THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

打或者更多火灾which have been kindled in New York tenement houses during the past week or so are now firmly believed to have been the work of sneak thieves whose intention was to rob the rooms of the tenants during the confusion following the discovery of the fires. Suspicion of this fact was felt some time ago and the circumstances of two of the most recent of the attempts appear to confirm it. In one case after the trifling but smoky fire had been put out two strangers who were found prowling about upstairs, ran away, when accosted, and escaped. In the second instance, a strange young man who had been rushing through the house arousing the tenants hurst into a room, took a child from its frightened mother and carried it down stairs, only to be found in the room again a few minutes later. He too got out of a window and fled, but was caught. When one reads of the horrible death of Philip Brady and his wife and son in the tenement house fire on Sunday morning, while others of the tenants were only saved by the bravery and skill of the firemen at the risk of their own lives, no punishment seems too severe for the wretch who would deliberately make possible such a horror for the sake of what trifling plunder he might hope to pick up in a tenement house. A man was recently convicted in New York of committing arson for the sake of the insurance money, and another in Brooklyn, who tired tenements out of seemingly " pure cussedness.” Now let Fire Marshal Mitchell and the |K>lice go to work and catch and punish the murderous sneak thieves and the public will forgive them many failures in the past.

The annual convention of the Virginia State Firemens Association at Danville, June 4 and 5, was one of which the townspeople and the members of the association may feel pardonably proud. The departments of the State were well represented, a healthy growth in membership shown, and every indication given pointing to the future prosperity of the organization. Considerable business was transacted, some interesting papers read, and the parade and banquet went off well, and added greatly to the enjoyment of the visitors. The next meeting will fake place at Charlottesville, October 5, 1892. The election for officers for the year resulted in the choice of T. J. Williams, of Charlottesville, as president ; W. T. Robinson, of Portsnu*ith, vice-president ; Charles Goodrich, of Alexandria, treasurer ; George G. Cumniing, of Portsmouth, secretary ; L. Lookabill, of Roanoke, statistician. N. F. Reid, R. C. Marshall, E. Vance, J. T. Engleby, Oliver Mountcastle, executive board. R. C. Marshall, R. D. Herbert, Oliver Mountcastle, T. H. Wilcox, legislation committee. R. C. Marshall, representative to National Association. All of these gentlemen are known as taking a great interest in the tire service, and the interests of the association may be expected to be well looked after during the coming year.