The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-07
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Necessity OF the Reorganization of the New
York Fire Dspartment-Opinicns OF the
From the New York Express, May 81

From the New York Express, May g.
THE LATE CALAMITY IN BROADWAY
The Coroner's investigation into the causes OF
this disaster is drawing TO close, and II WIN IA mf ~
Nike hood be finished to-day. Mr. Carson, inc o .
Engineer of the Fire Department was caeu 70 t .h
stand and the answer he was bound 10 give W .t ,o
queries of Jurors is sufficient to astonish even sne
oldest citizen We are informed by Mr.: Carson lhas
there is no doubt of a regularly organEea oai,u VI
thieves being in the department. om mrG their denre
dafions The fremen, il seems, wear badge,
which is useful when called out IN hurry; and
this badge gives them aocss T =. and the noee W
NOT question them These badges can be bought
and worn by anybody. Nay, more: anybody can
don &c freman's dress-and yet there is no law to
punish the wearer. Mr. Carson also stated that the
Board of Foremen and Representatives of the Fire
Department had taken this subject Of badges into
consideration but that they could not do anything,
as the law did not punish any one for wearing them
But the most curious fact we think, in the whole
evidence, is yet untold. The Fire Department
adopted resolution expelling the foreman os -ss
anaananv for stealing: but when tha -As~is'~-
submitted to the Common Council to be confirmed,
they adopted another resolution to erase the expul
sion
It seems it is no ones duty to inquire into the
origin Of fire; but Mr.. Carson thinks that some
investigation ought always to be made into the
cause OF fires Half of the fires, in his opinion
the work of incendiarism.
Another witness was called to the stand-a po-
hccman-who described the arrest OF a fireman who
s,a.le coat on the night of the fire N Broadway,
from Jennings store. After stealing the coat, ne
went to saloon on the corner OF Barclay street ana
Park place; left the coat in the care OF the his-
tender, and said he would call for next days then
returned TO tie FIRE "to work like lion and howl
tiger The policeman went to the bartender ana
told him not 20 give the coat up. The fireman call-
ed the second day for it, but did not get H.. inc
policeman few minutes after, entered, and was
hold the circumstance. He went out immediately,
n rested him, and took him 10 the Fifth ward station
house, and thence 60 the Tombs but the Tombs
being shut he was taken TO the Sixth ward station
house, in the same building with the Tombs. JUS
lice Bogart sent for, and, we suppose, because
he was fireman. he was discharged with q repri
mand. He admitted stealing the coat, but he said
it was to keep the water out; but it couldn't do
that lying in porter house. On the way to the
station house, the fireman was followed by several
other iiremen-his cap was knocked OIL, and another
fire cap put his head and the other fire caps were
changed all round. The object of this was evident.
1t was intended if the affair got wind, that the
Fire Department would have u fair chance of
proving the rumor to be malicious SANDER. The
name given to Justice Bogart was undoubtedly tic-
titieus and the fire cap-Hook and Ladder No. IL
was borrowed
The jury sitting on this investigation are honest,
fearless Independent men, who will not shrink
from performing their duty. We have no doubt that
they will recommend speedy remedy Tor many OF
the abuses in the Fire Department The Character
of the remen has rather fallen in the estimation of
the public. The action of the jury WILL however,
tend to elevate it to the standard which it merits.
From the Evening Post, Nay 81
THE BROADWAY FIRE-lTs LESSONS.
The Coroners examination now going on, into
the causes Of the late disaster by the falling in OF
the clothing establishment Of W. 4. Jennings Co..
No. 23l Broadway, has brought home to the public
mind certain facts which merit the most serious
consideration.
The most important lesson to be drawn from the
occurrence is one to which we have often and ear
nestly urged the attention OF our readers, namely
the adoption Of measures requiring more safe and
durable style of building The loss Of fourteen lives
IN consequence of the neglect of due regard for such
considerations, we hope, will give an emphasis to
the renewal Of our warning on this head, which may
bring about the desired effect.
The second lesson to be drawn from this investga-
Aon Is, the necessity OF reorganization OF the Fire
department II appears probable, that the fire orr
ginated from matches OF torches which were thrown
mum the roof through the skyght by burglars these
lnnammatory articles coming in contact with the com.
bustble materials the floor of the third or fourth
thy, Where no fire had been allowed during the
day, produced the conhagration, OF which the in
cendiaries took advantage by entering and plunder-
ing the building. The majority of those who were
killed, according TO Engineer Carson had no con-
neStion with the Fire Department Some of the
desd who were not hremen, the badges of fire.
men. These insignia can be worn by ANYBODY and
when worn, they give their possessor free access to
the burning building.
Some law should be at once made, imposing suf-
ncient penalty OH every one who assumes the char
acfer OF a fireman without belonging 10 the depart-
ment. As things now are, large number of those
WHO run with the engines not members OF the
company and not unfrequently assist solely for the
purpose OF mere easily carrying out their depreda
lions on the property endangered at the fire.
SO far as experience goes, the only remedy fer
this, and Indeed for most Of the present evils OF the
Fire Department IS first, 10 restrict, under severe
penalty, The badge to those to whom it rightly be-
longs and, second, TO abolish the volunteer system
substituting therefor weltorganzed and well-paia
corps OF men, who will be regularly rewarded, as
well as responsible for their services.
IFrom the National Democrat, Nay Al
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT..
We have not hitherto paid much attention TO the
charges brought against the Fire Department OF this
city by interested parties; we know the majority of
our firemen to be honorable and Trustworthy citi-
zeDs-but we cannot shut our eyes to the evidence
which Mr.. Carson the chief of the department volur.
teers. He tates that "fre badges" have hither.
10 been issued to irresponsible partie%-tlat fremcn
convicted OF theft have been retained in various
companies-that he has known that vaTiog. parties
not socially entitled have assumed the gatb of tb
fireman, and passed through the Gordon OF police
anto the burning buildings We mention these thin
as the abuses to which the best institutions NAV be
subject. We believe that the fire companies of New
York are as respectable as any body Of men ever
assembled in our city; but we believe that their
present construction is liable to errors which r,ust
eventually call for its dissolution Better the tax
Tor an organized fire brigade than the csses which
we are af present daily subject Mr. Carson rave it
as his opinion that more than one half the fires in
she city o. New York are the result OF incendarsm
[from the Commercial Advertiser May4J
The testimony before the Coronor's inquest in
fhe case Of the Broadway catastrophe, pub shed In
yesterdays Commercial cannot fail to excite atten.
zion. The Chief Engineer of the Fire Department
who mnat be regarded "a a competent and friendly
witness, testified that within his knowledge gang
OF men, wearing the garb of iremeu, attended fires
Tor the purpose OF stealing that he has known
members of the Fire Department, to he caught
fheving that IN one case vi 4 member expelled Tor
stealing at tire, the Common Ceunci hld rein
HtAted NM That member who i now foreman 0,
an enginc company had been thus expelled and rein.
stated; that sometimes persons haze att, AIDED fires
1resaed rs hremen, though not me abeas of the ue.
Partmcnt and that in his Judgment more than one.
bali the fires that occur in this city are TIE work
incendiaries.
These arc painful and alarming disclosures and
such as tho public mind was little prepared t. recey
from such IN indispntable source. Rumors 10 SINH
Lar erect have been in circulation but the General i'm
preston was that they did grea. injustice the de-
partment, and every one was willing 10 l.Jieye ts,
members found guilty Of such malpractice would
promptly expelled from the department sad c0uld
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