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John Decker (fire chief)
Encyclopedia
John Decker was an American businessman, politician and firefighter
. He served as the last Chief Engineer
of the old New York City Fire Department
, the original colonial-era volunteer firefighters of New York City
, from 1860 until 1865. He led the fire department during the New York Draft Riots
, for which he gained national attention, and later founded the Volunteer Fireman's Association.
, Decker served as a ships cook on a trading vessel for a year when he was 15 years old. Upon returning to New York, he worked with his father throughout his childhood. He eventually opened a wholesale oyster business himself, located on Ann Street
, and eventually became the leading oyster merchant in New York for several years and had large financial interests in oyster growing during his later life.
At age 17, Decker began working with Engine Company No. 14 of the old volunteer fire department and, when he became of age, officially joined the department in October 1844. That same year, he became married to Mary Margaret Barton with whom he would have three children. Two of these would die in infancy while a third, their son, drowned while attending school at Norwalk, Connecticut
.
In 1847, he was made an assistant foreman of the company, serving three consecutive terms, elected foreman in 1850 and assistant engineer two years later. He was elected Chief Engineer in 1860 and re-elected in 1863. During his time as Chief Engineer, he was responsible for establishing the First Fire Zouaves and, when the Second Regiment of Zouaves was organized, he maintained them out of his own finances and later became its first colonel.
, Decker commanded the fire department both coordinating its operations throughout Manhattan and was present alongside fire fighters at almost every major fire set by looters and rioters. He was one of the first firefighters to respond when rioters stormed and set fire to the Third Avenue office of provost marshal Captain Charles E. Jenkins on July 13, 1863. He arrived finding an engine and hose company there, but the mob would not let them near the building. Police officers attempted to clear a passage for the firefighters but were driven back. Decker made his way through the mob and, climbing a table, he called for the crowd to allow the firefighters to approach the building because the property being threatened belonged to individuals not connected to the draft. He was able to persuade the rioters to stand down while he and his men dealt with the fire. He also talked rioters down from blocking firefighters from putting out a fire at the building at Forty-Third Street and Lexington Avenue.
The following day, Decker confronted firefighters of Volunteer Engine Company No. 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", who purposely set fire to a draft office in response to their fire chief being selected for the draft several days before. Their intention was to destroy the lottery wheel and records, however the provost marshal was able to get these out of the draft office in time. When Decker and other firefighters arrived, the mob would not let them into the building and knocked him and other firefighters down when they tried to run hose lines into the building. The firefighters were forced to watch as the entire block from Forty-Sixth to Forty-Seventh Street was destroyed.
He was similarly unsuccessful when confronting the mob looting the Colored Orphan Asylum. Decker arrived almost immediately after the orphanage was set on fire and did everything he could to prevent it. Despite having no police protection, Decker and his men made several attempts to break through the rioters. The rioters far outnumbered the firefighters and were turned back. A second attempt was made in three different parts of the building, Decker succeeding in confusing the rioters. The mob became angered at Decker for his repeated attempts to interfere and threatened his life if he tried another attempt to put out the fire. With this, Decker went up to the steps of the building and spoke to the 2,000 rioters and "declared it would be disgraceful to humanity and to the City of New-York to destroy a building whose only purpose was benevolence, and which had for its object nothing but good".
The half-drunken mob ignored Decker and set fire to the building once more. When Decker and his men put out the fire, which had been set in different parts of the building, the mob rushed towards Decker with the intention of killing him. Decker's life was saved only when his men, who quickly surrounded Decker, told the crowd that their fire chief would not be taken "except over their dead bodies". He and 15 of his men were eventually forced from the building and thrown out into the street where they once again stood by to watch the orphanage burn down.
Decker was on duty throughout the five-day period and, at one point, narrowly escaped from being lynched. Moments before he was to be hanged, Decker told his attackers that they might "stop his draft, but could not stop the government drafts". He was rescued at the last moment by his men. The New York Times later described Decker as having "showed himself one of the bravest of the brave".
, he was legislated out of office. Although the city attempted to retain Decker as the working head of the new organization, Decker declined declaring that if the Commissioner proposed to superintend the work of the firefighters at the fires, there would be, with himself, five Captains, "enough to sink any ship". No one was appointed in his place as a result and, on the night of August 31, 1865, Decker locked the doors of his office for the last time and went home. His last fire was that same day at a stable on Mulberry Street, in the rear of the canal.
