New-York daily tribune., 1854-08-22

we Souh Dutch In the memorable fire Of 35tbe French
Ohyer-Christ Church in Anthony Methodist in John
ST. Thomas IN Broadway, and recently the Central Pres
tyerian in Broomest Among the svorie and popular
places OF anusement too the fires within recollecoA
have been disastrous. Most Of remember the de-
srue,on Of the Mount Pitt Circusthe Lsarens at The,
tviceLNiblo's She slmost new and splendid Opera
House on the corner of Church and Leonard-sts and
though last not least the favorte temple within whose
walls astonished thousands have often listened 20 the
sweet warbings Of the Nortbers Nightingale Besides
thee and many others which may have escaped my eco
kcon almost innumerable have been the fires against
which the Department have had TO contend aud how well
and tectasly they have performed that duty the uni
versal applause Of an appreciatng and grateful peo
Pe" aouboshuy es''nes' II ~ uus ua' nis'encoo
occurred in which the help of seemed almost power
ss for time to arrest the progress OF destruction and 10
stay the fury Of the devourDg ement but they have
generally been owing combination Of peculiar circum
tsnoes over which the fremen had control and for
which they should not be held responsble for it not
too much 70 say that there is class of feowciZens
10 which largely indebted for the preserve
ton Of resides and homes than TO the valuable
baud Of who celebrate the laying of the corner
stone Of building 10 be devoted the services OF the
Fire Department Of City Previous 10 the introduc-
hon Of Croton water in 1872 only resource was 10 tue
very inadequate supply Of the hreplugs when were scat
tered throughout the densey populated portions OF the
(sty and Connected with the old Manhattan Works in
Chsmbersst., and subsequently with the Reservoir IN
Thireenthst the comparatively small elstern IN front o
many of the public buildngs-the old supply engine
upon the part of the grounds now occupied by the
Tombs the float at the 100; OF Rooseveit-st and our
announced the location Of the fires and boundaries
shor of the entire island mark ed the call to duty but when
Che alarm sounded the whole department was aroused
and from one extreme Of the City TO the otherfrom the
Battery 10 Harlem aud from the North % the East RIVER
they required promptly TO respond frequently run
ming many weary mile and exhausted long before arrv-
ING at the cause Of aarmOr then no index but the point
ng from the City Hall and the cupolas of the few remote
h scattered watchhouses guided their nightly wandenngs
during the day they obliged 10 rely upon the best
information which could beobtsinedofentmes very
tradctory and uncertain Then as was not unfequenty
the required nearly oDehaf oi tbe strength OF he
Depar,rneno force single streamap the ire and now
r.coc OF instance in which water was conveyed nrough
lire Of about fifty engines from East River to the vcnly
Of the Bowery calling into requson me services OF near
" one thousand and requiring immense amount OF
labor 10 stay progress OF destruction Ii was IN times
Gke these ard during the intense cold of December
night that the destructive fire az Crane Wharf, the
present site OF Fuion Market swept with fury the
bvidines in that neighborbood and many Of you may
remember thst large and valuable stock OF good old
Bioodgoods wines, furnished fuel for the flames Inc
Burning Of the cotton South ST. also IN the
midst Of winter requiring nearly thysix hours labor OF
the fremeD before the entire Department was dismissed
The fire in the then far distant suburbs OF the
City broke outdurng the meridian sun OF asgnmer sab
bath day and many who started at the alarm fell exhausted
ere they reached the The Chemical Works In Broad
way then far beyond the limits OF our thcky popuiatea
streets-he Exchange buildings on Willamst, aud many
others which might be referred TO- Will call TO your MINDS
an association Of ideas which neither the time nor the &C.
ea,on will permit me 20 dwell enlarge upon; but they
will tend show the impedimenis under which the fire.
