The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-31
SOME GOLDEN OPINIONS.
What Friends of the Deceased Say
About Him.


Flags fioated at half-mast yesterday over
the new City Hall. old City Hall and over
the building of the Exempts on Brennan
place. There were evidences of sorrow at
the loss of the brave fireman in all sections
of the community. During the afternoon
the work of draping all the frehouses and
fireboats N the city was commenced in ac-
cordanee with the resolution of the COM
mission. By the way, after the commission
had adjourned Colonel J. d. Stevenson, the
aged veteran, sent the following letter to
the board:
SAN FRANCISCO, March 80. 1898.
To the family and persons having In charge the
obsrques of the late Chief OF the San Francisco
Fire Department. David Scannell:
In the arrangements 10 be made FOR the fune-
raj Of my GEAR old friend and associate, David
Scanneli. l desire. as personal favor, TO be
mentioned as a pallbrarer.
knew him most intimately 10 life. both in this
city aud New York, and do not forget him in
death. Respectfully. j. d. STEVENSON.
Particularly will the big-hearted Chief be
missed by several old-timers. who for years
have been regular pensioners of the Chief
He had several relatives-in the East, among
them a cOusin-Mrs. William II. Palmer of
Jacksonville, Fla.-and another cousin in
Baltimore TO whom he regularly RENTED
an allowance. Others went to him regu-
larly every month, as they had done to Cap
tain Jim Riley, and TO several pioneers he
also gave $40 month.
Yes. brave men are as generous as they
are big-hearted, and Dave Seannell was no
exception 20 the rule Read what some of
his friends said Yesterday and judge of his
character for yourself.
George L. BOhen-He was a man-and
that says everything. He never said, go
up there. boys" or anything OF the kind.
1t was always, Follow me-" and where he
would not 20 himself first of all he never
would ask another man to go. He was a
fireman all his life, aud it would be impOs-
sible to tell all of his hairbreadth escapes
from death. Why, there was not bone in
his body that had not at some time or other
time his bones were broken you may rest
certain that 1t was in some act Of heToism
that the accident occurred.
He was man among men everywhere
and at all times. Look at his career in the
Mexican War. He enlisted as a private,
and when the war was over was he pri-
vate still? Not at all. He rose step by
step through his brilliant courage and
intrepidity until he was a captain. Yet
who ever heard him speak of his own
deeds? Who ever knew from his own lips
that he was one of the most brilliant and
courageous soldiers OF the Mexican War?
He was a man who never boosted of his
own deeds. Every one knows that he was
Sheriff of San francisco during the trying
times of the Vigilance Committee of sc.
and hanged them. But Dave Scannell, as
an officer OF the law, did his duty, and in
those days, when il was most difficult
matter to perform his duty, he performed it
well, yet with tact and knowledge of men
that made him friends and no enemies Oh
the Vigilance Committee side and on the
side of those who were lawfully opposed to
that committee.
He was a natural leader of men. Every
one who knew him knew that. Thus.
Nba fret -.
citizens placed confidence atthe outbreak of
the War OF the Rebellion was Dave Sean
nell. All those hearty. sturdy, brawny
men who had known him in the Fire De-
par,ment were anxious to go to the war
under his lead. His career in the Mexican
War had proved his ability, and finally he
was offered a regiment He would nave
taken command. and had he done so Cali
fornia would have been represented By
regiment that would have become famous
in the history of the nation. But General
Wright Would not allow him to 60 away
from San Francisco with so many gallant
men-men in whom there was never the
suspicion of disloyalty. Those were
troublous times in San Francisco and 1t was
felt that we Deeded all our loyal men, So
Chief Scannel remained here.
The Chiefs whole heart and soul were
in the department. He looked on the fire.
men as his bOys--hs wards. for whose
safety and freedom from injury he felt
HIMSELF personally TeSDOnSlOle. IL DrOko
his heart when one of his boys was lost. 1t
was as il he had lost member of his own
family, and he felt as deep grief as any OF
the dead mans family could feel. But he
never asked man to go where he would
not 40 himself. He attended strictly to
business, and if ever there was an honest,
conscientious man, Dave Scannell was that
man. de would never give up. In fire
no one ever knew him TO rest until all dan
ger was past He would fight fire till the
very last, and he knew how to fight fire.
too.
saw the Chief on Saturday, and could
see lie was very sick. l was very much
frightened, and had a doctor called. The
Chief rallied, however, and / thought he
would get well and be uD and about again.
/ saw him again last night, and we talked
together for quite while. lie seemed 10
me 10 be very much improved In health,
and l was sure he would be better Then |
went home. He evidently felt better, too,
for he got up and dressed this morning and
was seated in his chair, reading a newspa-
per, when death came.
Chief of Police Patrick Crowley-The city
has lost long and honest servant in Dave
Scannell. | remember him when was a boy
in New YORK. And / can recall the time
when he went TO the Mexican War as If it
were but yesterday. He was then a tall
lion and as true as steel.
i regret to learn Of his death, for never
had better friend and never knew a Iairer
minded and more liberal man than he. /
think that every one who knew him will
bear me out in my statements. He had
many friends in New York, who will he
deeply greyed to hear that he is dead.
Detective Ben Bohen-I came to San
Francisco from New Orleans when / was
only Az years old, and my earliest recollec-
ton is OF Chief Scannell. Every one knew
him, and the men of to-day learned to love
him as did when they were children, and
often received kind treatment from him.
he was generous and loyal to his friends.
who were numberless. He was in my esti-
nation pure tyne of the American fireman,
against whom there WAS never a mark of
discredit. To those who have grown up
with the city his past services, both to the
city as public officer and to the individuals
who were by fate dependent upon his most
charitable nature. can be far better appre-
ciated than those who simply knew him by
name and record.
Other old members OF the police force
who knew the Chief in early days spoke in
similar way of his many good traits
Dave Scannell." said newspaper man
who has been reporter and editor here for
thirty years. was fireman in every sense
Of the word. he was man who never was