TRIED TO SHOOT THE FIREMAN.

TRIED TO SHOOT THE FIREMAN.

When the second alarm for the fire in The Century building struck on the morning of the 7th inst., Engine No. 33 went out of its quarters in Great Jones street and was driven up Lafayette place. Assistant Foreman John J. Burns, who was under the weather, was late in responding to the alarm, but being a fleet-footed young fellow, and surmising that the engine would turn toward the Cooper Union at Astor place, he ran to the Bowery and had just turned northward when Officer James Morris of the Fourteenth Precinct saw him and, deciding that he was a thief, pursued him, calling on Burns to stop and drawing his revolver. At Fourth street Morris fired a shot at the pavement, but Burns did not hear it. At Fifth street Morris fired for him, but the bullet broke a show case at the level of Burns’ heart, and a moment later the yells of a crowd who had joined in the chase reached his ears, and he turned to see Morris running toward him pistol in hand. Seeing Burns’ insignia he said with an oath, “ Why didn’t you say you was a fireman ?” and Burns replied: “Why did you not see I was one?” and continued his chase after his company. The affair was kept a secret through the magnanimity of Burns, but it leaked out recently and charges will be preferred against Morris.

When the second alarm for the fire in The Century building struck on the morning of the 7th inst., Engine No. 33 went out of its quarters in Great Jones street and was driven up Lafayette place. Assistant Foreman John J. Burns, who was under the weather, was late in responding to the alarm, but being a fleet-footed young fellow, and surmising that the engine would turn toward the Cooper Union at Astor place, he ran to the Bowery and had just turned northward when Officer James Morris of the Fourteenth Precinct saw him and, deciding that he was a thief, pursued him, calling on Burns to stop and drawing his revolver. At Fourth street Morris fired a shot at the pavement, but Burns did not hear it. At Fifth street Morris fired for him, but the bullet broke a show case at the level of Burns’ heart, and a moment later the yells of a crowd who had joined in the chase reached his ears, and he turned to see Morris running toward him pistol in hand. Seeing Burns’ insignia he said with an oath, “ Why didn’t you say you was a fireman ?” and Burns replied: “Why did you not see I was one?” and continued his chase after his company. The affair was kept a secret through the magnanimity of Burns, but it leaked out recently and charges will be preferred against Morris.