Perth Amboy Evening News

ANDREW ANDERSON NEXT CITY FIRE CHIEF: J. J. DEVENY AND NELS HANSON HIS ASSISTANTS

Protection Hook and Ladder Man Elected to Position of Second Assistant- Daniel Ford His Only Opponent.

John J. Deveny, a blacksmith and a member of the Protection Hook and Ladder Company, was last night elected to fill the position of second assistant chief engineer of the fire department of the city for the next year. Mr. Deveny's only opponent for the position was Daniel Ford, a member of the Eagle Hose and Chemical Company. The election of Deveny to the position was generally conceded previous to the counting of the votes, but it was not thought that the result would show so overwhelmingly in his favor.

The conceded election of Andrew Anderson to the position of chief engineer of the department and of Nels Hanson to the position of first assistant was carried out to the letter, there being no votes cast for others than the two present assistants.

There were no freak ballots cast as is sometimes the case and there was but one ballot cut for each of the candidates for the position of second assistant. The total votes cast were 254 and Deveny received 165 votes to eighty-nine for Ford. This was the second run which the successful candidate made for the position, having been defeated by Nels Hanson at the last election, Hanson also made two runs for the position before he was elected, having been beaten out for the place the year previous to his election by three votes.

The candidates were on hand bright and early and were at the polls from the opening time until 9 o'clock when the ballots were counted. The secretaries of the various companies of the city acted at the polls, while Chief Tooker, who will retire in favor of Anderson June 1, acted as judge of the election. The constant stream of firemen poured into the council chamber of City Hall where the election took place and the room was crowded during the counting of votes. Shortly after 9 o'clock three tope of the fire alarm were sounded announcing the election of Deveny.

Parade After Election.

All of the companies of the city with their apparatus, were on hand to parade and help celebrate, with the exception of the Liberty Hook and Ladder Company which is out of order. After the election, the companies formed into line at City hall, and, headed by members of the Goodwill Fife and Drum Corps, paraded past the homes and fire houses of the new officers, and through the principal streets. They went from City hall to Smith street, to Rector street, to Fayette street, to High street, to Center street, to Mechanic street, to Fayette street, to High street, to Smith street, to State street, to Washington street and counter marched back to Columbia hall in State street where a "feed" had been arranged for the firemen and their friends. Over 300 sat down at the tables in the hall and partook of a hearty meal which the new officers had invited them to. Several speeches were made by the officers and by Chief Tooker. Several of the city officials were present.

Andrew Anderson, who will assume the office of chief on June 1, is a member of the Washington Hose Company and has been a life long resident of the city. Nels Hanson, who will become first assistant chief at the same time, is a charter member of the Liberty Hook and Ladder Company and a former member of the excise board.

Mr. Deveny is a member of the Protection Hook and Ladder Company and has been a member for nineteen years. He has been in business in the city for twenty-four years and in the time that he has been in the department he boasts that he has not missed a single fire when he was in the city or not incapacitated.

Hanson and Anderson are Advanced to High Positions in Department-254 Votes are Cast-Parade Follows.