New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-03
FIRE TRUCK KILLS A BOY
Was Playing on Running Board
When 1t Started After Stop.
TOO SMALL TO KNOW PERIL
Driver, Failing to Hear Warn
ing Shouts, Makes Three At
tempts at Rescue Futile.

Frank Hamilton, tiny bit of boy.
only four years old. was crushed to death
nv q hook and ladder truck early last
evening within a short distance OF MS
home at No. pa East 122d street, and
Anna Ceherty.-a neighbours child, eight
wears old who was looking after the boy
was hurt while trying to save him. Ihe
steersman of Truck 81 which was on It's
wav from the Fire Department fuel depot
70 the repair shop, was also injured IN
futile effort to save the child, and Isidore
Kobn. clerk. of No. 242 East I'D
street. had two fingers crushed while
making a like effort
The driver of the truck, a fireman
named Harry Boswick. of Long lslahd
CITY. was arrested on technical charge
of homicide. and locked up in the East
126th street station.
The truck had been stored in the fuel
denot awaiting repairs, and last even
ing Roswick and Robert Eller, another
fireman. were detailed to take 1t to the
repair shop. Several of those living near
nv according to the police, said that
Rosvick and Eller, after driving clear OF.
the fuel depot. stopped the truck near
the corner of 122d street and Third ave
me. and went away for short time
During their absence, it was added, d
number of children climbed to the run
ming board of the apparatus. Among
then, vas, Frank Hamilton
When the two firemen mounted 10
their seats the children. with the eXcep-
ton of little Frank, jumped from the
running board. Anna Geherty crfd out
to him to Jump off. and ran toward him
inst as the truck was started. The boy
vas confused by the cries of the children.
He was clingfng to the side of the truck
facing the horses, and did not make up
his mind to jump off until he was oil
rectlv opposite a lamppost
AS he half fell, half jumped. his back
struck the lamppost, and this preclpl-
tated him forward, so that he fell direct
" in front of the right wheel of the rear
tr,,ck If the apparatus and perhaps four
feet ahead of it.
Roswick, oblvious of what had hap
pened. and failing to hear Eilers shoutS'
drove on Even while shouting to Bos-
wick to stop, ElIer leaped from the truck
and made a desperate effort to save the
bov. Anna Geherty was running toward
The lad. too. but as she came abreast OF
the Iamppost the ladders on the truck
raked the post, bending 1t and sending
+ba shattered glass of the lamp frame
blood flowed
pashes on her face, almost binding her.
and she fell TO the walk Inc Wheei
M ssed over Frank HamiltOn's chest and
neck and he died almost at once
Ieidore Kohn, the clerk who had also
seen the boy fall. had darted under the
truck from the north side. hoping 10
roach the child and drag him out of the
nav of the wheel He as we'll as Eller
foiIed in the rescue by only a few inches
mr. seconds. Kohn was reaching for the
ho,,- when the. heavy wheel struck him.
ca near was Kohn to saving the nttle
fellow that his OWE right hand was
caught under the wheel. and his fingers
we're crushed.
Even when the boy had BEEN crushed,
the truck continued to move onward
Ros,yIck must have thought the cries of
the children were just the usual ones at
sight of a fire engine. 1t was not until
the truck had been pulled forty or nifty
feet ahead of where the child was killed
that the wells and shouts of men caused
Roswick 10 pull up
backward glance showed him Eller,
who had himself been thrown heavily
sohbing over the body OF the dead boy
and a crowd of excited citizens gather
ing. The children living near by saw
the dead boys mother approaching. A
boy ran to her and blurted out the news
and Mrs Hamilton fell to the sidewalk
/ In ii faint.