New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
BROOKLYN PRETTY SAFE.
DEPUTY CHIEF DALE SAYS, HOWEVER,
THAT FORCE SHOULD BE
INCREASED.

As one Of the results Of the appalling magnitude
Of the river disaster of Saturday discussion has
been awakened as to the possibility Of similar
fire in Brooklyn. The danger of such extensive
fire in that borough is mimimized by the fact that
cooperation is the watchword OF the branches of
the Fire Department in the various boroughs. The
mere sight Of a blaze along the waterfront of
Brooklyn is sufficient to call out ct least two OF
Manhattan's freboats. the New-Yorker stationed
at the Battery. and the Van Wyck, lying near the
Grand-st pier. This is true whether there Is an
alarm not, Again. the myriad of tugboats and
other craft which crowd the East River
other protection. A fire boat vessel in
Brooklyn starts these craft into quick activity as
the hope of salvage provides incentive
The main support in quenching & fire along the
waterfront, according to Deputy Chief James
Dale head of the Fire Department in Brooklyn
and Queens are the f1reboats. Brooklyn has two
such boats, and there is crying need for at least
a third boat to be stationed somewhere
Forty-second-st., South Brooklyn. In that neigh
borhood there long lines OF storehouses filled
with cotton, jute and other Innammable stuffs.
They are without immediate protection far
Areboats are concerned as the nearest freboat is
the Seth Low which lies next the Catherine-st.
ferry slip, a little above the Brooklyn end OF the
Bridge. The other hreboat, belonging to Brook
lyn is the David A Boody. lying at North Eighth
ST.
Deputy Chief Dale has asked for an appropriation
for another boat for Brooklyn. and his request
has been backed by prominent business men, bat
II consider" said Chief Dale last night to
Tribune reporter that one hreboat Is equal TO six
He then suoke of the ease with which a ffreboat
moves about. rapidty in action and its direct
in fighting fires. He said that fire boat could
Us 1t likely" asked the reporter that anything
like the Hoboken disaster could be repeated in
No" was the Chiefs reply. 1T is not likely
We have better protection. The Jersey department
is not up to snuff. And am not sure that they
are fully paid"
Island City, thirteen of whom were officers. They
have and more besides. Why, do you know that
there are only 1,O25 men in the fire departments of
men like the noiice We o2Id nor tUtT ao 0u' an EEe
public would not stand It. And yet we could get
along better without policeman than a fireman"
enarging the number Of in the Fre Depart
ment. He recognizes the danger Of fires in Brook
iamsburg where the freboats have difficulty in get
ing up Newtown Creek, and Coney Island which
The main thing" he explained. with a water
When asked what was the profession - to o''' the
Brooklyn waterfront from the fire engines he emu
front and which respond at the first alarm Each
OF these engine companies has eleven men and
Many of the storehouses along the waterfront
Most nf tbe win sra n9se and special fire alarms
rise several feet between the storehouses. These
Most of these parapet walls which divide the store
run the nozzles of the hose ~
The Brooklyn Fire Department is the best in
any OF the boroughs. and the Ponce Department ia
also highly efficient in coping with fire and there
is no doubt that both would give a good account
OF themselves II called upon to combat large
the head Of the Brooklyn police in speaking to a
Tribune reporter. There is, however, no posi-
bilIty in Brooklyn of such disaster as occurred at
Hoboken. We have such long piers and no con
gestion Of big steamers. The precautions used here
are more strenuous and the Fire Department more
active.
There might possibly be a heavy loss of prop
erty should some Of the large storehouses get afre
but there is no chance for any great loss life
We have had several large waterfront fres but
they have always been handled with great skill
hisr bravery by the hremen. Such rapidty in
spreading has never been known in Brooklyn fires
OF course. one never can tell just what would be
done in such terrible emergency as occurred in
Hoboken II seems almost impossible for such a
thing to occur, but Department is well trained
and know would do It's duty efficiently and
braVeiy.
"Of course our part OF such a proposition lies
first In doing what we prevent fire. The
various piers and storehouses have their own
Watchmen. but the waterfront is ably patrOed by
our own officers. We have three patrol boats dis
tributed at strategic points along the shore.
In case Of fire we could within a short time have