Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-14
Brave Marshal Murphy
Chicago Evening Post.

The Chicago fire department,
whose history furnishes many in
stances of level, thoughtful courage,
has no member more widely known
than Chief of Battalion Edward w.
Murphy. When the people massed
below the terminal station at Jack
son park yesterday saw his white
helmet disappear behind a curtain of
smoke they thought the courageous
fireman was going squarely into the
teeth of death, and until late last
night it was reported down
town that he was one of the victims
of the disaster. But the white he'll
met had not gone down, and while
the people were crying with terror at
the scene, the man who wore the he'll
met was staggering across the burn
ing roof with the broken body of his
conrad, in his arms. Criticism NAV
be passed upon Marshal Murphv's
handling of his brigade yesterday af-
ternOOn. In cases of this sort there
are always delirious people who find
fault unreasonably. But here is
fact no man can get over-that Muir
ply did not send his men anywhere
he was not willing to 90 himself. In
department conspicuous for indi-
yidual courage Murphy is noted for
his splendid heroism. He is said to
have saved more people from death
by fire than any other man in Amer
lea. He has been mentioned honor
ably for feats of daring in eight gen
writ nv. =.
seldom lavish of praise-the present
chief of the fire department He
was the first winner OF the Lambert
Tree medal, which is given every
year as a reward for the most con-
spicuously courageous feat under
taken by a Chicago fireman. Except
for the rule that prevents man
from taking the medal twice he
might have had new decoration
every year, for a year has seldom
passed since the fund was created
that has not been marked by the per-
Torrance of some fine deed BY this
brave man. The writer saw him one
night during a fire 90 into blazing
frame house when the chances seem
ed almost 20 to l that he would be
burned or suffocated, A woman had
said her two babies were in the burn
ing building. Murphy CROPPED about
on the floor, crawling from room to
room until he found the bodies of the
children. He was very nearly killed
himself, but when half-dead he was
pulled through the window by two of
his men he held the bodies in his
arms. The daring of the man has
been so extraordinary that it has
given ground for jealousy in the de-
partment and firemen have been
heard TO complain when lives were
to be saved, Murphy gave no one else
chance, but always insisted on be-
ing first in the burning building
He is an American by birth, and he
went on the force in 1875. In 1876,
he was appointed lieutenant, and in
1880 captain. Chief Swenie pro-
NOTED him to an assistant marshall
ship in September, 1885, giving him
command of the Fifth battalion and
then to the Fourteenth. 1t was on
account of his energy and fearless
ness of danger-a valuable quality in
place built as the exposition is
built-that he was given charge of
the fair department when Chief
Swenie took it out of the hands of
Mr. Burnham. His career in Jack
son park has been brilliant, and I'M
til yesterday there had not been one
serious fire in the grounds. Marshal
Murphy has been hurt dangerously
twice, both accidents happening
while he was on his way to fire.