Decker moved to Staten Island
in 1867 and later relocated to Port Richmond
where he became involved in real estate. Entering local politics, he represented Richmond County in the state assembly, receiving 2,336 votes and winning the majority vote, and later held a position at Castle Garden He was also a member of the committee on State Prisons, the Sub-Committee of the Whole, and was regarded as a popular state representative.
At the anniversary of the evacuation of New York in 1883, Decker reorganized the surviving members of the old volunteer and assigned them a place in one of the divisions of the Centennial parade. Shortly thereafter, he founded the Volunteer Fireman's Association and served as its first president. Under his energetic leadership, the organization was established as one of the most prominent institutions in the city.
in the presidential election of 1892
. In early-November, Decker contracted a heavy cold which soon turned into pneumonia
. He died less than a week later at his home on the afternoon of November 18, 1892. At the time of his death, his brother, four sisters and other relatives were present. His funeral was held at his home the following week, organized by the Volunteer and Exempt Fireman's Associations, and was buried at the Presbyterian Cemetery at New Springville.
Decker was portrayed in the 2006 historical novel
The Volunteers: A Historical Novel of New York City's Firemen, 1830-1865 by Donald L. Collins.
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
. He served as the last Chief Engineer
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
of the old New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
, the original colonial-era volunteer firefighters of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, from 1860 until 1865. He led the fire department during the New York Draft Riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
, for which he gained national attention, and later founded the Volunteer Fireman's Association.
Early life and career
John Decker was born in the Third Ward of New York City on May 15, 1823. His father, David Decker, was a prominent businessman and oyster dealer in the city. Educated in a public school on Fulton StreetFulton Street
-New Orleans:Fulton Street is a pedestrian mall in the New Orleans Central Business District.-New York City:In New York City, the name is frequently associated with Robert Fulton, who invented a steam boat...
, Decker served as a ships cook on a trading vessel for a year when he was 15 years old. Upon returning to New York, he worked with his father throughout his childhood. He eventually opened a wholesale oyster business himself, located on Ann Street
Ann Street (Manhattan)
Ann Street is a 3-block long street located in the Financial District of the New York City borough of Manhattan just south of City Hall.- History :-Early history:...
, and eventually became the leading oyster merchant in New York for several years and had large financial interests in oyster growing during his later life.
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
.
In 1847, he was made an assistant foreman of the company, serving three consecutive terms, elected foreman in 1850 and assistant engineer two years later. He was elected Chief Engineer in 1860 and re-elected in 1863. During his time as Chief Engineer, he was responsible for establishing the First Fire Zouaves and, when the Second Regiment of Zouaves was organized, he maintained them out of his own finances and later became its first colonel.
New York Draft Riots
During the New York Draft RiotsNew York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
, Decker commanded the fire department both coordinating its operations throughout Manhattan and was present alongside fire fighters at almost every major fire set by looters and rioters. He was one of the first firefighters to respond when rioters stormed and set fire to the Third Avenue office of provost marshal Captain Charles E. Jenkins on July 13, 1863. He arrived finding an engine and hose company there, but the mob would not let them near the building. Police officers attempted to clear a passage for the firefighters but were driven back. Decker made his way through the mob and, climbing a table, he called for the crowd to allow the firefighters to approach the building because the property being threatened belonged to individuals not connected to the draft. He was able to persuade the rioters to stand down while he and his men dealt with the fire. He also talked rioters down from blocking firefighters from putting out a fire at the building at Forty-Third Street and Lexington Avenue.
The following day, Decker confronted firefighters of Volunteer Engine Company No. 33, popularly known as the "Black Joke", who purposely set fire to a draft office in response to their fire chief being selected for the draft several days before. Their intention was to destroy the lottery wheel and records, however the provost marshal was able to get these out of the draft office in time. When Decker and other firefighters arrived, the mob would not let them into the building and knocked him and other firefighters down when they tried to run hose lines into the building. The firefighters were forced to watch as the entire block from Forty-Sixth to Forty-Seventh Street was destroyed.
He was similarly unsuccessful when confronting the mob looting the Colored Orphan Asylum. Decker arrived almost immediately after the orphanage was set on fire and did everything he could to prevent it. Despite having no police protection, Decker and his men made several attempts to break through the rioters. The rioters far outnumbered the firefighters and were turned back. A second attempt was made in three different parts of the building, Decker succeeding in confusing the rioters. The mob became angered at Decker for his repeated attempts to interfere and threatened his life if he tried another attempt to put out the fire. With this, Decker went up to the steps of the building and spoke to the 2,000 rioters and "declared it would be disgraceful to humanity and to the City of New-York to destroy a building whose only purpose was benevolence, and which had for its object nothing but good".
