The evening world., 1911-04-17
Quits the Service After 81
Years on a Pension of
$1,000 a Year.
ANNOUNCES HIS PLANS.
Will Head New National
Bureau for the Proven.
ton Of Fires.

Edward r. Croker. chief of the New
York Fire Department. with which he
Lad been connected for twenty-seven
years. resigned at noon to-day.
His resignation was accepted and
Commissioner waldo placed acting Chief
John Kenlon In charge Of tho depart
ment. ActinS Chief Keplon has recently
been q deputy chief In charge OF the Ma
rine Bureau. wit headquarters at pier
A., Battery Park. He will serve a. act
ing chief for about six months. when an
examination OF the fifteen eligible deputy
chiefs will be held.
Mr.. Croker. in a typewriter state
msnt, which he had prepared In advance
OF handing In his resignation.
his intention Of engaging In tho work OF
nra prevention by means Of n Bureau OF
Fire Prevention. national In lis scope.
the headquarters of which are to be in
this city. The plan has the approval OF
Fire Commissioners Waldo. Mayor Gay
nor and the nre underwriting interests.
To Employ Retired Firemsn.
II contemplates the employment Of re-
tirea hremen as watchmen and FIRE drill
masters. The details OF the plan have
not been worked out. but Mr.. Croker
will be In shape 20 make them public In
. ooupis Of days.
Z resigned from the Fire Depart
mont" said the former Chief. ''of my
own free will. There was no friction be-
tween me n Commissioner Waldo.
The %fnendliest feeling prevails between
US. have had this step in contempla-
tioa for some time. IS the need Of fire
prevention grew moro apparent 10 me.
but my determination to devote myself
to Gre prevention ives really brought TO
Q focus by the Asch Building fre."
Commisioner Waldo was informed on
saturday that the Chief OF the Depart
msnt wanted to set out. The Commits
sioners information reached him In tho
shape OF the following communication:
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN.
April II.
Rhtnelsndsr Waldo. Fire Commits
sioner.
9ir: Pursuant to the provisions
OF Section 100 Of the Charter OF
New York City. and In compliance
herewith. I hereby respectfully
make application to be retired and
dismissed from the uniformed fprco
. service and placed on the roll
OF the relief or pension und and
awarded and granted an annual PEN
sion amounting to one-haif my pres
ent salary for the remainder OF my
lifetime. the same to taxi effect at
o'clock A. NJ. on May I. 1911. Re-
spsctfuily.
EDWARD +. CROKER.
S Chief OF Department.
Pension VIII 30 5000.
The salary. OF Mr.. Croker as chief OF
the Department. was $1,000 a year. This
salary was specially fixed for him re-
Gently when the salary of Deputy Chief
Laliy. In charge OF Brooklyn I'd
Queens. was IL o 3x7.b00.
Under the rule Of pensions amoua ~
10 half salary Mr.. Croker would get
5000 q year. but Commi. .oner Waldo
has fxed his pension at 5000, with the
approval OF the Mayor. II is In the
power OF the COMMISSIONS 10 INCREASE
the mandatory pension provided by law.
Mr.. Croker a an early arrival at the
City Hall this morning, reaching there
soms time before Mayor Gaynor arrived.
The Chief was shown into an anteroom
OF the Mayors once. He was Joined
there by Fire COMMISSIONS Waldo, and
they remained together until Mayor
Gaynor gave them an audience. The
Mayor had been advised in advance OF
what he was TO expect.
Commissioners Waldo handed Chief
Croker's resignation TO the Mayor. who
expressed deep regret at the necessity
for accepting II ,ook the etiring Chief
by the hand and wished him success
In his new venture. In giving out the
news OF the retirement, Commissioners
WaAde said:
IL In with extreme regret that I have
accepted Chief Croker's request to DO
retired. ] have the greatest admiration
for him a. a Chief OF Department, a
IRE hEhter and q man. The city OF
New York sustains a loss in the sever
snce OF the relations between Edward
+. Croker and the Fire Department"
Mr.. Croker then and out his type
written statement containing hs rea-
sons for retiring from active FIRE night
ing. The statement follows:
Takes Up Cherished Duty.
II Is only after long and careful
consideration that l have decided to
tender my resignation and retire as
Chief of the New York Fire Depart
ment While such action on my
part is accompanied By feelings OF
the keenest regret al separating
from the brave and splendid body Of
officers and men forming the Fire
Department Of this city. which has
been ana always viii he my SPECIAL
prize, ] fee! that ! nave a special
duty TO perform toward tAe puzzle
which has 50 long h0nor,d he Ma
- support ana confidence.
Ny iuns eNperi'n. - Ia TIE Flr- ps-
rsitn ta' o. ',s c.,y .ula-rg 4
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