Chief Michael Edward Higgins.

Chief Michael Edward Higgins.

Michael E. Higgins, for 25 years, chief of the fire department at Albany, N. Y., died at his home in that city on Saturday, February 11. About a year ago Chief Higgins was thrown from his wagon while going to a fire, receiving injuries which confined him to the hospital for several weeks. He partially recovered and resumed command of the department, but was subsequently compelled to desist from active work, since which time he has been gradually failing. Deceased was one of the best known fire department heads in the country, having been president of the International Association of Fire Engineers, and has always made it his aim to attend the conventions of this organization. He was a genial fellow, well liked, his friends were legion, and FIRE ANII WATER ENGINEERING had no stronger supporter. The funeral was held last Tuesday morning, being largely attended by firemen from Troy, Schenectady, Cohoes and other cities. A brief sketch of the deceased follows: Chief Higgins was “crazy” for fires as far hack as the veterans of the service remember. He “ran with the machine” when he was a hoy. As he grew older there was but one career for him and he became a regular member of the volunteer department January 16, 1865, he was appointed a member of “Niagara” 6, and served until December 17, 1866, when he was transferred to “Red Jacket” Hook and Ladder No. 2 and served in that company until the organization of the steam department. He was then appointed a ladderman in Truck 2, and served until May 9, 1869, when lie was appointed to relief engineer, and in December of the same year was transferred to Steamer 6, as engineer, where he served until August 1, 1878, when he resigned to engage in business. But “once a fireman always a fireman" held good in his case, and he retained the position of hosenian in his old company, until December 27, 1880, when he was promoted to be foreman. He served as foreman of Steamer 6 until June 1, 1885, when he was promoted to an assistant engineership in the place of John C. Mull, retired. On the death of Chief McQuade, the first chief of the Albany fire department, July 25, 1886, the commissioners appointed M. E. Higgins chief of the department, and he remained in the office to the day of his death.

"The men know that he never orders a company where he will not go himself,” is what the firemen say of Chief Higgins, and so they will follow' him where he leads. The most important and practical piece of apparatus in use in the fire departments of the country is the combination hose and chemical wagon, suggested by Chief Higgins, at one of the annual meetings of the National Association of F’ire Chiefs; invented on his ideas and introduced in Albany as soon as it was on the market.