New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-12
WORK OF HEROES PRAISED
BATTALION CHIEF BINNs SUBMITS RE-
PORT ON WINDSOR FIRE.
NOW r1REMEy MADE THRILLING REscUEs AT
THE RISK OF THEIR OWN ILvEs-MEpAIs

HOW FTREMEN MADE THfulhhN" iN
THE RISK OF THEIR OWN I1vEs-MEDALs
To RE GIVEN TO MANY MEN
Ir,rs Commissioner Scannell yesterday morning
received the report and recommendation vi |n,'
John Binns of the Ninth Battalion, relative 10 'he
rescues made at the Windsor Hotel hre. Inc re-
mort IS one of the longest OF its kind In the history
Of the Department 1t contains nearly three thou-
Sand words The report covers all the brave deeds
performed ut the Windsor Hotel fire. Commissioner
ScanneIl has ordered that the names OF the heroes
be placed on the rcl Of merit. This is their only
reward so far as the Department Is concerned I'M
less the bill now at Albany authorizing the COM
missioner 10 promote hremen lot Conspicuous VI
cry becomes law.
The report mentions the rescue made by Fireman
NJ J. Heslan of Engine Company No. s. of Brook
lyn as one Of the most thrilling ever Accomplishment
The chief writes follows:
Fireman Second grade( Michael J. Heslan r,S o1
Engine Company No. s. Borough OF Brooklyh' VINO
was on leave OF absence. and spectator OF pass
the fre-escapes on the Forty seventies side Of
the hotel to the sixth floor, entered WINDOW anu
found a woman severely burned and removed her
TO the fire-escape where she died. He passed her
body to others. who removed II 10 the Nv n
HesIan's attention was then directed to woman oman
who was preparing TO lump from the roof OF the
building He at once proceeded 20 me H., H.
fre-escape railing and urged the woman 10 JUMP
into his arms This she did successfully anu h, hs
removed 10 the sidewalk. 1t was learned 'ha' 'he
woman Kate Flanagan
Another thrilling rescue mentioned ohcialiy was
as follows:
On the arrival of Hook and Ladder COMPANY or NO
q the extension ladder was raised 10 the for.H
sixth-st side of the hotel reaching DeIow inc sli
of the ffthstory window FIREMAN srs 70
the fifth and sixth story WINDOWS bW scaIne
ladders 10 the fifth floor and extension ladder 10
the street While McDermott was placing seams
ladder in nfth-hoor window IT was necessary 10
force the hook Of the ladder to the window me
glass severely cutting his right wrist ana slshuy
cutting the side OF his head
The Ford-Clark rescue, which was commented
upon by so many persons who saw it. is reported
as follows:
Pending the raising of the ladder Fireman C Gdrst
grade William Clarke OF ooS Sa anS agdnrs from
The TOP of thrty-fve- foot ladder to the MIN Id
a colored servant Grace Harrison. were frantic
and preparing to jump When me sca,ne ,amn,'
Mrs. Howard. who Is heavy persIIn ~, force
descend the same necesstatlng tIatke 10 doIo
from fumning TO the ground The work performed
by Fireman Clarke was attended by great personal
During the time Of the above rescue Fireman endnr
FIRST gradel Edward Ford. OF Hook ana LADDER o,,r
Company No 20. was attracted n the hre wnne
going TO dinner. on reaching the scene ne nounlen
thirty fyefoot ladder and chain OF sealing a.
the fifth floor. On reaching this moor ne crossed
Mrs. Mrs. sontbard Who was "ntanglcd in lferope
she having made an attempt 10 lower hersel hon TON
the window Fireman tord d ite r ,n1 rarke 70
assist him Clarke unwound the rope from the
body of the woman ana asss,en L0ru ap nd 10 ib
extension ladder, where she was removed 10 lhe
sidewalk in unconscious condition. In conse,
ouence Of the danger attending passing an excited
person across the front Of a building at SO great
height I consider the work Of Firemen Ford and
Clarke 10 be perious and attended with great per-
sonal risk
Chief Binns recommended that the following
named members OF the Department he placed upon
the roll Of merit for merorious conduct. attended
with personal risk for the rescue OF life at the
Windsor Hotel fire: Fireman Michael J. Heslan,
Engine Company No. s: Fireman Frank ]. Tissier
Hook and Ladder No 4; Fireman bartholomew
McDermott Hook and Ladder No q; Fireman
William Clarke. Hook and Ladder No. 7 two res
cues; Fireman Edward Ford. Hook and Ladder
No. 20: Fireman William J. Kennedy. Engine Com
pany No q: Assistant Foreman Patrick J. Bren-
nan. Hook and Ladder No e. Fireman Andrew F.
Fitzgerald Hook and Ladder No 4; Fireman Ed
ward r. Sweeney Hook and Ladder No. 4. and
Fireman Joseph Kratocheil Hook and Ladder No. 2.
Another extract from the report states:
On the arrival Of Truck No an extension ladder
was rsGG 10 he on moor on me me pax floor
and Fireman FIRST grade) Frank }. Tisser entered
ward Wells and his wife 10 Fireman first graded
Edward S sweeney who carried both to assistant
R Tak, ana by MN 'n'' were removed tho ''o'
The action of Tissier was particularly perirous as
the fire had already ignted the furniture Of the
room forcing him 10 retreat to the ladder. The
action Of Sweeney and Brennan also attended
by personal risk as fire was issuing from windows
beneath.
The men who made rescues at the fire with per-
sonal risk will all receive medals. Those who
made rescues without personal risk but performed
feats Of bravery honoraby mentioned. and are
follows:
Fireman George VI. Rives Engine Company No.
2: Frederick W: Deissroth. Truck No. a; William
J.. McManus. Engine No 90 Howard G. Ruch.
Engine No. 65; Herman w. Oppe Engine No 6j;
Edward Keegan, Engine No. So; otto Finck Truck
No. 4: Bernard COnlan. Engine No. q David Nc
Coy. Truck No. 4; Lawrence Mcclure. Engine No.
2; William Ryan. Engine no. Z; Assistant Foreman
John p. Howe. Engine No a. and Assistant Fore
man Michael A. Burnes. Truck No. 81