New-York tribune., 1907-11-04
FIREMEN GET SURPRISE
CROKER TESTS HIS MEN.
CaH for Dynamite Corps Sounded
for First Time.

The ''three-ave' call. which summons the sap
pers and miners corps" of the Fire Department.
was sounded yesterday for the first time in its his
tory OF more than twenty years. The alarm was
given by Chief Croker as a test but this fact was
not known beforehand, and there was much excite
ment in the various fire houses throughout the city
when the alarm struck at 11:4S yesterday morning
The "sappers and miners corps was organized
about twenty-five years ago and is made up of the
heutenants or assistant foremen, they called
of the department of Manhattan and The Bronx
1t is divided into battallons A. B. and D. In case
of a large fire, such the Boston or Chicago con-
fagration, this corps is summoned TO take charge
of the blowing up with dynamite of the buildings
that are in the path Of the flames and the destruc-
tion of which would nelp in preventing the spread
ing of the fire.
There has never been a regular call for the corps
and the 'three-lve' call has always been looked
upon fixture of the department than
working The ammunition wagon of the corps
is stationed in East goth street. and although
never used. is always ready for any emergency.
If Battalion A is wanted the call is three
fives and a two; for Battalion B. three fves and a
three while three fives and a four will summon
Battalion c and three ives and six will call Bat
talon D. If the whole corps is wanted four hves
will be rung, bringing every assistant foreman in
the boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx to the
box where the alarm Is sounded.
Shortly before noon yesterday Chief Croker, ac-
companied by his aid. Captain Oswald. and DR. H
NJ. Archer, of the Fire Department, walked from
the Great Jones street headquarters to the Bowery
and Great Jones street where they sounded the
''three-hve' call, which they followed with a two
The alarm was taken by the operator at Fire Hail.
who almost fell Of his chair with astonishment
when he received it. He Immediately sent the
alarm out to the fire houses in the district In the
twenty-three fire houses in District A, this being
the district affected by the call. We're twenty-one
assistant foremen, two being off for the day
When the call was received in the houses coming
it did without any previous warning that there
had been a fire. everything in uproar The
assistant foremen, some of them without taking
time to put their coats. started the run for
the Bowery and Great Jones street Just six min
utes after the alarm had hit Lieutenant Hughes
of Engine 49, Great Jones street. reached the
where the alarm was sounded and saluted Chief
Croker. Closely behind him came Lieutenant
Bakestream of Truck 20, in Mercer street. who
limped badly. the result OF fall in his eagerness
Next came Lieutenant Birmingham Of Engine H.
in Houston street, who finished a close third al
though he is one Of the heaviest in the depart
ment. Lieutenant Conlon OF Engine z, in William
street; Lieutenant Denise, OF Engine T. In Duane
street. and Lieutenant Dunn Of Truck in Eliza
beth street. who arrived in the order named. didn't
wait for car TO take them the box but sprinted
all the way. As fast the men arrived they
were sent back to their companies to carry the
news that the city was not burning up
Only one Buff answered the alarm Bruce
Brown who. spends his spare time at Engine o. in
5Sth street. He the engine house at the time
the alarm came, and Immediately went TO the
box. He was much disappointed 20 find that Il was
only test After all the men had reported Chief
Croker said that ne well satisfied with the
test, and that not had been caught
mapping