

Chief Fire Marshal Talks

Chief Fire Marshal Cleveland when interviewed this morning, stated that when the fire started, the pumping station was working under the domestic pressure of 40 pounds. “The department arrived at the fire so quickly and so many lines of hose were laid,” said the chief, “that the pressure was materially reduced and it took some time for the pumps to get it up to where it was a fire fighting strength. We added on streams as fast as possible until we had 11 playing on the flames. As soon as we stopped attaching more hose the pressure climbed up, until it was pretty good toward the last.”

Pipe line to Western Avenue, with basins at intervals where a hose should be dropped from a fire engine and the water thrown through several hose. Such a provision would protect the business center of the City from a fire of any size. We can throw sufficient water through 1500 feet of hose either east or west from a steamer stationed on Macy street or a few rods east or west, and you can readily see that a big district would be protected in this manner.”

Assistant Chief Interviewed

“When the fire communicated to the Grant school building No 1 had one hose and No. 5 another playing on the flames. The pressure at the time was so weak that the water did not carry beyond the second story windows. The firemen commented on the fact as did the chief fire marshal and myself. We were absolutely powerless to prevent the flames eating away the roof of the school building.”

The above statement was made by Assistant Fire Marshal McGrath of No. 1 station this morning, to a Commonwealth reporter. Mr. McGrath stated that he expected every minute to see the fire take the Salem church and then sweep east along the block of houses on Third street.

“During the first hour that we fought the flames, the pressure was way down and the flames gained on us, in fact, as I stated before, we were powerless. Later the pressure grew better and toward the latter part of the fight, it was good. I don’t believe in this holler that the water company is putting up about fine pressure and sufficient supply. At 9 o’clock Sunday morning, when I wanted pressure to throw water on the ruins which were smoldering, I was told that there was but two or three feet of water in the reservoir and unless it was absolutely necessary, I could not have the pressure. Later in the day, we got orders to cease throwing water on the ruins. This morning, the fire in the ruins of St. Joseph’s church is smoldering worse than ever. I understand that Mr. Masson informed T. E. Ahern and others about 3 o’clock Saturday morning that there was over 8 feet of water in the reservoir. There might have been, but there was an awful drop between that time and 9 o’clock, when I was told that there was but 3 feet left.”

Did Not Go Past Fire

Mr. McGrath was asked whether there was any truth to the report that the apparatus from his station went past the garage and down to Ninth street when the alarm was received.

“I’ve had hundreds of people tell me that since Saturday morning and I want to say right here it is without a foundation of truth. I was awake Friday night and was on the first floor of the engine house when I heard someone running from the east. Then there was a battering at the door of the station and I opened it. A man shouted that the garage was on fire and I jumped to the hook at the station box and jerked it. We were out and down to the scene of the fire in a moment and I had a line of hose stretched along the south side and stream playing through the door on that side a short time later. Then I told the driver to take the chemical and go down to Ninth street where one of our firemen lives and get him. The driver went down and was back with McNeil, the fireman, in less than five minutes.

“Where did you find the fire, when you broke in the garage?” was asked.

“When No. 1 got to the garage I broke in the front door and saw that there was a red glow over in the southeast corner. Then I took the men to the south side and broke in that door leading to the machine shop. The fire was all along in this part of the building, and as the view that I secured of the interior of the garage did not reveal any fire about the automobiles, unless there was a car in the southeast corner, as the blaze was all in that territory. We put a line of hose in at once, but the oil soaked floor and the tinder like condition of the building fell an easy prey to the fire.”