Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-06
mont Temple Association own the

mont Temple Association own the
structure.
The cause of the fire is a mystery
Mr.. Bent, the occupant Of the building,
states that he had telephone placed in
his office a few days ago, and that the
wire entered the building on the fourth
floor just where the fire started, He
thinks it became crossed on the outside
with some live wire and the fire started
| as a result.
Captain Victory leaves a wife and 3
children; Hoseman Patrick H. Disken,
a wife and children, and Lieut.. George
j. Gottwald, wife and children; Dis
trict Chief John F. Egan leaves a son
and daughter; William j. Walsh was 2S
years of age, and lived with his mother;
John ]. Mulhern was single man, %
years of age, and has a brother in the
fire department.
James H. Roberts, of the Roberts Iron
Company, who occupied the building
that was burned today from 1872 up to
four years ago, states that the structure
was damaged by fire in 1861. The Orders
on all floors and the crossbeams sup
porting the roof were badly damaged,
some almost burned through. Instead
of substituting substantial supports,
said Mr.. Roberts, the charred ties and
beams were allowed to remain and were
covered with matched boards. l got out
heavy machinery in the floors above was
likely to come down upon me at any
moment"
George w. Griffin, an inspector in the
city building department, said Some
time ago we compelled the trustees of
the property to make certain repairs.
We made them strengthen the buildings
The walls and floors were made secure,
so that we considered the building safe
for use"
Deacon George w. Chapman of the
fremont Temple Church, trustee of the
burned property, said today that a new
mercantile building would be construct
ed Immediately upon the site of the one
burned this morning. The building, or
part of it, was used for church purposes
for the society from 1S45 to 1864. In the
latter year the Union Baptist Church
united with the fremont Church, and
| the two societies erected the original
fremont Temple. The income from the
property since it was used for mercan-
| tile purposes has been used for local
! missionary work.
CHIEF EGAN'S RECORD.
| Chief John F. Egan of Ladder Com
pany /, was one Of the leading f1remen
in Boston's department He took an
active interest in fire service, and was
/
ly being on the move, and seeking out
some new point of vantage. He was an
excellent climber, and it was a COM
mon saying that where John Egan
/ couldn't go no man in Boston could.
John F. Egan was born in Boston,
April u, 1S49, and was educated in the
! public schools of this city. Upon leav-
! ing school, he learned the trade of
roofer which he followed for II years.
He entered the fire department Feb. 8,
1876, and was assigned to Ladder /, with
which company he remained for nearly
! IA years.
April q, 1882, he was promoted to the
rank of lieutenant of Ladder l. and on
July 10, 1888 a little less than Is months
later he was made captain of the same
company.
In 1889 vacancy occurred in the
ranks of the district chiefs, and looking
around for man well qualified for that
position, the commi Ssioners decided that
Capt. Egan was just the man for the
place. Accordingly, on June 1 of that
year, Capt Egan received q parchment
which informed him of his promotion in
rank, and he was assigned to district l.
which takes in the whole of East
Boston.
So capable did he show himself to be
in the handling Of fires in that district
that when, in 1894, 1t was found neces-
sary to make some changes in the dis
tricting of the city, the commissioners
decided to transfer him from East Bos-
| ton to one of the districts in the city
proper and on June Is he was assigned
to district 8, with headquarters in the
| house of ladder 8, in Fort Hill square.
| In his 20 years service in the depart
ment, Chief Egan has made a record
for daring and bravery which any man
might be proud to own. He has had
many narrow escapes from a terrible
death, the latest occurring at the Ma
sonic Temple fire. where he fell through
the roof, breaking a leg, and was con-
! fined to the Massachusetts General Hos
| pital for some time.
At o'clock the firemen who were
working in an endeavor to unearth the
imprisoned fire fighters, heard Chief
Egan say: 1--WE are all here together.
For Gods sake, hurry up and get this
stuff off usp'
This was the last the rescuing fire1nen
heard until he and the others We're
| found.
The injured firemen are all doing well,
and VIII be able to resume their duties
in a short time. The funeral of District
Chief Egan will be held Tuesday, but
the arrangements for the funerals of
the other victims have not yet been
completed.
| ,x-.