New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-01
FIRE CHIEF CROKER
QUITS OFFICE TODAY
Retires on a $4,000 Pension,
After Twenty-Five Years in
the Department.
NOW TO PREVENT FIRES
Declares What New York Needs
Are Bigger and Better Men
to Fight Flames-Kenlon
Acting Chief.

rroler Is going to Quit to-day Ai,e'
oyo- q quarter Of century IN ''le
., ,hs Fire Department, and nan 'ha' ''i"'
a, raad Of II. the his firehghter VIII wv
ne his lifelong work 10 Ac'hs 80
L-or,or and become head OF hre proven
,tvs bureau recently organized TIC
an q pension az $50" year
~ cant soc that there VIII he an!
.,-a,,or,. laid chief Croker last night IN
his rooms IN Great Jones street. " JUST
r,a., tsenlon here. and nc Will take charso'
.,d then az soon 40 get my hrehkiaa'
-, Going IN 20 my new office and go 70
work there. That's all.
III had on his usual gray flannel fre'
rams shirt. open at the threat IL sno"eo
-. ,,,,,,cf.s 80 MS powerful neck working
a. he pured volumes ~ smoke from n's
-. ne ta,nmed his teeth a little fur
,h,- INTO the end OF the cigar. ana wa,'eu
FOR another question. That's 'rohe' s'Si'
nc re,s other people do the talking some
one asked him ~ he vas going 10 Ned' ''''
.oir, when h got up 20 Fifth avenue
NO. he answered rive got oo''e'
,re reaoy. You have 30 wear EN- up 'here.
And III nc over Hover store n's''au ~
ar. house. guess thatll seem diner
ont
He had quiet DAY. There we're no ~
calls 20 his house. and when he repor'eu
for dutv as usual AT p m. he SAT arou"u
srd received his friends. But the iainih'r
,ea,sckct and longshoremans cap were
hanging on 2 nail ready for use. over he''
the bras sliding pole. The chief mas not
rad 10 20 out on many big hres ia'e'!'
Since the Asch disaster the soap ia'''.
fire on the West Side has been ABOUT me
,rl,. thing that required him 10 he on tlc
ID.
This ,s vou- last night. Surely YOU re
going "a loosen that Jaw Of yours ana zen
us That Won think the Fire Department
really nceds." some one said TO MIN
Wants TO See Bigger Firemen'
oh guess everybody knows what
want I've made so many recomrnehua-
.,c,s lately that ~ would he stale y
rones, them one thing I'd Ike 10 see
s1d I said this last yea. IS bigger ana "e'-
Tor men i'm the department J don care
ABOUT typcvriters and mathematician
What think fireman ought TO he Us
area, biz man. viii a iull neck ana .
nair OF lungs that can fairly drink w
smoke. Suppose ore # You SKIM! repult
rs were on tho end of 4 ladder ana d W.
Mound woman came tumoling INTO your
arms Vlatd YOU do
az course. . certain amount OF educa-
to, IL GOOD for any man. but I'D talk,n-
st.u, frernen Pick YOUR men careiu'E
,s. mat they have good habits. hooIeIS
cant stand the pace. Ano theh VIZ
you've got en-. rule EN-. plscipiihe WI
AXE lie right kind o. force. NJ no'
I'll, ,svor Of the civil Service Tor UNI
formed body II men. r. hound 20 "eahon
them
rNorts % make Croker say 10 vas d.
foc,od =, leaving his old place sfter -
,,s,,. wears resulted IN Little more thsn
3D., ointment that he nas sorry 20 ieave
a.. mon Ne had worked With 80 long ana
"a, 10 would seem different NHa'eNer
croker feels NJ hides behind his eyes. Ana
,-e7 he goes on biting into the ineVitaoi'
cigar
.op ye, in seem different When =
wan vef. into one thing FOR so long its
,e,,. hard 70 forget a. Reckon III SNORT
-1er battalion chief drives up me ave-
-ys g., -attlin= pace or when steamer
.o---s along But ~ have % settle PACK
because TT oe m new foh ana NAV WI"
p nv work then Oh 7 NAV turn ou' no"
and then iust for fun. II they'll let me
near tho ere lines I'm going 20 nave
~ev- car ono that belongs 70 Edward /.
Croke- M, The city ~ New York, and let
vac tell YOU. there won't b. anything IN
,ou, ia. riu have the edge on ~ That