The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-19
HARRY HOWARD DEAD
New York'S Old Fire Chief Passes
Away.
PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY
An Intrepid Fighter of Fiames-He
Had a Long and Useful Career.
During Which He Held Many
offices of Trust.
From the New York Times.

partment of this city, died early yes
terday morning at his home, No. "a
Elm street. He had been for many
years a picturesque figure. AS he
limped along at the head of the pro-
cession of firemen. his left leg and arm
helpless from a stroke of paralysis re-
ceived in the line of his duty as the
head of the volunteer fire department,
he was always cheered.
Howard was born in Manhattanville,
now a portion of the Twelfth ward. on
Aug 20, 1922. 1t was never known who
his parents were, for they abandoned
him soon after his birth. He was adopt
ed by Mrs. Sarah Charlesworth How
ard, to whom the baby had been
confded by a mysterious couple, who
gave her $500 and said that they would
call for the child in the following
spring. Mrs. Howard adopted the
abandoned infant. and named him
Harry Howard. He ever after bore
this name, and his assumption of 1t
was subsequently legalized by an act
of the legislature.
The young man received rather
limited education, and was indentured
to learn the trade of cabinet making
with Abijah Matthews e. Son, at Cath
crime and Henry streets. He was not
enthusiastic about the trade which he
was taught and never followed ii after
he became of age. His career in the
volunteer fire department began on
April IL, 1910, when he became a men,
Der of Patterson engine company No.
Is, whose house was in Chrystie street.
between Canal and Bayard streets, and
which was manned by stalwart citi-
zens of the Tenth ward. For five years
previous he had been a runner with
the company. He was an enthusiastic
fireman, and remained a member of
No. Is for 10 years, during which time
he had C1nNaCGiUalU held the nnGitfnD Of
assistant foreman and foreman. He
was subsequently elected foreman of
Atlantic hose company No. IA at the
repair shops of the department on Eliz-
abeth street, near Bayard, on the site
of the present Sixth precinct police
station, Immediately in the rear of the
old Bowery theater This company
was manned by what were known as
the Bowery boys, all native Americans,
who took a prominent part in the riot
of July 4, 1887. between the Dead Rab-
bits, as the Irish residents of the Sixth
ward were called, and the Bowery boys.
1t was while foreman of this COM
pany that Howard was elected to the
assembly from the Second district In
1853, and was subsequently elected AID
erman from the Sixth ward in 1854 and
1855. lie was appointed receiver of
taxes in 1856. Meanwhile he had been
chosen assistant chief engineer, second
IL.
He served in that capacity for seven
years, and In 1857 was chosen chief en-
gineer TO succeed Carson. To accept
this place he was compelled to resign
his office as receiver of taxes, and be-
fore doing so he demanded that an ex-
animation of his accounts be made,
and they were found correct to a cent.
His administration of the office of
chief engineer was brilliant, though
brief. He introduced the system of
compulsory bunking, requiring a por-
ton of each company to sleep in the
engine house at night, so as to be ready
to respond to alarms of fire, and sew
eral Improvements in the fire appar-
atus then in use were adopted at his
suggestion.
While running to a fire in East Hous-
ton street in July, 1858, Chief Howard
was stricken with paralysis in Grand
street. He was taken to his home un-
conscious. and for months was con-
fined to his room. He finally recovered
sufficiently to move about, but his old
strength and endurance were gone.
Owing to his shattered physical condi-
tion he was compelled to resign from
the department in 1860, and was sue
ceeded by John Decker, who died sew
eral years ago. For many years and
up to the time of his death, he was
employed In the department of public
works as inspector of vaults and areas.
Howard was brave to reclxlessness,
and during his active career as a fire.
man saved many lives. One of his most
daring rescues was that of Samuel
Van Praag, son of A. s. Van Praag.
at the fire which destroyed jennings
clothing store at No. 231 Broadway, on
April "a 1854, where a number of fire.
men lost their lives. He was honored
by the common council, which had a
full-length portrait of Chief Howard
painted and placed on the wall of the
aldermanic chamber.
The square at the junction of Canal
Baxter, Walker and Mulberry streets
was named Harry Howard Square, in
his homer, and the late Alderman
Flynn, who was a great admirer OF
Chief Howard, for several years en-.
deavored, though unsuccessfully, &C
have the name of Bayard street chang
ed to Harry Howard street.
After the organization of the paid fire
department Howard was one of the
most earnest advocates of the system
and in 1866 he appeared before the legis
lature and made an argument which
resulted in an increase of 20 per cent. In
the firemen's salaries. He gave ou
first $1,000. in 1890, toward the fund fol
the erection of the Firemens Home IN
Hudson, N. Y, laid the corner stone Of
the building on June 2S. 1892, and made
an address at the dedication of the
building. He gave 81 900 to the exempt
firemeu's burial fund in 1855. He wa.
remarkably ebstemious and simple il
his habits. and never used liquor or to
bacco. He never rode in street cars.
For over So years Howard had been {
resident of the Sixth ward where n,
was known to every man, woman anC
child. He was never married. For a
years ne occupied apartments in tn,
house at No. "a Elm street. He haC
been rather feeble for several weeks
He caught a cold a week ago and pneu
monia developed.