The half-drunken mob ignored Decker and set fire to the building once more. When Decker and his men put out the fire, which had been set in different parts of the building, the mob rushed towards Decker with the intention of killing him. Decker's life was saved only when his men, who quickly surrounded Decker, told the crowd that their fire chief would not be taken "except over their dead bodies". He and 15 of his men were eventually forced from the building and thrown out into the street where they once again stood by to watch the orphanage burn down.
Decker was on duty throughout the five-day period and, at one point, narrowly escaped from being lynched. Moments before he was to be hanged, Decker told his attackers that they might "stop his draft, but could not stop the government drafts". He was rescued at the last moment by his men. The New York Times later described Decker as having "showed himself one of the bravest of the brave".
Retirement and political career
Upon the reorganization of the fire department in June 1865, which effectively replaced the old volunteer firefighter service with the modern New York City Fire DepartmentNew York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
, he was legislated out of office. Although the city attempted to retain Decker as the working head of the new organization, Decker declined declaring that if the Commissioner proposed to superintend the work of the firefighters at the fires, there would be, with himself, five Captains, "enough to sink any ship". No one was appointed in his place as a result and, on the night of August 31, 1865, Decker locked the doors of his office for the last time and went home. His last fire was that same day at a stable on Mulberry Street, in the rear of the canal.
Decker moved to Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
in 1867 and later relocated to Port Richmond
Port Richmond, Staten Island
Port Richmond is a neighborhood situated on the North Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, United States. It is along the waterfront of the Kill Van Kull, with the southern terminus of the Bayonne Bridge serving as the boundary between it and Mariners Harbor, the...
where he became involved in real estate. Entering local politics, he represented Richmond County in the state assembly, receiving 2,336 votes and winning the majority vote, and later held a position at Castle Garden He was also a member of the committee on State Prisons, the Sub-Committee of the Whole, and was regarded as a popular state representative.
At the anniversary of the evacuation of New York in 1883, Decker reorganized the surviving members of the old volunteer and assigned them a place in one of the divisions of the Centennial parade. Shortly thereafter, he founded the Volunteer Fireman's Association and served as its first president. Under his energetic leadership, the organization was established as one of the most prominent institutions in the city.
Death
On May 17, 1892, Decker developed symptoms related to blood poisoning in his leg and was confined to his Vreeland Street home. He last left his residence, walking two blocks to the nearest polling station with the aid of a cane and crutch, to vote for Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
in the presidential election of 1892
United States presidential election, 1892
In the United States presidential election of 1892, former President Grover Cleveland ran for re-election against the incumbent President Benjamin Harrison, who was also running for re-election. Cleveland defeated Harrison, thus becoming the only person in American history to be elected to a...
. In early-November, Decker contracted a heavy cold which soon turned into pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He died less than a week later at his home on the afternoon of November 18, 1892. At the time of his death, his brother, four sisters and other relatives were present. His funeral was held at his home the following week, organized by the Volunteer and Exempt Fireman's Associations, and was buried at the Presbyterian Cemetery at New Springville.
Decker was portrayed in the 2006 historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
The Volunteers: A Historical Novel of New York City's Firemen, 1830-1865 by Donald L. Collins.
Further reading
- Bernstein, Iver. The New York City Draft Riots: Their Significance for American Society and Politics in the Age of the Civil War. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.
- Brandt, Nat. The Man who Tried to Burn New York. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 1986. ISBN 0-8156-0207-3
- Corbett, Glenn P. and Donald J. Cannon. Historic Fires of New York City. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0-7385-3857-4
- Costello, Augustine E. Our Firemen: A History of the New York Fire Department, Volunteer and Paid. New York: A.E. Costello, 1887.
- Dunshee, Kenneth Holcomb. Enjine!--Enjine!: A Story of Fire Protection. New York: Harold Vincent Smith, 1939.
- Hashagen, Paul. Fire Department City of New York: The Bravest; An Illustrated History 1865-2002. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN 1-56311-832-7
- McCague, James. The Second Rebellion: The Story of the New York City Draft Riots of 1863. New York: Dial Press, 1968.
- Urbanowicz, Gary R. Badges of the Bravest: A Pictorial History of Fire Departments in New York City. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN 1-56311-797-5