The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-30
AFTER 50 YEARS.
 DAVE JACK QUITS. PLACE WITH CITY
Veteran Ambulance Driver To- day Is Retired On a
 Life Pension.
OFFICE HE HELD
 TO BE ABOLISHED
Familiar Figure At Police Building Will Be Missing
 After This Evening.

Those seeing the familiar form of Dave Jeck, transfer ambulance driver for the Department of Charities and veteran city emp1oye of nearly a, half century's service, about the streets to- day little realized that it was his last appearance in the official role that he has filled so well. For after midniRht he will be enrolled among those pen stoned by the city and relieved from active duty. In recognition of this ser vice he will receive $40 a month for the rest of his life
 At a special meeting of the Chari- ties Board yesterday aftern oon it was formally voted to retire him. 4begin- ming tomorrow, following the reading of a comnunicatfon telling of the common councils action in voting the necessary appropriation. At the same time communication was read to the effect that the counciPs ways and means committee had reported that the money is not available until the beginning of the next fiscal year The commissioners decided that, as the council has voted the money, it is up to them to find it.
 Altogether appropriate in 2connec- ton with the retirement was the vote to abolish the position of which Dave for such he is known to children and adults alike, has been the first and only occupant. From now on the 
 an employe of the stable where it is kept It was decided that it would be cheaper for the city to pay a driver so much trip.
 Probably no one in the city realizes as does Dave the struggles and dis app ointments of unfortunate human ity. Probably no one in the city has proven such a, friend in need to those unfortunates needing advice and a. little other assistance. His only de- n1and has been that the applicant be worthy. No account has been kept by him as to the number he has assisted. As he says, the knowledge that he has made life a, little brighter for those to whom the outlook was gloomy, is sufficient satisfaction.
 His services for the city have been about equally divided between the fire and charities departme rents In>the old days he was one of the best known drivers in the fire department His manner of handling this hitch' was, at, the same time, the envy. of other drivers and the admiration of young Sters. In those days the fire horses were employed in leisure time upon city teams When an alarm came in the horses were hustled to the fire house and responded on the call.
 When the emergency hospital was first established it was located on Court street near the rear of what is
  housed in the RuggIes building on Middle street. until the police and charities building was provided. These were busy days for the am bnlance, then the only one in use, for there was no railroad viaduct and the tend erloin and waterfront were highly productive in sstcases.'' Dave handled the reins on the ambulance on 24- hour-a.-day service Numbers of the city's now prominent physicians either rode in the ambulance or had charge of the surgical work at the hospital. Joe Brennan, former head of the department, was on am bulance service in his younger days before a surgeon was assigned to the work.
 Dave moved with the hospital to the new location on Fairfield avenue and the present automobile ambulance was | placed in service. Since then he has driven the same old horse ambulance of former days, handling the transfer 1 cases. His figure has been a familiar one on the street and in his chair in | the corridor of the emergency hos pital. His "reminiscences of the days gone by have interested and instructed
 many of the younger generation, who have called there for the sole purpose of talking with him and hearing his philosophical sayings.
 As a number of the older police of I fcers were commenting today, it will not seem the same place without. see ing Dave about" But they do not ex- | pect that he will be absent The chair occupied by him during leisure mo l ments for so many years is still going 1 to remain in the Charities Department | lobby and Dave bids fair to be seen there for a long time to come. At least those connected with the depart
 ments housed there and unfortunate humanity coming there for relief hope SO.