Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-04-30
BONNER THE FIREMAN
Estimate of Him as Citizen and
Fire Fighter.
COOL IN TIMES OF DANGER.
New York Fire Departments Late
Commissioner Strict DiscipIi-
marian, but Just to AII-His Lighted
Cigar Signal of Victory.

commissioner strict Discipli-
marian, but Just to AII-His Lighted
Cigar a Signal of Victory.
Word of the death of Fire Commits
sioner Hugh Bonner of New York was
received by all branches of the city's
fire department with sincere sorrow, as
he had gained the respect of all who
had come into contact with him during
his forty odd years as a fire fighter.
John X. Sheehan, who has been for
many years assistant secretary at
headquarters, in speaking of his late
chief the other day said:
commissioner Bonner had the re-
spect and admiration of all the old
hands of the department. He was u
strict disciplinarian and would not
overlook any breach of duty, no mat
ter by whom committed. | have never
heard n single instance where he was
accused of dealing unfairly with any
one in the department"
A few weeks ago Mr. Bonner sus-
pended Superintendent Joseph Burke
of the combustibles bureau and Build
Ing Superintendent Alexander Stevens
for being eleven minutes late in report
ing at their offices.
Friends of the late commissioner at
fire headquarters said they had tried
TO diSsuadc him from accepting the po-
Sition on account of his health when it
was offered to him by Mayor McClel-
I.r L., I.I 4
never refused the call of duty and
would not then.
During his long career Mr. Bonner
invented the battering ram, the wall
cutter, tie tin roof cutter the hose
hoist, cellar and subcellar pipes, the
life net aad many other appliances for
fighting fire and saving life.
His judgment was sound, and he
never got worried or lost his nerve, no
matter how big the fire was. On arrlv-
Ing at a fire, the first thing he did was
to get 70 the heart of the fire Ind see
what should be done. Then he would
retire to the middle of the street and
send his orders to the battalion chiefs.
He always had a big cigar in his
mouth at fire and kept it there un-
lighted until the fire had been got
under control When he was seen to
strike a match and light up, it was a
signal to his subordinates that the
enemy was in hand.
While Mr. Bonner was fire chief he
spent his mornings at his office, the
afternoons on inspection trips and his
nights at the Westmoreland, at Seven
teenth street and Fourth avenue, where
he was always ready for call. When
asked how he managed to get in any
sleep he would reply tersely, Between
the acts"
The commissioner believed that dumb
walters, elevators and air shafts were
sources of great danger in cases of
fire in tenement houses, and when the
tenement house committee held meet
ing in the old criminal court house in
cesSity Of having fireproof staircases
In all tenement and apartment houses
as well as exterior fire escapes.
An instance of his judgment at u fire
was demonstrated once when he was
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