The Dickinson press., 1898-01-29
NEW WORKS. FIRE PATROL

says: kjass& ss1 FTs3
The history of the New York
branch Of this novel addition to the
fire service is not uninteresting, for
it's establishment dates back to the
beginning of the present century, at
which time it was known as the Mu-
tual Assistance Bag company.
Originally this was q banding to-
gether of New York merchants for
mutual protection at fires. Each
member Of the above company"
wore q badge Of distinction" at
fires, consisting Of a round hat with
q black rim and a white crown bear
ing the initial letters of the organ
ization, IN. A." on the front. He
was also armed with two stout can
vas bags about 3 by 8 feet in size.
having upon the outside his name
in full and the letters IN. A." sur
rounded by a circle. At each alarm
Of fire the members Of the company
responded with hat and bags, and
If a fellow members property was
In danger saved what they could
and conveyed it in these bags to
some place of safety.
We find among the list Of men,
bers of this organization in 1908
such names as Beekman, Blocker,
Cruger, Cutting, De Peyster, Roose-
welt, Stuyvesant and others as we'll
known, showing that many Of the
pioneer merchants of New York
city were incorporators Of this mu-
tual fire protective association. It
is extremely interesting to picture
to the mind a group of these sturdy
old Knickerbockers, working ener-
getically amid the exciting sur
roundings Of a fire, slowing goods
and chattels away In canvas bags
bearing names that have since be-
come historically famous or promi-
nently identified with the growth of
old Manhattan.
In 1889 the present fire patrol was
organized, practically evolving, SO
far as records show, from this same
Mutual Bag company. Their head
quarters were on Dutch street, where
a small wagon, pulled by hand, was
kept stored on the top floor of the
building. This wagon was lowered
to the street each evening at Up.
m. and hoisted back again at 5a.
m. Between these hours the fire
patrolmen were on duty. Later the
service was increased by the addi-
ton of another wagon and more
men, and in 1870 the patrol was re-
organized and put upon a more SUBJ
stantial and more effective basis.
Three stations were opened in
different parts of the city, and the
companies, under command Of three
officers, were taken from the regu-
lar fire department. The most ap.
proved wagons and the best tele-
graphic instruments were intro.
duced, and the finest horses obtain
able were purchased for the service.
1t is a question whether any
branch of the regular fire depart
ment responded SO quickly as the
detachments from these different
stations, and they presented a stir.
ring picture as they Numbered along
on their way to a fire.
The service in New York has been
still further enlarged, and today
there are five stations, each contain
ing two sections, or two complete
companies, go when one section re-
spends to an alarm another com
plete section (oficer, men and wag'
'on) is left in quarters. Each station
is manned by a captain, a lieuten
ant, a sergeant and from 16 to q
permanent men, and is further
strengthened at night by the add
ton of ten auxiliary men, who car
be called upon at any moment fol
service. These are men who worl
during the day at various other oc
equations and are paid only for tn,
time they are at fires. The perma
nent force is also recruited from
these AUXILIARY men,"
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