New-York tribune., 1920-02-22
New ork MilGonares Who Make Fire Fighting Hob

and 800 buns are handed out on each
occasion. All of this is paid for out
Of Mr.. Kenny's pocket.
"Why do I do it?" he repeated in
reply to the question. "Oh, guess
because my father was fireman and
the love of the work is in my blood.
But, OF course, you know, am only
night fireman, being too busy dur
ing the day, unfortunately, to go to
fires. I never miss a second or q
third alarm fire."
One of the bankers who has won
a rating of first class fire buff" and
who has seen a longer period of serv-
ice than Mr.. Kenny, although not
as long as DR.. Archer, is Robert H.
Manner. of 5 Nassau Street. Mr..
Manner also is an honorary deputy
fire chief, and has won recognition
Tor valorous service performed at
fires. He generally accompanies DIR.
Archer, his home, at 378 West End
Avenue, being not far from that of
the physician. At the Equitable fire
Mr. Manner displayed a high type
OF heroism which won warm praise
from the head Of the Fire Depart-
ment.
Not long ago, Mr.. Manner helped
rescue thirty-six patients at a fire at
the Stern Sanitarium, at 365 West
End Avenue. Unlike some of tha
other "buffs," the banker does not
conflne himself exclusively to second
and third alarms, and in his eighteen
years OF service has attended 4.O76
fires, all of which he has carefully
recorded. His home, like that Of DIR.
Archer, Is filed with pictures and
souvenirs Of these conflagrations.
Mr.. Manner has spent enormous
sums In the service Of the depart
mont When Joseph johnson was
Fire Commissioner Mr.. Manner made
a trip to Europe at his own expense
to acquire information which might
be OF use in New York on the man
ner in which the authorities Of
Europe combated arson and incen-
diarism. He visited cities in Eng
land, France and Germany, and after
his return inaugurated campaign
against arson in New York CITY. Ha
published $4,000 pamphlets at his
own expense and sent them broad
cost over the city.
he continued his labors for the
Fire Department when Robert Adam
son became Fire Commissioner. and
was said to have been responsible
for the creation Of Rescue Companv
No. l, an organization still in active
service, having jurisdiction at all
fires between the Battery and 125tb
Street.
A Loan Fund
Seven and one-half years ago
Mr. Manner prevailed upon his
aunt, Mrs. Sigmund Neustadt, to
give $4,000, which he invested in
New York city bonds and the income
of which is used to buy artificial
limbs for firemen needing them, to
pay their doctor bills, take care of
men who have contracted tubercu-
losls and to make loans, free Of in
terest, when they have become needy
through illness or other misfortunes
These loans are repaid at the rate
of SIS month.
"In the entire seven and one-half
years there has been only one case
OF firemen failing to make good
his obligation resulting from the
making Of loan," said Mr.. Manner.
"After the Standard Oil fire at
Greenpoint few months ago, Mr..
Herbert L. Pratt, president of
the Standard Oil Company of New
'N "AiU SoileSe CldSSmaCe or
mine, gave me $4,000 to - aided
to the principal of the fund.- Mr..
Manner went on. I'VE also have
received subscriptions from time to
time from grateful citizens desiring
to show their appreciation of the
work done by the firemen.
LAS for myself, can only say
am doing the work because of sheer
love of it. / do it because I believe
the Fire Department to be made up
OF fine, clean lot of men, and be-
cause l know practically every man
and officer in the force. There are
remarkably few takers among them"
M. L. Neumogen, of 20 Broad
Street, has been a "fire buff for
years. He lives in the apartment
house at the northwest corner Of
Broadway and Seventy-eight Street.
and has never permitted his broker
age business to interfere with his