New-York tribune., 1911-04-18
CHIEF CROKER RESIGNS;
WILL PREVENT FIRES
Famous Fire Fighter to Form
Private Prevention Com
pany at Once.
KENL0N TO BE SUCCESSOR
Head Of Marine Service in
Charge on May Friction
as Reason for Move
Denied.

Edward r Croker. Fire Chief for
twelve wears. resigned as head Of the uni
formed force Of tie New York Fire De
partmen' az noon yesterday, TO take ef-
feet May l. and announced few hours
later that he would estob biish within the
next fortp-eight hours private enter
prise, TO he known as the Chief Croker
Fire Preventing and Engineering Com
pany. Temporarily, at least Deputy
Chief John Kenton, in charge ~ the ma
rine service. will succeed Chief Croker
Chief Croker's new company will he
incorporated and will work as an aux
Hilary To tine Fire Department for the
prevention of fires. II is expected that
the connection between the department
and the new fire prevention company will
soon become official. but the work Of the
new concern will be entirely i'm the line
Of fire prevention and will have nothing
10 do with fire hghting.
"The appalling disasters hy fire that
we have had recently. with the great
loss of life" said the chief Yesterday af-
ternoon in speaking of his plans, have
made me feel that II is time for me to
turn my attention from fire fighting TO
fire prevention Fire fighting was a
the bigger the fire the better I liked 1t
and the harder worked. Rut ! have
arrived a the conclusion that M! long
experience gained in the service Of the
Fire Department has placed upon me
,Le immediate duty Of putting that eX-
perence at the disposal of the public in
the other end of our common problem
fire prevention.
"T an hopeful that the coming years
Of my life will leave behind me record
confident that | can be Of more good
out Of the department III protecting IRE
end property than I have been hereto
fore. for 7 will have "a greater Held OF
activity and usefulness, as well as op-
nortunitv 10 carry out my ideas. ! am
e,,re that II am able to do this We will
IN, have q repetition Of tho recent dis
asters that have startled the world.
Chief Croker's resignation was deliv-
cred 10 the Mayor at the city Hall just
before noon. He went there early, and
was soon ioined by Fire Commissioner
Waldo. The two men went in together
~ gee tho Mayor and when they came
out Commissioner waldo said:
"It Is with regret ths: ! accept tho
resignation Of chief Croker. ! shall
ALWAYS have tho greatest admiration for
him. both az fire fighter and man
In his retirement tho Fire Department
sustains a great loss.
Chief Denies Any Friction.
The chief was quick to deny reports
that he wos retiring because OF friction
With the Commissioner or politics I'm the
depsrtment Il am retiring Of my own
free Will" he said at once, and with
tho Mayors full knowledge. The most
friendly feeling exists between Commits
sioner Waldo and myself and always
will exist. Please don't get wrong
impression about that. | am retiring TO
so into business.
In his talks with friends later in the
day he was equally nsistent that IN
pleasant relations with the Commis-
sioner had nothing to do with his retire
ment
Il decided to get OIL, two months ago,
he said My life has been hard one,
and feel that I have worked hard. hon
estly and conscientiously. II Is time now
! for mo TO go into business. n ! am ever
going To- do So 7 expect tn work as
] hard AT my new business az have at
| fire hghting. You kno" you can't 90
ANYTHING bv sitting stu and ! expect
10 make a success IN my new field. My
only regret IN reslenine is mat am
Continued pn NTH rsgs