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Letter to Editor
October 1, 1833
The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
What is this article about?
A Cincinnati fireman defends the department's decision not to fully intervene in a fire at a building used as a brothel, citing repeated arson attempts and the need to promote neighborhood peace by allowing its destruction.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
FOR THE CINCINNATI REPUBLICAN.
Messrs. Editors: I observed a communication in your paper of yesterday, signed "A New Resident," calling upon the members of the fire department, to give their reasons for not attending, with their fire engines, at the late fire, north of the Canal, and in which he appears inclined to think, that they hesitated in doing so, upon account of its not being insured by the Firemen's Insurance Company; which suggestion, I would assure him, is totally unfounded, for one reason, that there is not one half of the members of the fire department, that own stock in the company; and certainly, it could not lay in the power of that part of the company, to sway the mind of the rest, so far, as to disregard the danger in which the property of a fellow citizen was placed. We are not Turks nor barbarians, that would stand silently, and gaze upon the ravages of a fire, when our own exertions could stop its progress.
It will be recollected, that a few weeks since, that same building was partly consumed by fire, and at which time, the utmost exertion of every member, was put in force to stop the progress of the flames, which was done after the house was partially consumed. Again on the 23d of September, we were alarmed by the cry of fire, upon which the members of each company repaired to their respective engine houses, and learned at the same time, where the fire was, and knowing it to be the work of some incendiary, (there was no person at that time living in, the building,) who was determined that the house should be razed to the ground, that they might be in the enjoyment of a peaceable neighborhood; for it is well known by every Old Resident, that that same building was occupied as a house of rendezvous for women of ill fame, and it was thought proper, by the members of the fire department, to let it be consumed, not only for the peace of that neighborhood, but also for the peace of the city, and that we might not be called the third time, to allay the flames, which I have no doubt would have been the case.
These few lines, I hope, will be sufficient to exempt the firemen from any blame that may be cast upon them, by any citizen of Cincinnati, either an Old or New Resident.
A FIREMAN.
Messrs. Editors: I observed a communication in your paper of yesterday, signed "A New Resident," calling upon the members of the fire department, to give their reasons for not attending, with their fire engines, at the late fire, north of the Canal, and in which he appears inclined to think, that they hesitated in doing so, upon account of its not being insured by the Firemen's Insurance Company; which suggestion, I would assure him, is totally unfounded, for one reason, that there is not one half of the members of the fire department, that own stock in the company; and certainly, it could not lay in the power of that part of the company, to sway the mind of the rest, so far, as to disregard the danger in which the property of a fellow citizen was placed. We are not Turks nor barbarians, that would stand silently, and gaze upon the ravages of a fire, when our own exertions could stop its progress.
It will be recollected, that a few weeks since, that same building was partly consumed by fire, and at which time, the utmost exertion of every member, was put in force to stop the progress of the flames, which was done after the house was partially consumed. Again on the 23d of September, we were alarmed by the cry of fire, upon which the members of each company repaired to their respective engine houses, and learned at the same time, where the fire was, and knowing it to be the work of some incendiary, (there was no person at that time living in, the building,) who was determined that the house should be razed to the ground, that they might be in the enjoyment of a peaceable neighborhood; for it is well known by every Old Resident, that that same building was occupied as a house of rendezvous for women of ill fame, and it was thought proper, by the members of the fire department, to let it be consumed, not only for the peace of that neighborhood, but also for the peace of the city, and that we might not be called the third time, to allay the flames, which I have no doubt would have been the case.
These few lines, I hope, will be sufficient to exempt the firemen from any blame that may be cast upon them, by any citizen of Cincinnati, either an Old or New Resident.
A FIREMAN.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Persuasive
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Social Issues
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Cincinnati Fire Department
Arson Attempt
Brothel Fire
Neighborhood Peace
Incendiary
Women Of Ill Fame
What entities or persons were involved?
A Fireman
Messrs. Editors
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Fireman
Recipient
Messrs. Editors
Main Argument
the fire department chose not to fully intervene in the fire at a brothel north of the canal, as it was an arson attempt following prior incidents, to ensure lasting peace in the neighborhood and city by allowing the building's destruction.
Notable Details
Response To 'A New Resident''S Criticism
Denies Insurance Company Influence
Previous Partial Fire A Few Weeks Prior
Arson On September 23
Building Used As House Of Rendezvous For Women Of Ill Fame