Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-05-03
GLiMPSES or SULLIVAN.
Fvisco's Late Fire Chief, who Had a
NJ 4s<,..a.a ~ zas,a.a1 !. 4 a1.-,


Fsisco's Late Fire Chief, who Had a
National Reputation.
There is no one whose death by the
great earthquake will be incurred more
sincerely in San Francisco than that Of
Fire Chief Daniel J Sullivan, the friend
OF the city. says the New York Even
ing Sun
Daniel J Sullivan was Que Of the
great fire chiefs of the United States.
In a glass case in large room Of the
San Francisco city hall, where the
chief and his assistants had their Of
fees and where the fire commissioners
met. were trophies which had been
sent to Sullivan from, chiefs of other
cities who knew the man and thus tes-
tilted their appreciation Of his eff
cheney and of his manly qualities,
which made every one who knew him
like him.
Sullivan was not very old man, but
he had been head of the department
for many years, and he built it into
what it was second only to the fire de-
partment of New York. When he be-
came its head he found it badly Grip
pied He put it on the most modern
basis, saw to it that water towers were
secured more engines obtained, and
was the earnest advocate of the plan
to have increased the city water supply
by installing an imfSsnse reservoir on
top of Twin peaks, ~ the farthest end
of Market street, which should hold an
auxiliary supply of 100000 gallons
to be furnished at high pressure to any
part of the city when the emergency
arose.
The mains in San Francisco We're not
large enough anyhow, and in districts
where there should have been hydrants
there were none at all or else they were
so far apart as to be practically use
less. Sullivan constantly pointed out
the city's need in that respect. He was
an engineer of ability, and, although
the fire commissioners liked to be heard
on meeting day, they always deferred
to the opinions of the chief, recognizing
his knowledge of the subject.
The chief made study of the fire
departments of other cities in the Unit
ed States, and when he found that
some city had an Improvement which
San Francisco's fire department did
not have and needed he brought all his
force to bear upon the commissioners
to see that they saw matters in the
same light as he did.
One thing San francisco lacked, and
that was fire boat. A year ago the
chief and the commissioners advocated
a bill before the state legislature to pro-
vide for one, as only the harbor tugs
were available in case of great fire.
It was the second time this very much
needed matter had been put forward.
It fell through the first time for some
reason or other and the recent conf1a-
grafton came and found the city with
out fire boat. The ground had been
selected for the reservoir and the plans
were being actively pushed.
No chief had a frmer place in the
affections Of his men than Sullivan. He
was known as a man who always went
into a burning building first, and he
would not allow his men to take any
risk that he did not take himself. His
great Kindness of heart was byword
not only in the department, but all over
the city, so that his death is really
personal loss to all San Franciscans.
The president of the board of fire COM
mlissioners presided at trials, but Sui
Ivan was a member of the board and
was always ready to put in a good
word for a man when there was any
excuse for him at ALI
The chief had the name of carrying
more persons from burning buildings
in his arms than any other man in the
city. How many rescues he personally
made no one will ever know, but years
ago he was called before the mayor,
who pinned upon his breast a medal
for one of the greatest deeds of heroism
that fireman can perform. His name
was written in big red book at fire
headquarters, which was always kept
under glass; 1t was a precious book
and contained the names Of about five
OlHeIS beSlutS HllHSeti, WIZ WOlS tAc
medal which was the greatest prize San
Francisco could give. Now Sullivan
.lies dead, and the beautiful trumpet of
solid silver which another chief gave
him, and the many trophies he was so
proud of, were doubtless buried beyond
recovery in the ruins of the city hall.
San Francisco.
TIn.xy II roo,, ser IIe .,roy,a erafess