New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-15


Chief Croker's automobile is also in need Oh
freopent repajrs. from the same reasons that
bring the fire fighting apparatus 10 the SHOPS
He r1Ishes through the streets as though ne
were on the Vanderbilt Cup course ana inc
next thing the automobile is at the shops lot
a new axle. The foreman of the shops says tha'
they keep a supply OF axles for the CHEERS auto
mobile on hand all the time. and that 1t Is ire
quentIy in the shops The chief tells dlnerent
story. as the following conversation neiu at
Fire HEADQUARTERS In East 67th-s will show:
How about that automobile of yours chief!
TITS mighty good thing; let me tell you
that"
Did you ever have any accidents"
Never had an accident yet. Nine times out
of ten an automobile accident is due to booze
Either the chauffeurs got a wild party in ana
they tank up and push him on until ne runs
into something, else, while the partys stop
ping somewhere the chauffeur gets loaded, ana
you've got a wild at the wheel. Either
way there's going to be something doing AND
that's the way nine out of ten Of these accidents
happen If you keep sober you're all right
I'm my opinion. the time will come when every
battalion chief In the department will have his
automobile Look at me. I have to go down
20 Far Rockaway week 1t used to take
mo day to do IT. Now jump in my auton1o-
bile and I'm down and back in an hour and
half. can cover more ground and make better
time than 1 could with horse, and If you are
careful there is no excuse for ever having an
accident"
From a daily naper Of October last read this
Three persons are dead and nine injured
the result of the work of the professional fire.
bugs who have been busy in Brooklyn for the
last six months. Another casualty came near 10
being added to the list Chief Croker and his
ohaufSeur Captain Rush, were hurled from
their automobile while rushing through Reid
struck an obstruction and Chief Croker and
Captain Rush went flying fifteen rect me
chief had his chin badly cut, but continued on
his way to the fire in a trolley car
What can you expect Of the men whsn you
see such work by the chief? The law gives the
fireman the right of way over all vehicles eL-
cept United States mail wagons, and he knows
it and makes good use OF his knowledge. He
whoops it down the street in good style, taking
all kinds of chances, until some adventurous
citizen tries to cross in front Of him. or woman
becomes dazed by the noise and the excitement
and stops with a baby carriage in the middle OF
the street Then comes the shout to the crew,
the heave the lines snd over goes the fire
engine.
But the streetcar collision Is Of a different or
der. There is attempt to save life here. It
is case of bad blood. often. One Of two men
must be to blame. 1t is either the rnotorman or
the engine driver every time. The law says
that the motornan must stop his car as soon as
he hears the bell of a piece Of fire apparatus
and wait until he knows which way that fire ma
chine is going, and that he is not going to hit
1t. Inc drivers say CnaC reckless nolOrInen are
one Of their greatest perils. The New-York City
Railway Company says that reckless Fire De-
partment drivers are a constant menace to It's
passengers and property. To protect the passen-
gers and the cars they have voluntarily put in
more than two hundred fire stops their lines. |
at a cost of 100000 year. Chief Croker agrees
that the drivers are largely to blame.
There Is another point to be observed. When
the Fire Department is able to show that the |
streetcar company is to blame for accident |
in which piece of fire apparatus is concerned |
the streetcar company pays for the repairs |
Nine times out of ten, however, the Fire Depart
ment repairs its own apparatus after a collision
with streetcar. That shows whose fault it is !
And q collision with a streetcar Is generally |
a pretty serious thing for fire engine, fire |
truck. either, The tender Of Engine No. 81 was |
crossing Centre-st. at White-st. one night, and |
a Madison-ave. car picked It up and carried 1t |
a block and piled ii in the gutter. Nine men |
went to the hospital. and the tender had to be |
practically rebuilt. Another time a Lexington |