The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-27
The Police and the Firemen.

These two bodies Of the towns defenders
and protectors have received recently great
and well-deserved praise for their conduct
in trying emergencies.
A few days ago fire. which might have
become extensive and unmanageable. oc-
Cured at about midday in Union square.
1t broke out in building which shuts III
the great Tiffany jewelry establishment
on two sides, to the south on Union
square and at the rear and to the west on
Fifteenth street. The dense smoke speedily
gave notice OF the fire. and tho vicinity was
soon so far crowded with people that tho
Fire Department would have been seriously
INSTRUCTED in their labors. except for the
admirable discipline OF both the police and
themselves. Neither OF them lost their heads
for q moment. but proceeded to the dis
charge OF their duty with the greatest cool
ness and with the most methodical order
II the neighborhood had been entirely de-
serted Of people. the firemen could not have
performed their task more eXpeditiously
| and effectually. The patience OF the police
was taxed severely by the necessity Of
clearing and keeping space for them by
driving and holding back the curious and
| excited crowd. but in a short time they sue
| cceded in accomplishing their object with
| out losing their temper or displaying any
| violence. and a threatening fire was extin-
| guislcd with the minimum OF possible loss.
The responsibility of both policemen and
| fircmen was peculiarly great OH this
occasion. for the situation Of the fire was in
the neighborhood which has become a
centre OF the jewelry trade. wherein are col
lcctcd stocks Of precious metals and stones
and the costIicst of all articles of elegance
and luxury. aggregating In value millions
| Of dollars, and a great part of them portable
and all specially attractive to criminal
greed. Yet the fire was eXtinguished with
out tho loss of single dollars worth OF
property. except what was destroyed by its
own agency.
1t was an impressive manifestation OF the
extraordinary efficiency OF the two munich.
pal departments. OF which the TIFFANY
firm or company has made due acknowl-
edgment in public card. The manage.
ment Of the fire throughout and In detail
was beyond criticism. In no other city OF
the world could it have been excelled. nay
equailed. Nowhere else than in New York
| would such crowd OF many thousands OF
people have been controlled more quietly
and systematically. and nowhere else
would the loss have been SO much reduced
from its possible. II net its probable pro-
portions. Nowhere else would the order
have been more perfect. In London or Paris
the confusion and danger would have beer
! much greater.
These are facts which should be recltet
for the information OF the outside critics o.
the government of New York who have
been deceived by the ISLANDERS upon 1t sent
forth by parcel Of defamers whose
evaporation is due to their utter fail
ure to obtain any place or influence
in municipal affairs. II any othel
city Of the Union wants mode
for its police department. its fire depart
ment. for sanitary regulation. for thu
management of parks. or whatever els,
enters into the practical administration o
Il popuious community it must come ant
does come to New York. Not one of then
all is SO we'll governed as this town, so mucl
DETAINED by men greedy OF notoriety. bu
whose political dilsttsntelsm 10 right!