The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-24
NEW YORK FIREMEN'S pERILS
MEN VINO DIED Ar TIETR POSTIN THE
DISCHARGE or DUTY.


Chief Eli Batcs was absent on n tour Of in
specton when tho reporter called TO examine
tho records of the Fire Department. but Assist
ant Chief Oscar Shay cheerfuy produced the
books and offered any further information that
might be- desired. You will notice." he said.
many records of death that are not the result
OF accident We are very strict in admitting
mon to the department. Before being accepted
they are subjected TO n physical examination
quite as severe that required in the army
and navy. But exposure. irregular hours.
broken sleep. and long-continucd exertion tell
fearfully on them. and many break down un-
der the strain. Consumption. heart disease,
pneumonia. and paralysis are the enemies we
fear most. and they make serious inroads upon
our ranks. If one Of our bold fellows meets his
death fighting fire. it IL like soldier falling in
battle and everybody has u word OF sympathy
but half a dozen equally brave and faithful men
may slowly sink away and die. and nobody over
hear of them"
How does the duty required OF the paid de-
partmcnt compare with that done by the old
voluntecrsr"
1T il a great deal moro arduous and trying.
In the old department there were forty. iny
and sometimes as high as sixty members of a
company. When there was big fire and many
hours of hard. steady work. they divided thom-
selves INTO relclS. ana Nltlle perhaps onc-lnlTu
Of the company were doing actual fire duty the
others went back to the engine house. got dry
clothes. and rested for an hour or two. Now we
have only ten mon and two officers to n COM
pany. and at every fire, matter how long 1t
lasts. or now severe the labor. they must all
stay on duty until the end No mntter how in
elem ent the weather-in midsummer. when the
heat IL 40 oppressive that in n burning building
it seems at times almost impossible to draw
breath or in mdwinter. cold, hungry, wet.
perhaps half frozon-therc IL no let up; every
man ia the company must stick until the fire is
conquered. Then. when he does get back to
the engine house. another alarm may come in
before he has time even to get of his water
soaked clothing. and then just as he il. wet and
nearly exhausted. he must start right off TO
have another bout with his old enemy. tell
YOU it's no boys play belonging TO tho New
York Fire Department, and it requires. II
pretty hardy man to stand il for many years.
What are your busiest hpursF
" Between 4 O'Clock in the evening and in
tho morning we have more fires than at any
other time. aud that i the time At which our
death roll Is enlarged. Those who died OF
disease contracted IN the service are not Gnu
mrrnird IN this rorord.' And here MIR. Shay
produ ed the death roll. a. follows.
Robert Mintrlnglam. driver. Engine Com
puny No. |. On the lith Of August. 1863 at 7 :37
ana returned to engine which WAS at lydrant
IN Front street mar Pine. g." horse became
frightened ana ran AWAY. Mlnringhnm was
thrown rom MS scat ana inc thd.r run over
AMI broke his legs H. WAS taken To tdn CITY
hospital. whore he died ten days aiterward.
G'prgr W. Bell. fireman. Engine Company
No. r. On the 2Wn Of OF Dber io6j. at o, \. NJ,
.irrat North river while work ng 10 sublue
the fire. inhnlcd gaS from the burning coal and
dtollei almost srh-sics>. y" was carried TO
his -'donre, whclg b" died NoN. 10.
Dominick SirN, fireman Engine Company
No. 4. On th"l9tn November. ls6j. at II p A. NJ,
wuic "n duty With his omrnny at the lire ~ 10
Water str t. fell from the re- H. -trk king with ter
rhe fore, in AN area IN th" roar. II" wis takrn
10 Me CITY Hospital. where ne died ON the IAN
Thongs Irwin, fireman. Engine NJ. I. on
De' 2 ls6j AT 10 a. NJ. 1T the fire ut 10 state
street. was killed IA 'front.' ol'tle building 10y the
cotton. whieh expanding. burst II open. II Is
SUPPOSED that Irwin WAS struck with one of the
ron shu,cr-. ~ his body was cut IN twain.
Tn lower limbs w'rr found about twenty feet
David b. Waters. foreman. and Peter II.