laboed before the organization OF the presen sys
tenn The recent conhagra0ns Of 1885 and lei5 IN
which s27 600 coo of property destroyed the burn
ing Of the Harpers mammoth establishment and tne
sad destruction of the Joseph Walker and Crest Repub-
kc and the yet awful tragedy al jennings, are
Of such comparatively recent occurrence, that need
sny refer to them to recall vvdly 10 your nas ihe err
sunsances connected with the disaster. But is not
Only in the hour Of danger that the Department Is the SUD
ee Of comment and admiration for IN all the prominent
civic for which this city 50 Justly ceebatedi
II has always formed prominent and important part and
n relied upon by the municipal authorities to swell me
pageant and increase the enthusiasm upon such occasions
"A. .ns. etf.ataH M
the celebration Of the completion of the Erie Canal no
class Of feowciiizens entered more ardenty into
the popular feeling the complete success
of that mighty work which mingled the waters OF the
with the lakes and contributed more to give
tclat to the occasion than the hremen OF our city
When In s42 the waters 0f the Croon were introduced
into metropolis all classes OF its population partici-
pated in the celebration of event intimately con-
neced with the prosperity Of City, but to none did
present pleasing antcpatons than 10 those VINO had
often realized their entire dependence upon ni and
supply in the prompt and efficient discharge OF
their and important duties it therefore,
Justly expected that upon such not only the
strength the beauty of the Department would occupy
prominent position in the line Of processon and such
expectations were than realized for the mounted en-
sDe Handsomely decorated, drawn by horses richly ca
parisOred-the numerous appropriate banners belonging
~ the various companies, preceded by the one which hsd
pon the morning Of that day been presented them for the
ettasionhe bands OF music dispersed throughout the
me but above all the general appearance and perfect or
ton Of strangers and the justly boasted comment OF our
suaens Aerwsrd as an appropriate 6"ate to this aus
which had Aoaed through the aqueduct from the Croon
dam 10 the receiving cir in the OF the
members Of the Legislature and many other distinguished
visitors formally presented to the Department in token of
e benefit which to result in the exngulshment Of
fs from the completion of this most important and stu
pen6ous work and my privilege upon that aston,
your behalf and as your representative to acknoRl'
edge appreciation Of the very simple but appropriate
gift. Ii most unfortunate day for the best interests
Of the department, when during extensive eonhagra
ton in the section of the City, information
eeved that the Common Council, in the presumed peni
tsde Of their wisdom, had introduced the fell demon of
party politics in the displacement Of Chief and that
Quick had been removed not for any want of ability on
his part 10 discharge the important duties committed TO
his esre-not because he had been guilty Of any breach
Of in connection with the Office, but because in the
Of that freedom Of speech political
tons, which is the bossed prerogativo of every Ame
esn citizen he was believed to be opposed to those in
whom the power at that day vested of appointing
and removing at pleasure the Chief Engineer OF the De-
partment When the announcement was made that he
had been removed and that Rykcr to succeed him.
The Ere under control and had been nearly extin
gahed but under the excitement of the occasion gen.
esl suspension Of labor ensued and almost universal
burst Of indignation from rank to rank at the
preeedented and uncalled-for Judgment which had
been visited upon him, and regarded at the time
premedtated and objectionable insult TO every
mt nbsr Of the Department. 1t may be that under
momentary excitement the cap of Guick reversed,
thereby virtually relinquishing his command, and that
others followed his example, But did then believe and
have alu thought that If his part Il the
of the milk Of human kindness the noble and generous
hearted to permit himself to become the instrument
Of nfetng wrong upon the innocent to gratiy spirit
of revenge against the guilty; let this however be as
may the result Of the precedent on the part of the appoint
nc power the introduction into ranks Of spirit of
insubordinstion and discord, which led to the entire
abandonment Of many Of the most valuable and efficient
eompanes and but for the nterposton Of exempt femen
and other public 81 rted citizens who took possession OF
the apparatus under d sanction and authority Of the
Common Council might have resulted 10 the most alarm.
To- 81 do nn~