Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-22
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Fire Chief Dave Garratt Dies from
~ Exertions at Fire.
ovEREoRKED AT SWIFT PLANT
Had Recently Recovered from Illness
which was brought ON Afresh
ID. }. CnmpBen Pnsses
Away.

David Barrett, chief Of the fire depart
ment OF South Omaha. died at l1i5 yester-
day morning as the result Of his exertions
at the fire Sunday morning az Swift g. Co.'S
packing plant The doctors In charge OF
the case say that death vas caused by a
clot OF blood on the brain.
Responding quickly to the first call Of
fire at Ais Sunday mornins Chief Barrett
worked until. the fire was extinguished.
The chief had recently recovered from a
serious illness. coused by dlsordered kid
neys, and It is thought this may have left
him in weakened condition.
David Garratt was born at Lyons.
Wayne county n y. fifty years ago and
when s5 years old, came to South Omaha.
when he became a lineman under the
Johnson administration and he had seen
sixteen years continuous service.
Under the administration OF A. II. Kelly,
mayor. he was promoted to the position Of
captain OF fire company No. l. He held
that position for four years. April %, 1903,
he was made chief of the city departments
under the first Board OF Fire and Police
commissioners. lie had served seven years
! in that capacity when his service was cut
short by death. The fact that ne prac-
tically died at his post serving the city
actively against the big fire Sunday has
created a great deal OF sympathetic COM
ment among his friends
ne at The fire Sunday morning he
trpped over a hose and fell prostrate. and
It is now believed that this shock ruptured
blood vessel Of the brain. The effect
was not Immediate for he rose at once
thinking himself unhurt and continued
until the fire was out lie returned to the
fire hall and answered an alarm at 1890
He returned from that fire apparently well
shortly before noon. however, he was
seized by a violent convulsion and lapsed
into Inconsistencies. He was taken. home
The several physicians called thought al
first that the trouble might be relapse
Of his recent Illness, but during the nigh
the unmistakable symptoms Of a ruptured
blood vessel IN the brain showed that hi.
death probably was due to the fall he had
In the morning while on duty. During the
night DR.. r. l.. Wheeler and Chief John
Briggs of the police department and sew.
eral Of tho close friends OF the family
were in attendance. These were with him
to the end. >
Chief Gapratt was married in South
Omaha in 1896 to Miss Ella Anderson, who
Is left to survive him. There are no chil
dren. The relatives live in the east
The funeral services win be held at tn,
residence, 2S10 G street, Thursday at
p m. He was a member of the Maccabeei
and one or two other orders, which viii
probably be represented in the last services
OF honor.
BiE Meeting of Poles.
A big meeting OF Polish and lithuanian
residents was held yesterday afternoon a
New Settlers han at Thirty-sixth and [
streets. This was the largest meeting Of
the campaign, and among the audienc,
we're many old-time democrats. who showed
that theyafSafa Note differehtly't this spring
The candidates were all present and made
lhort talks on their individual platforms
which seemed to please The princpa
Ipeaker OF the afternoon was II. c. Muir
lhy. who outlined the policy OF the part,