ed. On the 19th of July, 1845, the seventh and last
fire broke out in New street, near Wall street, and swept in a southerly
direction, destroying 345 buildings. The loss was $5,000,000.

As a matter of course, a city that has suffered so much from fires is in
especial need of the best known means of preventing and suppressing them.
Since the year 1653 there has been a Fire Department in New York, and it
would be an interesting task to review its history had we the space to do
so. In its early days it was considered an honor to be a member of a
fire company, and some of the best of the old-time citizens were to be
found in the ranks of the various organizations. The city took care to
keep the force provided with the most improved machines, and every effort
was made to render it as efficient as possible. As the city increased in
wealth and population the character of the firemen changed. The
respectable men left the organization, and their places were filled with
men who were drawn into it by the excitement which was to be found in
such a life. Soon the department passed entirely into the hands of the
Bowery boys and other disreputable characters. The engine houses were
rallying places for the worst characters of the vicinity, who amused
themselves in their leisure hours by fighting among themselves, or by
assaulting respectable passers-by. A fire was the dread of the city, not
only for the damage the conflagration was sure to do, but for the
disturbance it brought about on the streets. As soon as an alarm was
sounded the streets were filled with a yelling, reckless crowd, through
which the engines and hose-carriages dashed, regardless of those who were
run over. Pandemonium seemed to have broken loose and taken possession
of the great thoroughfares. If two rival companies met on the streets
they would leave the fire to work its will and fight their battle then
and there. There was scarcely a fire without its accompanying riot. The
fires themselves were disastrous. Very little good was accomplished by
the firemen, and the losses were tremendous. Adjoining buildings were
often broken open and robbed under pretence of saving them from the
flames. In short, the whole department was a nuisance, and thinking men
saw that it was a great nursery of criminals and blackguards. Efforts
were made to remedy the evil, but without success. The members of the
department were volunteers, and were particularly impatient