The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-10
DEATH or FIRE CHIEF sItoUEn.
lie was n Famous Fire Fighter and the
Most Popular Man In the Department.

lie was n Famous Fire Fighter and the
Most Popular Man In the Department.
BENJAMIN A. Gicqucl. Deputy Chief ot the
Fire Department. died yesterday morning ut
his home, 2Ia West Forty-srhth street. of
asctes of the liver He was taken III suddenly
on Oct. %. while standing ut the door Of his
house talking TO Battalion Chief Binns. lie
reported for duty two days later. but on Get.
~ became dangerously Ill. A carbuncle on his
loft side. the result Of an old injury, was oper-
nted upon by DR.. Albert Warren Ferris and Dr.
W. J.. Brandcgee. but II soon became evident
that the Deputy Chief was suffering also from
an affection OF the liver from which he could
not recover. For sixty hours before his death
he was unconscious.
Chiof Gicuuol was born Feb I. 1S41. Of
French parentnRe. For time he worked In
this city as a hack driver. On Oct. ~. 1861, he
entered the Volunteer Fire Department rs n
nom Der OF Clinton Hose Company No. II. On
the organization OF n raid department. in 1850
no was appointed fireman Ia Engine Com
pany No. ~ In January. 1855, he was pro-
NOTED to assistant foreman. and In June OF
TINT year, TO foreman. On July 1871. he be-
came District Engineer. The title Of his Office
was changed in 1873. to Battalion Chief. This
position he held until his further promotion in
1897. as Battalion Chief
Early In 1897 there was talk Of promoting
Gicuuel to Deputy Chief and retiring Deputy
Chief OReiily. who was then i'll. Chief Gicqus
refused promotion on these conditions. and q
third district was eventually added to the two
then existing which made room for GicuueIs
promotion. and lssscned the burdens OF Chief
O'Rellly. who died in harness a year later
Chief Gicqusl was considered tho IN st popu-
lar man in the Fire Department. being an even
greater iayorite than Hugh Bonner. Al fire
hp act al ma
but was enient In the fire houses md always
ready 20 hsln any eae in trouble. His bravery
many occasions, and he was the second man to
| receive the bsnnstt medal. considered the
msnt On H Sept ~ ls "a r. ' started in the
| crowded tenement house at ~ Montgomery
| street. Women and children were cut on from
| escape AMI the iirsmen were driven back 10y
| flames and smoke, Chief Gicauei, then fore.
man. raised a ladder to an upp,r floor and oar,
rsk to his NE, Forthis service he received the
In 1873 he had charge Of the, IRE which
| forty-hre buildings. Glc1uel sent in for the
,lr,t time three zee, sizes. ak thc sigoal which
lsSs, he wsson duty for twenty-one hours at
an elevator iiLeh fitty.ninth street and North
| which DESTROYED a furniture warehouse on
| Lexington avenue from Forty-irst TO Forty
During the blizzard Of 1899 wires we're down
| and most hrs signals were out OF order. Chief
Gicpusl asleep at the house OF Truck No, 4.
| WAS aroused by a faint tap OF the go.g, which
| no one else heard II was his day on but he
had volunteered for duty. lie aroused his men
| and started them Tor Forty-sscond street and
fire After going a block The truck got stuck
| in a snow drifi. Gicqusl and his mon picked
! UP what tool. they could carry and got To the
| nro In time to get out the tenants. They put
| out the nre with the holm OF another engine
company. which worked its way through the
! drifts
| Chief Gcquel was a widower. A son. Benja-
min 4. Gcpuel, and an unmarr ed daughter,
| Ellen survive him. The funeral service. W III
| be held at 81. Francis Xavier's Church in West
| Sixteenth street at IL o'clock on Saturday
morning. Four battalion chiefs and four fors-
| men will act as pail bearers. ana an escort OF
| three battalions will escort the body to Calvary
CumetOry.