The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
FOR SUCCESSOR TO BONNER
CROkER'S NEPHEW INTENDS TO EN-
TER THE Ex4MINA On.
Gicquel Is the Popular Candidate in the
Department aud Among Insurance Men
-Lnlly Will Have to Wait u While

Gicquel Is the Popular Candidate in the
Department aud Among Insurance Mcn
-Lnlly Will Have to Wait II While
Under the white civil Service Law.
Fire Commissioner Scapnell received and
accepted yesterday Chief Bonner's resigna-
ton from the Fire Department. Mr.. Bonner
VIII retire OF Monday on half nay to devote his
time to the school OF instruction for citizens
OF which he Is to he the head. In accepting
Chief Bonner's resignation Commissioner
Scannell wrote to him that he regretted that
the department was to lose his services and
wished him great success in his new work. Mr..
Bonner's successor must he appointed. under
the White Civil Service law. from among the
seven Deputy Chiefs. Croker. purrov and Gle
auel OF Manhattan and Dun. Dale. Perry and
Murray OF Brooklyn. IL is not thought likely
that the Brooklyn men will be seriously con-
sidered. For Purroy there is said to be little
chance. Croker. who Is a nephew OF Richard
Croker, had n confab with Mr.. Scannell and Mr..
Bonner yesterday and then announced that he
was going to try for the Job. Gicuuel Is re-
garded as tho best fireman among the Deputy
Chiefs and his record Is an excellent one. In
the department and among insurance men it
is generally hoped that he will be selected.
. The elevation OF a Deputy Chief will make
room for the advancement OF Battalion Chief
Lally. who 10 the man that the politicians want
to see at the head Of the department. He can
be appointed a Deputy Chief and on the retire
ment OF Mr.. Bonrer's successor put at the head
of the department. 1t was said yesterday that
this scheme would be worked. but that Lally
could not be the immediate successor Of Mr..
Bonner. which has been his ambition for
years. Mr.. Bonner has been too much OF a
fireman and too little of a politician to please
those at the head Of the Tammany organiza-
ton. and when the present city Government
went into power It became known that he must
20. Since then he has been subjected to many
petty annoyances and has been COMPELLED to
be on guard against attacks at all times. The
Board OF Underwriters have been with him all
along and in 1898 they adopted a series OF reso-
lutions protesting against any attempt to dis
place him. No one familiar with the affairs OF
the DEPARTMENT was surprised to hear that Mr.
Mr.. Bonner was opposed to all kinds OF poli-
ties in the department and would not counte-
nance otGnnizatiGns am%ng the officers or men
expected that there will be an organization
formed to influence legislation a. Albany. Mr..
ing to do with his retirement and that he had
always been on the best Of terms with Com;
Yesterday. would not have retired at this time
except for, the passage of the White Pill. which
makes l.ally's appointment impossible. Com
missioner Scannell said Yesterday:
MI. Bonner's wife wanted him to resign so
that he, might have more time to spend at
home. | did not want him to resign. as | rec
2enized his abllity as the executive head Of the
fremen New York never had a better fireman
upright and straightforward. and l did not
want the d%epartment to lose him. At last.
day. He is getting 10 he an old man. and she
thought it was about time she should he per-
cietv and as this proposition to open a school Of
instruction was made to him it seemed a good
S took adpan,o sS e oi IT, P As viii viii g wisH as great S9 ne e
salary there as he would in the Fire Depart.
mont. The de partment will allow him. half
Nj: scannell thought that the selection Of a
Chief, should be made from, the Deputies Of
chiefs of Brooklyn would 90 W for the evil
service examination; Should a BROOKLYN man
out Ut the tCn OF the list. the Commissioner
added. he would probably fail Of appointmsnt
Seanneil said he was not sure but what he
could legally apn)int the Chief without the ne
e eSesi'y the e' record e. Srl', Of fi hayiSr e rescned Iife at a E fire
at great personal risk VIII have very much e
ho WIN i. nl ,he C pEpfpH1n roHep had M \ n Ssa !cla,s S rsrl
ord in that regard. and 1t would. no doubt,
have considerable influence upon him in max
June %, lisa. and in he foGilowing, august was
battalion Chief On July >. 1893. he was made
him with having Sssiste!' in the rescue oil
woman from u fire At ~ West Twentv-elghth
street Arrll ~. .lSSS. ana also WIN. assisting
in the rescue OF 4 man at this Mission fire at
lOJ Bowery March IL last wear.
Deputy Chief BENJAMIN Gicpuel is Il win ner Of
the Bennett medal for having made a heroic
rescue on Sent. 2t., 1870, when he saved two
women and two children from the building at
~ Montgomery street. He was appointed a
fireman in the old Fire Department Oct. III.
1865. and was promotel to assistant foreman
Ian. > following. On June ! Of that year he
was made a full foreman. He was made
Deputy Chief last year.
Commissioner Seannell has. appointed Simon
| BrentanO. who is Interested. in the school OF
instruction which MIR. Bonner will manage. a
consulting eXpert on fire cNlinguishment. fire
laws and fire statistics of the Fire Depart
ment' withUut.co renSatiOn.
Commissioner Scaun"ll said last night that
he might appoint Il temporary Chief of the de-
partmpnt to serve until the Civil Service Com
mission prepared an eligible list. There is no
eligible list now and it will he necessary to
prepare examination papers before one can be