The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-26
LIVE OAKS BURY OLD FOREMAN
PETER MALONEY VAS A LEADER
AMONG THE VAMPS.

Ran with Company started In the Webb
shipyard at Turk Island''-Oid Com
rades and Rivals Gather IN Honor
His Memory---Yarns Of Old Days.
| group Of white haired men, repre-
senting all that is left of the once dashing
Live Oak company OF the volunteer fire
department. gathered yesterday afternoon
in the chapel Of an undertaking establish
ment on the east side Of Tompkins Square
to pay the last honors to their former chief.
Peter Maloney Maloney was born in the
Eleventh ward in 1897; he graduated from
the old Fifth street school, and in the nature
OF things in those days became member
Of Live Oak Engine Company a.
That was long before tho day of the paid
Fire Department and when the Live Oaks
became the owners of real double decker
they were ready to fight any fire. or any
other company for that matter that the town
could produce The Live Oaks lived In
the district around Seventh street. then
the center of the shipbuilding industry,
and they took their name from tho timber
used in constructing the old wooden ships
which made the United States nag known
IN every ocean.
Tho company bad besn organized BY
Isaac Webb, tho Same who went to Lake
Erie to help build the ships with which
Commodore Perry won his victory. The
company was originally composed OF men
who worked In Webbs yard, which was
situated in what was thou known as Turks
Island, and the COMPANY gave the pet
name Of Old Turk to their famous douoie
decker.
Maloney was a strapping lad. worry good
70 look upon in his red shirt and helmet,
as may be seen In the faded photograph
treasured in his home. His strength and
fearessness soon won recognltlon ano
foreman Of the Live Oaks. The head
quarters Of the company was ct that time
In Houston street. between Columbia and
Cannon streets and the Live oaks responded
to all fires In the Fifth and sixth districts.
The alarms were sounded IRON, peI
bell hit six" there used to be q wild rush
to beat cut the rival Mechanics Hose,
whose frehouse was in Fourth street. The
rivalry frequently didn't end with the hre:
Sometimes the lively red shirted lads started
followed. One who ran with the Live Oaks
in those classic days has commemorated
such happening In q ballad which is known
to every one Of the boys Of the old depart
ment.
70 mind tho night when thsbs'l hit six
Bout half past seven o'clock.
si Ss; f. rs e 81 e s5:ns dow,
And making fearful rattle
And the Poultice Hose she dropped her rope
To make bigger battle.
There are many more stanzas, but to get
the flavor Of the thing you must hear It
recited by one who ran with the Live Oak
In the old days.
Maloney was with the first either at
fighting the fire or rival company, and
his boyish wholeheartedness won the last
ing friendship even OF his sometine en-
emies. When the volunteers disbanded In
1885 Maloney became the head Of one Of the
societies Of the -E1empts.' and with his
old rivals fought the famous battles over
amid the peaceful pipe smoke. He was
es years old. His former comrades gath
cred from all parts Of the greater city to
do him honor. Joe Nelson, George Moore.
Morris Roberts, Harry Keeland and others
Of the old company were present.
Only one was missing, and he, under the
name Of Brother Bonaventure. is now living
the last Of an adventure us life in the monas-
terry in Hoboken listening to the call OF
very different bell from the one that sounded
six. President Patterson Of the V. F. A.,
ex-Fire Chief Bates and members Of the
Fifth Street School Association and the
old Eleventh Ward Club we're present at the
funeral
Peter Maloney leaves a sister and a
brother, who live at 200 Avenue A.