The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-04
Common Council


BoARp OF ALDERMEN, Monday, April Morris Frank.
u PreidentThe fatal ence of the IRE In duane
street. on Sunday morning Was the cause Of special
meeting Of the Common Council this evening, that
sures might be taken to the proper respect to the
late George Kerr and Henry Fargs whs were killed on
Alderman FRANKLIN rose and said-The melancholy
duty has devolved On me OF convening this Board in
sequence Of tho severe and sudden calamity which has
b,fsen the fire department of city, for, 1t were,
in moment In the very twinkDg Of eye, and while
actively engaged in the discharge of their respective
dutie', two If their number have been summoned to
their nal homes and the survivors that their
ranks arc broken, and that those who knew them
cipate when the morning bell aroused them from their
sumbers that 1t was the knell which summoned them
to the tomb and that for the last time, they heard
that sound which had often called them
danger and Of duty little did they think they had
left their homes and all the endearmsnts of af
fiction to smolder beneath the ruined walls and that
their mspgled remains would be returned to ther a
ed relatives and friends by their panons In danger
weeping and over the loss which they and The
department. had sustained How true, indeed Is the SOL
smn declaration that in the midst Of life In death
Well may their associates mourn for of the nobles
Of the and the members Of the Southwark
will long weep the loss which they have sustained
IN the melancholy death Of their unfortunate officer and
friend The solemn strokes OF the midnight bell will no
more wake their sleeping disturb their sumbers-the
lurid glare Of the consuming re will again AMI
mate their boeoms and urge them onward to the
OF dsnger for the trumpet tongue hushed tho eye
closed forever, and their once animated and active
frames are stiffehed IN the cold embrace Of death.
Most OF US know the former and many the latter and
often have them amid the flames and smoke of
the dsvourng element doing coed service in the cause
IN whicn they were engaged but their last duty has
been performed the final order has been issued and the
neglected cap and noseess trumpet serve but to
remind the survivors Of the loss they have sustained
have, therefore, thought that the occasion was one
IN which the Common Council would desire to mingle
ner eympathies with the members Of the department
and unite with them In paying proper tribute Of
TO the memory of tho deceased by performing tho last
ssd duties which we are permitted to perform, and to
drop tear over the new made graves Of the smented
hremen You WILL therefore take such ss your
feelings and judgment may dictate, upon the melancho
~ occasion which has called US together.
Aid PURsER followed in . few brief remarks In which
he reverted to the virtues Of the deceased the high
animation they held with their fellow members Of t6e
fire apartment and it was with feelings of the desnss
emotion that he offer folio wing And
re;ou iopt' watch were unanimously adopted
. whereas, ct the disastrous IRE which occurred in
Duans street on Suntsy morning. the I'd of April,
instant, the fire department lost of most efficient
eiceIs while actively engaged in the discharge OF their
ponsibls duties of the sudden falling
Of VAIL which buried them ia | ruins, aud
WHEREAS THIS severe and sudden dspensation, while
throwing general gloom upon the department. has
brought oesolaton and mourning to the dwellings, Of the
deceased and the Comuon Council deeply sympathiss
ssh the afflicted widow orphan children, aud relations
Of tbs lan'ented Kerr, who by this calamity have been
oereft OF secsionate husband, father and friend
and extend to the parents and friends of the ecu
esteemed and lsmented Fargis their sincere symps.
thy and condolences for their irrepsrsble loss and
Whereas, as members Of tho Fire Dspsrtment-the
as the Oldest Assistant Engineer and the other an
Assistant Foreman of Southwark Engine Company, No
as their loss will be deeply lamented, and their memory
lu sne UecuA SO oi sner sruuouS
and pc ous duties as hrsmen and Ia their department
citizens they had the confidence Of the conmunity
and the respect and attachment OF the department.
Therefore,
Resolved, That the Common Council do most sincere.
~ sympahie with the Fire Department in the severe
which they have suddenly sustained the death
Of their associates, Gsorge Kerr Henry Fags who
have fallen in the discharge OF their important dute
bringing desolaon and to their homes and seve
ing the nearest ties of affection and kindred.
Resolved That the sum Of 81 600 be, and The sum Ia
hereby appropriated to tie Fire Department upon con-
dtion that the interest thereon at the seven
cent per anuum be paid to the widow Of George Kerr
40 long as she eha remain unmarried for the
and Of her children and in the event OF her
paid to the children Of the aforesaid George Kerr uat
they shall severally arrive at the age Of twenty
years the principal shall revert to the Fire Depart
'uent Fund.
Resolved, That the members Of the Common Council
Will attend tho funeral of tho deceased with their
Of off:e, and that committee Of five be appointed
from each board to max all necessary arrang to
carry this resolution into effect.
Resolved, That the flags the City Hall be raised at
half mast at sunrise the day Of the funeral and the
various fire alarm bells toll during the funeral
Resolved That acopy these preambles and these
solutions 6e duly authentic sed and the re-
spective families of the deceased.
Ths following gentlemen were then appointed the
mtteo on the part of the Board Aldermen Purser
DAMS Tappan, Dodd and Kelly.
BoAkD OF AsssrANra-The papers we're cent to the
Board OF Assstants and unanimously concurred in The
following gentlemen were appointed the committee
the part Of this Board -Aldermen Ceger Jameson
Trey Mullins and Clark The B oard then adjourned.
0ny Intelligence.
FiREs-Tbe organ factory Of Msssrs Davis & Fer,