The Evening critic., 1885-03-31


ONE of the absurdest, as well as vainly
tion is that of those who essay to oust
Chief Martin Cronin of the Fire Depart
ment and secure his place. There is not In
the country moro intelligent, efficient
and practical man In his line of business
than Chief Cronin. Tho entire voice of
the District is lifted in his commendation.
Through his activity, calm common-sense
personal courage and apt power OF selecting
and disciplining his men he has fashioned
fire department for the National Capital
which, considering all things altogether,
has scarcely peer in the United States.
Compare, as one instance from legion, tho
recent fire in Buffalo and its management
with our two latest serious connagrations.
In almost daylight-twilight at the latest
fire broke out in theatre in the home of
Cleveland. The Buffalo fire department
consists of some fourteen engines aud sev-
eral hook.and-ladder companies. The
theatre was not only totally destroyed but
the Church of st. Louis ON the opposite
side of the street shared the same fate
Now, the entire Fire Department of our
District consists of seven engines and two
hook-and.ladder companies. Yet when
called upon at ] o'clock in the morning
and terribly cold morning it was-on the
occasion OF the conflagration at the National
Theatre, 1t saved all of the adjoining prop
erty, notwithstanding that In addition to the
inilammable material in the National, a
largely stocked wine and liquor store was
| located in the same ediice.
Again, in the recent fire at st. Domin ic 5
| Church, which seemed almost certain TO
entirely destroy that noble structure, as
well as the surrounding houses, nearly all
of which are of wood, our Fire Department,
under the most trying circumstances, aud
faced continuously by personal danger
saved the church and subdued the fire.
Cronin has the confidence of his men.
There is no dangerous undertaking
which he will direct any of his force to at
tempt that he will not make the initiative
move personally. On the day of st.
| Dominic's fire, while be and one of his men
were chopping through the slippery slate
roof, which is framed at an angle OF
forty-fve degrees, gas.meter burst from
the inside binding the fireman with frag-
ments Of wood and slate. Cronin cooly
| placed him on his back, and amid tho
smoke, wa ter and excitement incident to a
| great fIe, coolly improvised toothpick as
an instrument, and, turning up the lids,
| picked out every fragment of foreign
matter from the eyes, and the two started
in to work again.
No. gentlemen, rest assured that thoro
will be no change in our chief of the Fire
Department Our citizens want Cronin
continued, and he will not be disturbed.
| MR.. HAYES, who occupied the White
House for -four years, says that tho new
Minister to England presides at banquet
with more grace and brilliancy than any
man he ever knew. Mr., Lowell has assured
the English people that Mr.. Phelps is a man
] of culture and etiquette. Under the eircum.
stances, we SEQ no reason why Mr. Phelps
may not make at least as good an American
representative at London as Mr., Lowell has
been.
VIZ are Informed by the Boston Globe
that many Vale students complain of the
'pinkeye' and with that excuse cut
chapel in the morning. Yale students who
have had good time tho night before, are
not tho only people who, under similar
circumstances, have the pinkeye in the
morning.
GEoRGIA votes the Democratic ticket al
most unanimously, And with every batch
/ of nominatiOua that 90 to tine genato soma