New-York tribune., 1896-05-24
THE FIRE BADGE.

both house for the ameoration OF this evil. But
It has been lost in he shuttle" somewhere.
A few weeks ago the Peekskill Village Trustees
pa ssed a fire pa troll ordinance and established ana
organized a fire patrol. The next step was to
adopt a badge This they did, and the badges
were distributed. to each Of the 400 fremen In
the village and TO each member of the press.
The badges neat affairs. They are in the shape
of a Maltese an1 in the centre in circle Is
the number Of the badge in raised letters. on the
top projection are the initials r. d. On the bottom
IS the word Peekskill on the right projection is
a picture OF a hydrant; the left projection is the
representation Of a ladder and a frehook.
A few days after these badges We're given out TO
tho fremen they TO be seen everywhere. AL
most everybody who had one wore it in plain sight.
and a great many them their coat lapels.
few Of the modest and unassuming firemen.
who had worn badges before. the emblem.
which is over two inches In diameter, on the sus-
pender strap OF sight. or in some other incon-
splcuous place. But It was amusing TO see every
few minutes a young man or mifde-aged man
passing along the standing in the street.
proudly displaying the big nickel badge in order
that he who ran might read
Soon there was noticed by the constables and
police officers that few tramps came to town, and
those who were seen walking in disap-
peared The justices Of the peace missed them.
Business In the courts dull. and there was
not a half-dozen tramps send up every
was hardly n "Wandering willie" to be seen within
the corporate limits The cause OF this was in
explicable until day last week couple OF
nremen stroll.ng the outskirts OF the VII
lage. Their badges were glitter!ng in the sun
light While they were wandering along two
weary. ragged. dusty tramps appeared. They evil
IDENTIFY had come from Sing Sing. They eyed the
hremen and passed on. \ short time afterward
they passed another fireman and on through the
village. Soon they turned about and al rapid
rate made tracks" for the country taking the
same road that they came by. As they reached
quiet nook In the suburbs they sat down. much out
OF breath. and one said 10 the other:
say. Pat is every man a copper in this townr' .
Il dunno BIZ replied Pat" but have
counted seventeen OF these big badges. Guess
we'd better steer clear Of the town and give the
boys a tip"
Agreed said BILL" and they tramped ,
This conversation overheard by fireman,
and he with some others and police officer made
quiet investigation, and found that II was an
actual fact that the badges of the hremen which
looked Formidable were really dreaded by the
tramps. And IL actually had become reported
abroad through the country for miles around among
the fraternity that the police force I'm Peeksk had
been largely increased. Every tramp who came
20 town into dozen "cOppers" in every street,
until thoroughly alarmed he made his escape into
the country.
Thus has been Peekskill ri of the tramp nuisance
Unexpectedly and I'm novel way. But the relief
is the less great. and the people hope that tho
Peekskill fremen will continue TO wear their badges
In full slcht