Historic department orders fdny
Perley, preliminary signals were adopted in 1870, 15 strokes and 4-6 strokes made up the preliminary for the Fire Steamer. When, at the suggestion of Chief of Department Joseph L. In his report to the Commissioners for the year 1866, Chief Elisha Kingsland wrote that the contract for the use of the FULLER had proven most satisfactory.
The first fire at which the "floating engine" operated as a unit of the Department was on October 16, 1866, at 307 West Street, close to her berth. At first, when the FULLER was needed at a fire, a messenger was sent from Fire Headquarters in Mercer Street to her West Street dock, with orders to respond. The FULLER was to serve as a regular unit of the Department for more than nine years, until the first city-owned fireboat was put in service in 1875, and for a number of years thereafter was rented from time to time to take the place of the Fireboats HAVEMEYER and MILLS, when they were out of service for inspection and repairs. As a fire engine she throws thirteen streams of water." The boat was advertised by its owners as a "wrecking and fire steamer," and a notice appearing in a journal of the period stated, "The pumps are of extra power and were made to order expressly for the FULLER by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. The JOHN FULLER was equipped with fire pumps and hose, in addition to a variety of salvage gear, and was well suited for its role as the first fireboat of the Fire Department of the City of New York. Baxter & Son, owners of the steam salvage tug JOHN FULLER, for the services of the boat on a "call basis" at a yearly rental.
SOON after taking over the management of the Fire Department in 1865, and establishing the paid force, the Metropolitan Board of Fire Commissioners discussed the need for a "floating engine to fight fires on and along the river fronts." Their discussions resulted in the signing of a contract, in 1866, with John C. Fireboats Through The Years By Clarence E.