The evening world., 1903-01-30
Charles W. Kruger, New Deputy
Chief, a Modest Hero, Who
Praises Subordinates Rather
than Himself.
THE MEN ALL LAUD HIM.
Holds the Stevenson Medal for Hav-
Inc the Best Disciplined Company
III In the Department, and Has Had
Many Narrow Escapes.

The appointment OF Chief OF Battalion
Charles W. Kruger to be Deputy Chief
y OF the First Division is one that meets
tho approval OF the rank and file OF the
Fire Department. Chief Kruger has al
ways tried to dvanc the interests of
his men rather than his own. and this
has endeared him to them. There was
general rejoicing when the appointment
was announced yesterday.
Chief Kruger is tifty-two years old
he Joined the department before he was
( twenty-one years old. goinG into the
machinists' and repair department.
When he was OF age he donned a uni
form and was assigned to duty In En-
CINE Company No. 4. in Chambers
street, near Centre.
Five years later he was made n lieu
tenant, but he waited eighteen years be-
fore a captaincy came his way. Then
his promotion was rapid, for he was
made a chief OF battalion in 1897. being
assigned headquarters with Hook and
Ladder No. 10, in Fulton street. near
Church.
of Wonderful Memory.
He has been for twenty-five years in
the district south OF Houston street.
At one time he was appoined TO inspect
buildings in that district. and. having a
wonderful memory, he remembered the
peculiarities OF buildings. and this has
greatly aided him In his fights against
IRE. II enabled him TO go right TO the
seat OF The fire.
Chief Kruger is modest. He does not
care to talk OF his own acts OF bravery,
though his men say there Is no Drawer
man, In the department. They point to
the recent fire In the New York Betting
and Packing Company, at No. es Park
place. where a combustion OF arsenic
4 sulphur made II most poisonous
gas. Over thirty men were overcome In
that awful gas. CHER Kruger was him
self overcome by the smoke. yet he
went back into the cellar three times to
assure himself that none OF his men
remained there
He never tires talking OF the c xploits
OF the men in his command. His driver,
John Hughes, was recently promoted 10
q lieutenancy for conspicuous bravery.
Chief Kruger and Hughes were return
1ng from a fire IN West street on Christ
mas morning. They saw flames coming
from the apartments OF a family named
Hickson. on the fifth floor OF n Green
wfch street tenement. Hughes climbe
the waterspout until he reached the fire.
escape. and then went up the fire escape
to the fffth floor.
Daring Rescue.
The family were not able to get on the
nre-escape. owing to the fact that the
Ore was in the room which offered the
My means OF reaching the escape.
Hughes, twisting his leg around the fire
escape. reached over and took all the
members OF the family from the window
save one. Then he went into the burn
ing room after the little boy, who had
been left behind. lie did not get him,
however. owing 10 the fact that the lit.
Alo fellow had crawled under the bed
looking for his mother, and so was
omothered to death.
Chief Kruger. In 1894. won the Steven
son medal for having the best-discl-
aplined company in the department. OF
twelve heroic acts in one year in the
department ten were in tho district in
his command.
Chief Kruger has had some marrow
escapes during his term of service in the
department. At the fire In the Third
avenue Railroad depot In 1875 ne fell
Sthree stories 10 the tirst floor. Fortu.
nately, me landed In some hay and was
not injured. At a fire at Centre and
Broome streets ne fell through a hoist
way to the cellar. At this time he landed
IN four feet of water, and this broke his
fall. His hand was badly cut at tha-
time by glass.