The record-union., 1893-03-31

oil san francisco During. the Tur.
bulent Times of 1856. and Almost
Continuously Since at the Head of
the Fire Department. of san Franz
cisco.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN
! SAN FRANCISCO, March 3O.-The Chief
Engineer OF the San Francisco fire de-
partment, David Scannell, is dead.
While sitting in chair and reading a
newspaper in the fire house, on Bush
street, between Kearny and Grant
avenue, he passed quietly away, without
the slightest sign of pain, at o'clock
this morning. He had been looking over
the paper, when he was seen to drop it,
take off his spectacles and attempt to
speak, but death followed too quickly to
| enable him to utter a word.
He had not been performing active
duty for some time, owing TO the fact that
he had severe attack of la grippe, with
other complications. These were, with
his great age, the cause of his death.
The doctor who has been in constant
attendance upon the Chief stated that
during the last week his patient has beelr
gradually failing, and that he was suffer-
ing from a complication of kidney and
liver troubles, together with fatty de-
generation of the heart, and that he has
| been unable to move without becoming
! exhausted.
The fire bell turned in an alarm at 9
O'Clock this morning, announcing the
death of. the Chief. The number struck
was 70.
David Scannell was born January 81,
1870, in the city of New York. In the
year 1916 volunteer military COM
pany was organized in that city and he
was made Lieutenant of the organization.
The company was under the command Of
! Colonel w. Burnett. This volunteer COM
pany entered the Mexican War, and
David Scannell along with his comrades
fought in every battle from the one at
Vera Cruz up to the capture of the City Of
Mexico. he also served under General
Scott. He was a born fighter, and his
| conduct in action was more than once
mentioned in the dispatches. At the bat
/ tie of Chepultepec he particularly dis
| tinguiShed himself, rushing forward upon
the enemy almost alone. Such actions
as this made his name known through
out the whole army. At the end of the
| Mexican War he returned home as Il
Captain.
In 1851 he came to California on the
steamer Gold Hunter, and soon after his
arrival became connected with the San
| Francisco Fire Department. He took an
active part III lighting the great fire of
May 4th OF the same year, when nearly
the whole of the then small city of San
Francisco was almost consumed
In 1880 Mr.. Scannell was elected Sheriff
of San Francisco County, and during the
turbulent times in 1856 he showed great
grit. He was in sympathy with the law
and order part of the community, and
operated with them forthe suppression of
crime. He had charge of the County Jail
and had i'll his custody Charley Cora, the
murderer of United States Marshal Rich
ardson, and Jimmy Casey, the slayer of
James King OF William. When the lead
ers of the Nigilantes approached the
Sheriff, and asked for the delivery of the
| prisoners, shortly after the editor of the
Bulletin had been killed, Scanne!I
handed over the keys and told them to 90
and take them. The Jail was raided and
Cora and Casey taken out and hanged.
The Sheriff was blamed for mis- action in
not opposing the demands of the Vigi-
lantes at the time, but history has shown
that he acted with wisdom, for the lead
ers of the movement would have brooked
no delay, but would have taken the Jail
by force, and probably many lives would
have been sacrificed in the struggle.
Scannell was always full of patriotism.
When the civil war opened there were
fears entertained that General Albert
Sydney Johnston of the Federal forces
intended turning this city over to the
| Confederate forces. Volunteers were
called for, and David Scannell was one of
the first to respond.
In 1860 Mr.. Scannell was elected Chief
Engineer of the Volunteer Fire Depart
ment, and was unanimously elected
again in 1868. On April 4, ISL, Mr.. Scan
nell was elected Chief of the paid depart
ment to succeed Charles II. Aokerson.
and he held the position until his death,
making a continuous story of self-sacri-
flee, day and night, saving human life
and property with perfect disregard of his
own welfare and endearing himself with
every individual OF this city and county,
over whom he has been faithful and
conscientious guardian.
! During Chief ScannelPs career as a fire.
man he has met with many accidents, and
old firemen say it is safe to assert that
almost every bone in his body has been
bruised or broken. No one who has at
! tended q lire in this city during his in
/ culnbency who has not seen the vigor
which he displayed in fighting the flames.
/ The same spirit seemed to actuate him as
when fighting the enemy in Mexico. 1t
was a veritable battle he appeared to be
engaged in, and he managed his men as he
would a military company engaged in
action. His energy inspired his tiremen,
and to him in very great measure is due
the efficiency of the department.
The dead Chiefs body will lie in state
in the meeting-room of the Fire COM
missioners at the Old City Hall until
/ burial.
El Tremblor.
/ a slight earthquake shock was felt in
/ this city this morning about 2:3O.