Death of Eli Bates, Former Chief of New York Fire Department

Death of Eli Bates, Former Chief of New York Fire Department

Eli Bates, chief of the New York fire department from 1873 to 1884, died of heart disease last Friday night, at his home, No. 236 Fulton street, Jersey City. He was in his 87th year. He leaves three daughters and a son. Mr. Bates was born in Orange county and came to New York when seven years old. Until 1840 he followed the trade of a mason. He became interested in the volunteer department at that time and soon after became a member. He joined Guardian Engine Company in Amos street, now W est Tenth street, in 185(1. Rising rapidly through the ranks, he became a member of the paid department when it was introduced in 1865. His first important station was that of district engineer in the Greenwich village section. After holding this post for several years he became battalion chief of the fourth battalion, and. in 1871, was made assistant chiei of the entire department. Two years later he succeeded Joseph L. Perley as chief of the department. F'our years ago he left his home in East 116th street and moved to Jersey City.

P'IRE AND WATER ENGINEERING of October 28, 1008, contained a page of lire reminiscences written by Chief Bates, from which the subjoined data are taken: “I joined the New York City volunteer fire department on the 29th day of April. 1846, when I became attached to engine No. 29 Cornelius Anderson was chief at that time, and there was no salary attached to the position of a fireman. We had the old-fashioned gooseneck engine, a single side lever machine, manned with about 12 men. The fire alarms were sent in by ringing district bells, the city hall bell or a market bell. We could locate the fires only by districts, and there were six of them south of Thirty-second street. This condition remained until the organization of the paid department. North of Tw enty-second street we had a first and second district divided by Sixth avenue, one on the east side and one.on the west side, which made eight districts all told in the city. I here was no northern boundary. Third avenue and Sixty-sixth street was known as Yorkville. and above Sixty-sixth street was Harlem. I was a private in the volunteer department until about 1852. when 1 was made assistant foreman. In 1855 1 was made foreman oi the same company, and remained in that position until 1862, when 1 was elected assistant engineer of the department, I remained in that position until September, 1865. when 1 was appointed district engineer in the paid department at a salary of $1,200 a year. That was the first salary I received as a fireman. The paid department was formed in 1865. During the riots of 1863, attempts were made to burn everything, and some of us had to be on guard night and day. The police were helpless and the fire department was called upon to assist in putting down the rioters. The first steamer was No. 18 engine in Ludlow street, in 1858. There had been a steamer back in 1840. which ran from Hanover square. It was a Hodge engine, built at the Phoenix Works, at Wooster and West streets. While I was assistant engineer, John Decker was chief. He was succeeded in 1865 by Elijah Kingsland. The fire department was under State government until Tweed came in. The first board of fire commissioners was made up of Charles C. Pinckney. Martin B. Brown, Philip W. Ams and James W. Booth. In May, 1873, 1 was appointed chief, and held the office for one year, my salary being $1,500. When the paid department was organized, the pay of a private was $60o. that of engineer of steamer $900, assistant foreman $750. foreman $800. and district engineer $1,200. 1 retired on $1,700. The Bowery Theater burned tour times in 17 years, the last fire being on April 25, 1845. Among the notable fires during my time was the burning of Barnum’s Museum, corner of Broadway and Ann street, on July 13. 1865, while John Decker was chief of the volunteer department. I think there were thirty odd steamers in the department at that time, and about thirty-three truck companies. Crystal Palace first burned on October 5, 1858. 1 was working as a bricklayer at the southeast corner of Fifth avenue and Fortysecond street, when the fire broke out. 1 went to the fire, and in 23 minutes from the time the tlames broke out the building was destroyed. The first system of fire alarm boxes was installed south of Fourteenth street on March 28, 1870. In July. 1842. Croton water was introduced in New York. The first Eureka hose was introduced in 1875."