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

What Medals Are Given
THE oldest honor of the class is the Bennett
of fifteen hundred dollars aside by James Gordon
Bennett in 1860. The income from this fund is
expended each year for the purchase of gold medal
which is awarded for some act of heroism The
Trevor Warren medul is the gift of Mrs Emily n
Trevor and Mrs Mary c. Warren, who in 1900 placed
in trust two thousand dollars the interest of which
for bravery The Hugh Bonner medal is the gift
of the Rev. James LeBaron Johnson, who set aside
fund of two thousand dollars for it's purchase.
The Strong medal was the gift of former Mayor
William Strong, who always devoted friend
of the fremen Since his death the medal has been
continued memorial to it's original donor. and
the funds for its purchase provided by his widow
The Stephenson medal always is awarded to
officers for efficiency The fund for its provision
was contributed in 1867 by the John Stephenson
Company in recognition of the successful work
done by the department saving that company's
plant
fearful number of men and horses are killed
avoiding injuries to bewildered men, women and
children who will persist in standing in the streets
where hremen must pass Ignorant street car motor
men and stupid teamsters responsible for many
accidents 1t is accepted condition among men
in the department that no matter what the conse-
quences may be to men or apparatus, every precau-
ton must be taken to avoid injury to pedestrians
When asked why this rule followed, one of
the Oldest in the department explained that
the killing or injury of single pedestrian required
the stopping of the apparatus for time and that
life at all times more valuable than property
The injury to apparatus is less important and
the firemen must take the risk, he said, because
under the system prevailing single engine ever
sent in response to any alarm Every alarm calls
out at least three engines and if is disabled it's
place is at once taken by another summoned by
the signal bureau at headquarters"
The headquarters of the New York fire depart
ment is located on East 67th-st and here all the
routine business of the department is transacted
and the school of instruction is maintained.
The Best Known Fireman
DROBABLY the best known fireman in the world
i to-day is Chief Edward F. Croker, who succeeded
Hugh Bonner chief of the department in 1000.
Chief Croker was destined by nature to be great
fireman, and he has few if any, equals in the bust
He is young man. just past forty, and has
been member of the department for almost twenty
two years He has critics who have said that he
not in sympathy with his men, and that he
expected too much of them; but man has ever
said that he would ask his subordnates go into any
place of danger where he would not go himself.
year two ago the chief was called to the bed
side of his aged mother, who then i'll at Bloom
field, New Jersey. During his absence fire threat
ened the financial district, and, in response to "a
telephone message, the chief left his mothers bed
side to return to duty. No train scheduled to
leave for an hour but the chief chartered special
train, and it was rushed to the city. -.
The chief has regular quarters and hours for meals,
and call twenty -four hours every day He sleeps
atsthe down town headquarters Great Jones-st,
and responds to every alarm during the night from
stations in the great business district and densely
populated East Side. His days spent at the
fire headquarters on East 67th-st., where he is
continually in consultation with the commissioners
afternoon he is inspecting engine houses studying
buildings in of erection, for it IS essential
that the chief should be especially familiar with the
details of the great skyscrapers