The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-05-29
JOHN T. BLACK ANSWERED
SOUNDS OF FINAL ALARM
Father of Ike Black of This City Died at Duluth Yeser
day. Was Chief Duluth Fire Department, and
Prominent Mason.

her of his condition, and, with her
husband, she boarded the next train
for Duluth, arriving here at Ills
O'Clock this morning,twenty minutes
after her brothers death. A tele-
gram was also sent to his brother,
Abe Black of Buffalo, and the latter
is now on his way to Duluth. He
will arrive in time for the funeral.
All other immediate relatives of
the deceased were present at his
bedside at the time of death. They
were: Mrs. James G. Vivian, Mrs.
w. A. Albeit, Mrs. T. B. Bradley
and Miss Sadie Black, all daughters,
who reside in Duluth; Mrs. Black,
Isaac Black, a son, residing in Be-
midi, Mimi, and the second son,
John T. Black, Jr., q resident of
Duluth. All the children are grown.
The chiefs mother died last year
and his father died two years ago.
Chief Black had been a fireman
for the past thirty-three years. He
was born in Montreal fifty-nine years
ago, and shortly after he was of age
his parents moved to Milwaukee,
Wis. Mr.. Black began his career
as fireman at the age of rs years.
Beginning as common fireman, faith
full and intelligent work soon won
him promotion, and when he quit
the Milwaukee department he held
the position of assistant chief. He
went from Milwaukee to St. Paul as
assistant chief in the latter depart
ment, at an increased salary, and
his record in the SANITY City was a
brilliant one. From assistant he
was promoted to the position of
chief.
He left the St. Paul department
to come to Duluth as chief, and
took up the duties of the latter
office on Oct. IS, 1894. He has
filled the position ever since then,
and his record here has been an
excellent one. Mr.. Black was fire.
quently mentioned in journals deal
ing with fire departments, always in
the most complimentary terms, and
was generally regarded as one of the
most efficient and capable chiefs in
the United States.
He knew fire fighting from A to Z.
A natural leader, he kept the local
fire department thoroughly sys-
tematized, with results seldom
equalled in other cities of the
country. He was strict as to dis
cipline, believing that was the only
method of getting out the best there
was in his men, but he was gen.
orally liked and respected by the
men under him. He never asked
them to enter a dangerous place
which he himself would not enter,
and was always brave and courage.
Gus in fighting fire, but at the same
time cool and constantly on the
alert to protect his men and at the
same time put up the most effective
fight possible against the flames.
Mayor Haven, Immediately upon
the news of Chief Blacks death,
ordered the flags on the fire halls OF
the city and on the city hall, placed
at half-mast. The flag at hall No.
was purchased only a few days ago.
At the time it was bought, Chief
Black advised the purchasers to get
good strong one, that will not
fray out in the breeze" It is rather
curious fact that the first time the
, flag is raised it should be to place
| it at half-mast, marking the death OF
: the chief who gave this advice con.
: corning its purchase.
Besides his other lodge con.
, nections, Chief Black belonged tc
: the Red Cross of Constantine.
In his long fre-fghting experience
; the chief had several narrow escapes
5 from death. One story is told oil
? such an escape in St. Paul. There
> was big fire in an office building,
r and the chief. as usual was in the
thick of the smoke, directing the
, fight being waged against the flames
while on the third floor, plung.
ing about through the smoke and
+ directing operations, he suddenly
: stepped into the elevator shaft, the
: guard of which had burned away