Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13

sational incidents in which Chief Belt
himself has compelled the admiration of
thousands by his heroism and courage.
First among these was Chief Belts res
cue of two little children from a smolder
ing three-story frame building on 9th
street northwest March %, 1889. The lit
lie ones were the children of Mr.. and
Mrs. Duffey. While the parents of the
little ones were at the theater a gas eX-
plosiOn occurred on the first floor of the
structure. In a tWinkling the entire
building was enveloped in flames. When
Chief Belt his aid, p W. Nicholson. and
the truck company reached the scene
they We're told that the children We're
being cremated in the uppa& stories. Chief
Belt took the lead and ran up ladder
to the room III which the little girls We're
imprisoned. With wet sponges in his
mouth and his fireproof coat buckled
around him he entered what seemed to
be death trap Nicholson stood by him
in the search. They CROPPED their way
about the rooms with the cinders falling
from the burning roof and almost suffo-
Gated by smoke. Chief Belt crawIed
about on the floors and soon he found the
lifeless body of girl under bed. where
she had fled through fright. The other
girls, aged six and seven, respectively.
We're lying unconscious in another corner
of the bedroom. The chief carried them
in his arms to the windows and with the
aid of Nicholson got them, away Inc
chief at this time was terribly burned
about the hands and face. That two of
the little girls are living today is due to
the heroism of Chief Belt, although the
latter says that in this, as IN all other
cases of its kind. he only did his duty
and what any other fireman should do
under the circumstances.
Chief Belts Record.
In his long and faithful career in every
capacity from private to chief he mas
made many similar daring rescues, but
the big-hearted and fearless fire tighter
only explains that it was a matter OF
duty. Chief Belt was born October Ii,
1876 in this city. In January 1863 when
sixteen years old. he joined the Volun-
teer fire department. Every promotion
since then has resulted from faithful
service.
Capt Wright of No. II engine COM
pany won the praise of Benjamin Harri-
son in saving the life of benjamin r.
Tracey, Secretary of the Treasury. 1t
was the terrible catastrophe In which
Secretary Tracey's family was mc1ner-
ated The Secretary lived in house on
| street northwest. The morning Of Feb
ruary >. 1870. an iceman discovered the
Tracey home in flames and its occupants
were asleep. Early in the night blaze
started in the parlor and. Smolderlng
slowly, gained Roadway in the interior OF
the structure, until the whole of the
building was mass of flame. Miss
Tracey burned to death in attempting to
escape down the stairway. Mrs. Tracey.
burned and suffocated, fell through an
areaway to death maid was also
burned alive Secretary TRACEY was
alone in the top floor of the mansion
when Capt Wright and his company
reached the scene At the peril OF his life
Wright scaled ladder and from the
/ bird story brought out the half-consclouS
form of the Secretary. who was later re-
moved TO the White House. Chief Belt
was present at the fire directing the
movements of his men, and commended
the act of Wright as heroic Chief Belt
and the men of the department were
highly praised for efficiency In letter
from President Harrison.
The man who holds sthe record OF dar
ing rescues at the risk of his own life is
Capt. Patrick J. Sullivan. in command of
No : truck in Georgetown. He is always
modest retiring and reticent about the
sensational incidents in which he has fig
ured. For bravery he has received sew
eral medals and prizes. and on many oc-
casions has been commended for gallantry
and heroism by his chief and by the Com
missioners.
A Real, Up-to-Date Hero.
Bravery such as was displayed by Capt.
Sullivan December IL, 1904. when. at the
peril of his own life, he brought the al
most lfeless body of Mrs. Annie Cook
from the fourth floor of Il furniture build
ing at eth and d streets northwest is
rarely equaled in the annals of fire fight
ing and rescues. Mrs. Cook says today
she owes her life to the bravery of this
fearless IriShman.
Sullivan, at that time, was lieutenant of