The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-26

The Splendid Career of the Dead
Fire Chief as His Friends
Speak Of 1t.

EYES," said a close friend of the dead
Fire Chief last night, "Farrier was a
natural born fire fighter and died fighting
fire. No man was cooler about his work.
He never asked man to 60 where he re-
fused to go himself. He was a good ex-
ecutive officer. His work in the depart
ment shows this ever since he relin-
uuished the foremanship of old Volunteer
Diligent Hose No. 3. The name Diligent
was given his company because it was
always among the first to arrive at a fire.
Farrier was foreman of old No from
along about '6S to III, when the paid
fire department first came into existence
He left it to become chief of the paid de-
partment. Old No 3 used to be close TO,
the bell tower on Newark avenue. She
made her reputation through the excel
lent discipline OF Farrier. and In the great
fire parade in Boston, in 20 the company
attracted considerable attention. l can
not recall just DOW many of the big fires
in which old No. Hose took part, al
though she attended them ALL At Bur-
plank factory fire at First and Hender-
son streets In '6S. No. had been sus-
pended BY the Volunteer Chief-I can't
recall the exact particulars just
now, but 1t was about row
with the members of some other COM
pany. Any way. the carriage had been
ordered rolled in tongue first. This
meant the company had no right to ap-
pear at a fire. But when the fire was
spreading the men could no longer re-
sist. Old No. was hauled out aud she
was soon on the scene, where she re-
manned, doing the most valiant service of
any company on the ground. She was
reinstated after that, too, YOU can bet.
A LIFE SAVER.
'Farrier saved a life before he had been
chief of the paid department six months
1t was daring rescue, too. AT the fire at
rhe old Metropolitan Hall, where Hoos q
Schultz's store now is, he found an old
lady about suffocated on the top floor,
when even the firemen had been ordered
from the interior of the building, and at
his own life's peril he snatched mp the old
lady and made his way safely to the street
below He was only away from the
Chiefs desk from III 10 'sl. and had
nearly all the big fires. There was the
Erie shop fire in ~, where McCarty was
killed by falling walls; think the No. 5
School in Bay street, too, was In '72; then
the fire at Vanderbeck's lumber yards in
49, At all these great fires the work of
the Chief was complimented on all sides,
and he seldom attended fire that he did
not encourage his men by some noble act
of heroism.
THE ROLL OF HONOR
In the roll of honor book started by
Clerk Van Alst in 1886 appears this entry
OF an incident. familiar even to the young
people of Jersey City,
HENRY Z. FARRrER. Chief Engineer, April 5,
ordered placed upon the roll of honor of the
Board OF Fire Commissioners, April "A. 1888
A fire occupied April ). 1881 at about twenty
five minutes past one O'Clock, A. NJ, at No. az Hud
son street The Chief was Informed that all the
inmates of said building had been rescued ex-
cept an old lady named Mary Cullen. who usu-
ally slept in an attic. He Immediately entered
and assembled or attempted to ascend the burning
building bnt was driven back several times
(the building at the time was filed 10 suffoca-
ton by heat and smoke). He persisted. how
ever and found the old lady in the attic room OF
said building nearly sun ncated, and at the risk
of his own lie sueceede in rescuing her from
her perilous positi am brought her In safety
TO the street.
HIS HOST OF FRIENDS.
Assistant Fire Chief Denmead:-"It
will be hard 10 fill his place at the head
of the department"
Ex-Foreman John Jurgens, of No. 4
engine, who served under the Chief six
years:-"That's so. Every word of il. /"
Clerk Charlie Estabrook, of the Fire
Board:-"He was brave and efficient
fireman and the loss will be seriously felt
throughout the department.
President Michael j. ODouuell. of the
Tax Board:-..He was perfectly COM
petent officer"
Tax Commissioner Lawrence:-..It will
be difficult to find one to fiji his place as
efficiently as he did The Board of Fire
u Underwriters had every confidence in
him. That. | consider the very best of
testimony"
Clerk James Connolly. of the Tax
oard;-The city loses good and faithful
official.
Chief ST Police Murphy:-.He possesses
ALI the qualifications OF good Fire Chief
He was brave, cool-haded and hae life
long experience.
Deputy City Collector Niles McCartin: