Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14

NV VERY time uniformed member of the New
IL York Fire Department answers call to
'. duty, he takes long chance of being sent
- to his home corpse instead of returning
to the engine house with his command
There is not only the danger of rushing pe1nell
through the crowded streets where the loss of a
wheel may bring death under overturned engine
where the presence of a child grown person
in the middle of the street may impel the driver to
send his horses headlong into an elevated road pillar
or other structure, and thus bring death to one
of the crew, but there is the other and better
appreciated peril of death under falling walls, from
explosions in burning buildings from the noxous
gases from the deadly back draft
The history of the department is filled with the
records of brave deeds and self sacrifices in the line
of duty. From time to time these instances find
their way into the newspapers; but in the bare
recital of facts found the cold records of the
department, there IS a striking contrast. There
everything is freed from sentimentality, and the
records made prosaic possible
In this record the of Deputy Chief Ahearn
stands out as one of the bravest men who ever
wore the department uniform To learn of his deeds,
however, one must ask the men who have served
under him; for it is subject which Ahearn
himself never will talk. One act in his career espe
cially endeared him to his 1t occurred few
years ago in tenement house fire on Rivington-st,
and Captain Thomas Sullivan, of Engine 3S, knows
we'll the details.
The fire itself was not serious one" said Sulli-
van, in telling about the affair recently and
1t was well under control. We thought all of the
people had got out safely, when suddenly a half
crazed woman rushed from the crowd and screamed
mat ne1 DaDy was IN the DullQlIg. One pointed TO
the place where the fire heaviest, and declared
II was there she had left it
Through Fire for Child
HHIEF AHEARN didn't wait for any further no.
- tice. He was battalion chief, and could have
sent other men; but he went alone into the building
crawled into the apartment his hands and knees,
and searched the bed; but could find no child The
flames were increasing, and he started back
Blinded by smoke and almost suffocated he reached
the door. to find that he could open it, for there
lock It,, and of
from his side except with key The chief saw that
his chances were growing slim, and made fight to
every second AS he fell exhausted and unconscious,
three of us who had followed him without orders
broke this door down. and the chief was dragged out
more dead than alive.
Captain Sullivan says that there was precious
little skin left on the chiefs body, and it took the
best efforts of surgical skill and the of
iron constitution to restore him to health.
AS evidence of the character of who
officers in the department, it is noteworthy that
the list of killed and Injured contains the names of
large proportion of officers, and it indicates that
the officers men who lead and do not merely
direct their subordinates in action. Among the
officers who have lost their lives in recent wears
may be mentioned Battalion Chiefs Martin Cole
man, Wieland, and Shaw, all of whom killed
in the line of duty In March. 1906 Captain John
F Walsh and five fremen of Engine IA lost
their lives at factory fire in Greenwich village
Walsh was medal man who had often demon
strated his bravery on different occasions He lost
his own life endeavoring to the lives of the
gallant fellows with him.
Chief Croker has been blown through door by
an explosion at fire and escaped serious injury
by almost miracle. This occurred within year
at fire in cotton warehouse Staten Island
In 1904 Chief Croker, Battalion Chiefs Kenlon and
Shea, with forty men of the department, over
come by ammonia fumes at fire in packing house.
Only few months ago Lieutenant Crawford. with
Firemen Heller and Morris of Engine IS, was
working in the basement of burning stable when
the much dreaded back draft sent of flame
down upon them, cutting off all avenues of escape
They called for help, and Firemen Henzer and