The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-05
A FIREMAN KILLED.
Brave William HINT Loses His Life il
the Performance of Dutv

Brave William HINT Loses His Life in
the Performance of Duty.
The first 10 respond to the alarm was
Truck and It's crew, who instantly made
preparations to raise their ladders against
the houses on the eastern side of the
church, so as to command the building in
which the fire originated. The great ex-
tension ladder was hardly erect before five
OF the company began to take positions on
1t so AS to pass up the hose In the lead was
William Hunt, an eXtraman and one of the
bravest in the crew. He was followed BY
Extraman Murphy, known among his fel-
lows as the Judge" Dave Harris, Robert
Jones and another whose name could not be
learned
When the full 65 feet of the extension was
Strengthened out Hunt was on top and the
others scattered along its length at equal
distances. One movement more and the
ladder tipped over TO the wall, but before it
could gain support from the building one of
It's middle sections cracked, fell inward
and threw the upper sections out upon the
sidewalk Hunt and Murphy struck fiat
upon the sidewalk, and the other men,
thrown off by the shock and the falling
DEBRIS, landed in pile on top of them.
HIS SKULL FRACTURED.
The three latter were so slightly hurt that
they picked themselves up, and with the
assistance of Frank Ii. Mas and John c.
schroeder, who witnessed the accident,
went to the succor of their less fortunate
companions. Hunt and Murphy, both in
sensible, were at once carried to the resi-
dence OF John Il. Ruggles, of the firm of
Dodge, Sweeny " Co., 1641 Bush street.
The library and parlur we're placed at the
disposal of the injured, but shortly after
ward Murphy, regaining consciousness, was
carried home to Post and Fillmore streets
by the patrol wagon. He suffered the loss
OF finger and received bad wound over
the right eye.
Medical aid for Hunt was solicited in
the neighborhood, and according to the
truckmen, lnhumanly refused. DR.. Will
lans and his assistant were then tele-
graphed Tor to the Receiving Hospital. On
arriving he made a superficial examination
oil the man, and announced that he was be-
y0nd medical aid, the skull being so badly
fractured that brain matter ooZed through
the left ear. Father Montgomery of St.
Mary's Cathedral, who had been called in
meanwhile, then came upon the scene and
administered absolution and the sacrament
OF extreme unction-all that could be done
under the circumstances, as Hunt never re-
gained consciousness.
THE WIFE AND MOTHER.
Messengers were then sent to the wife,
mother and sister and the efforts of the
doctors We're directed to relieving as much
as possible the sutferings of the injured
man ana removing the traces of his injuries
~ as not W SHOCK tne women 1Olk. Inc
wife arrived first and at first could scarce
contain her sorrow, but the assurances of
those around her that "Bill is all right"
raised false hope, which sustained her for
awhile.
Then the old mother came tottering in,
terror stricken, and many pardonable fibs
were told her of her boys condition, which
she, though doubling, was only too willing
to believe out of her mothers love.
The doctors left the sad scene at IL o'clock
announcing to the men folk that Hunt
could not last much longer. At IL 80 he
was still breathing irregularly, but his
strength was perceptbly falling, while the
anxiety and grief of his family were painful
to witness.
A SPLENDID REPUTATION.
Hunt was foreman in the printing office
OF j. X. Brodle & Co. and resided with his
wife and two young children on the corner