The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
COP SNOOZE; FIRE BURNS.
C10KBR CALLS ON DEvERY 70 KEkP
Frs POLICEMEN AWAKE

''Lats Tour Fires Had q Way OF 0ettins
Good Headwny Before the Casual Citi-
cen, In the Absence of the Policeman
on Post, Sent In AN Alarm Chief Croker
Says That Things Are Better Now.
Not long agoV Chief Croker Of the Fire De-
partm emit called upon Chief Devery OF the
Police Department. II was not pleasure. but
business, which took tho executive head OF tho
Fire Department to Mulberry street. In fact.
Croker's mission to Police Headquarters was
nothing less than to inform Devery that his
patrolmen were inefficient and to request
that they be more efficient. 1t 10 reported that
Devery told Croker that the latter didn't know
what he was talking about. or words to that
effect. and that. besides. Wholesale charges OF
ineffciency on the part OF the police didn't
90 In Mulberry street. II they did before the
Mazet Com mittee. The Chief OF the Fire De-
partment would have TO be more specific II he
wanted to talk business with the Chief OF the
Metropolitan Police.
Chief Croker replied that he would be Is
specific as Chief svery could desire. There
upon he reminded Devery ~ the unusually
large number NJ ires that have occurred In the
past two or three months between midnight
and daylight. He reminded him that that
period OF the day was known on the police force
as the late tour" Then he produced data to
show that the majority Of these fres had
gained great Roadway when the FIRST OF the
engine companies arrived.
"All Of which shows said Devery to Croker.
according to report. that II your nremen had
been more active the fires wouldn't have
gained 40 much Roadway"
been on post Instead OF somewhere, else the,
would have turned in the alarms, instead on
citizens who happened t., pass the burning
bu lding some time after tho fire started
Now. you're guessing again" says Dcvery
to Croker, as ne storyIIns; "a man NAV
make a pretty lntr guess. il he can have Official
REPORTS TO base II on"
Then Croker according 70 the story PRO.
departments to show that many Of the fres
which had occurred during the late tour and IN
which the losses were very heavy ,hai Teen
!n the alarms. He also showed by
his reports that, in nearly every case,
the FIRE had gained great Roadway by the time
the flrelneu got there. which. Accepting To- he
same reports. was IN quick time, Having dono
this, Croker asked Chief Deyery TO insist upon
greater efici' ncy on the part OF ratrolmen
Devery issue blank form. on VIII oh the to'ce-
man irst at the fire should make a report OF Il.
These forms were issued and the ilrst relort
on one of them sent into Police Headquarters
nearly gave the night ope rator apopleNy on
account OF its length and the number OF de-
tails.
Chief Croker was asked about his call on
Chief Devery by u SUS reporter last night. Just
after the boss fireman had returned from n
second alarm fire at l27th street and Eighth
avenue. Chief Croker said:
1T il true that | called upon Devery some
time ago and asked him 10 see to it that his
patrolmen be more efficient In discovering
fires and sending in alarms. Since spoke
to him the work Of thr police in this
particular ha. ! cen more satisfactory. don't
know whether the new order was promulgated
By him a. a result OF my call or not. | want It
uno erstood. however. that | am not criticisine
the Police Department or any other depart
ment. Devery and | have always been the
best OF friends and are now amt | am not criti.
clsing his conduct OF the Police Department