Walsh. fireman Inglue company Ne. D. May
MUSE. w,re burn I'd 10 death on the stage. The
pip.oi Engine No. . WIS in on the stage from
/ the Fourteenth street side. Aiier tn men had
neen Tier. a few m,nn:7 nun Of not air AMI
tnem To- rrtrr.t. The smoke, though. was -
d'n-n AMI iAo D. 40 So sitting that this could Doe
/ out except Waters and Walsh. Their remains
/ w'r" i'unl un the --d INST burned TO shape
: Mics H. sowarhy fireman Hook and Ladder
Company ~. ~ AUX, -. lNoI, lu:l9 T. NJ.
+ lN US bI ! ~kINft N iIIlf' Nn Aufy M4tl MS
company IN ihe dark walked ~ the roof OF tn
building. striking IN an area in the rear. He
W., dead when t1e body Vas recovered:
~ ~ MAY is. 1865 ii 'o''clo /" T. NJ Tiirc il
W,~trnrsr"r county, Before the horses were
entirely hlt nrd fo The engine one of the horse
mon threw open the front doors and the team
start 4 on run Snyder tried 10 stop them
/ bat WAS knocked down amt tranpied upon. IT."
/ Mas carried mt the house UNCONSCIOUS. He
jane Whacn foii'nain Engine Company no
] a yhs n..rl
street. While he WAS drNn; the engine team
! through CEDAR 9lr''l cast OK broaaway. thH cn,
IL Inc Street ior derricA purposes Tor ill., Eiaia,
bl" building. Nhuvn WIS bonn "d from lis
scat lie iril uu iri We eng ne anu WAS bragg 81
dead '''' 0' ''''-' "''-' '"''' - 80
- Thomas Roberts. assistant foreman Engine
S S41 N3 @t -, ses XXX p NJ w Firs
galloping To the lrr Roberts who was sitting ON
| the front sent 81 tender. jumped OH. intending
touched the ground he i'iii. and one II the ten.
der wheels passed over his body. killing him
=, Matthias Hewo,, fireman. Hook and Ladder
/ Company No. 1, NOV. ~ 1859, $40 \. NJ. while
going /? the IRE. aud the horses running at full
speed h" tried To mount IN" truck. but his head
/ was caught between the side of the ladder and "A
letter box on the ~outhY ~ corner of Eighth
skull. H. dicd D.. !, $50.
Jacob Elder. Engine Company No. 1G, March
Is. 1871, l2:lO A. VI A fats, alarm was gwen
ing the engine tenn. he was struck by the point
/ Of the forty 1.-TWO foot ladder belonging Ia Hook
ana Ladder Company No. Z. and thrown 10 the
/ pavement, cnu- ing a COMPOUND lAture Of the
/ right leg. II" died nine day aitrrward
Edward Burke. fireman Engine Compav NJ.
/ !. June y, 1872. 40 \. NJ. FIRE nj : and ~
/ Liberty street, WAS killed hv an explosion of
/ chemicals after the fire was under control
Twenty -one Officers and privat,s were burned
| nj the same explosion.
ia 'oh SteE. r.. fireman Engine Company No.
! 80, sept q, 1872. ~ ~ \. NJ. Fire foot OF
| SlNy-iilth street. North river: was fatally
/ burned " tl kerosene ol. Was carried 10 hos
I pitul, and there he dlci.
VIM. Craft, fireman Engine Company ~
/ l1' di"d Jan. n, lSI3, from injuries received
] Mhll" performing his duty.
G'ursr \. Erla ehrr. Assistant Inginror. COM
I mnndnE Second Battalion. Jan II 1873, 7.O3
/ !. NJ iire at ls3 Mntnr street. Was thrown
| from the front scat of the tender of Engine NJ.
| II, AMI striking his head against the rurb-
stone, was fatally injured lie died ON the 9TH
! OF February.
James liunkett. fireman, Engine Company No.
~, - i Fl, lslB 10 \. VI. Iiro No. l.22i Soc
/ ond avenue While he was driving thrpng.nn
/ team through filty-ninth street. between Sixth
] ana NnNoih hN"nu -. tiln engine stru Il a large
J sl"u" AMI was upset. pmnkrtt who was not
strapped ~ his scat. as he should have hern
was thrown 10 the ground, striking On his head
/ anu Mds then crushed uudcr tho engine. lie
f.N