New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-21
A RRAvE FIREMAN REWARDED.

| Michael Commerford n fireman of Engine Com
gany No 81 was 'front.' Of the cottage
| the Union Sonare plaza The presentation speech
was delivered by Charles A. Dana after review
| of n brigade of the Fire Department. The brigade
| was under the command of Assstant-Chief OF Dc
| partment Charles o. Shay. There were two battaic
! IONS the first one being commanded by CheI or
| Battalion Benjamin A. Gicquel and the second ny
Chief Francis j. Reilly. In tle first BATTALION Weie
Engine Companies Nos. /, ii, H. and 80, ana
Hook and Ladder Company NO l. Eng ld o1io-
| Company No IL, composed the second Dattailoii
| Each company was represented by two officers ana
| ten men who wore uniform coats, cloth caps ana
white gloves BY special order the former re-
cipicnts of Bennett medals now III the depariIen.
were present in uniform, each wearing MS meuai vi
| the left breast ~.
AT 4 o'clock a carriage containing John ). Cor
mau, the President of the Fire Department, anu
Commissioner Cornelius Van Colt ana uentS .hc
cottage, and after these gentlemen hau taAen dar
places on the platform t1 NE p1 nIs1a pre-
U DaIaiorv for tRs f fSasSS
on the platform were ex-Aldemen john - MOTIF,
| and William r. Roberts, Judge Wmte A rnT,,n'
| aionssr Wenman General Shaer. Captain Chnchy,
Police Commissioner French ana Oouiu us i1
| Hess There were also several ladles vi 'ne pia'
The line of march was begun in lrving-place. AT
| A.3O the 9TH Regiment band preceded by plaIoou
of police, marched up b hy Fn0;nes Nos
| I and ii The engines, trucks, horses and men all
| Looked their best. After the companies were az
| ranged in line facing Broadway, they were re-
| viewed President German then read the roll Oh
merit for the year. ,y
Mr. Dana presented the gold medal to Fireman
CQmmerOrd a short speech, III when ne leIateu
tue incidents at the IRE tenement mousse Ill
MadIaon-st., On January 4, 1881, winch led 10
Commercials receiving tine medal. In an upper
room which was filled with smoke, were three chi,
dren of Margaret Eagan. On LADDER stretcheu
across an alley from another house TINS hreuldh
crawIed into the and found one child, age SIX,
Insensible. He was passed out over the laduer 10
other fremen and again Commcrford went
TO the rescue OF the remaining chlldren,
both of whom were saved by INN. MI
Dana commended him for his bravery at moment
when The highest courage called Tor, winch he
considered great thing not merely Tor the nero, but
also Tor his llIeuds Tor the community ana 1or tne
whole people can gather inspiration ana sup
port from such actions The origin OF the heuai
was tnon mentioned, and II was sad tnal COhhlcI
ford was the fifteenth member OF Inc 1Ie Dcprl-
ment u whom similar medals nad Deen dNdIuc';
Inc gold medal is about The size OF sNei uolidI.
On tle face is the auegOFcal representation VI
Neptune handing the key of Charity 10 Il sea
nyInph An nceuditIy Is shown 10 nave nre
building, rom winch SMOKE Is seen 10 IolI, anu III
the distance appears "a hIe-enslne On INC V'heI'
side are the following words " Endowed DN
Fund Contributed by James Gordon Bennett" ana
also this InscliptOn Presented to Fireman
Michael COmmerIOrd, III appreciation OF nerIlorl-
Gus performance OF duty as hreDian L. Dalley
Myers, James Mclean, Robert >. Hoine trustees
Fire. January 4, 1881" "
parade of the lire companies followed the
presentation speech.