Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-22

ns nsNt tning knew was under ,,no
-, ~ piIchs s out, fortunately, door frame
~ - part OF the force of the falling wall
OH me l was dazed. 1 ruess for "a
noL L Know Till 10 minutes later that v,as
nuIt. .,. During that time was anoons,
% sSs mat found poor James. Ali vs.
Inc ., sc OF MN was single hand stick
wreckage" N'iVhs anu
TRAPPED ON THE ROOF
we were working on the roof of n
~ 49, 1uliding trying to lift a line
UI W nose and play a stream on an adioir.
ing three-story building when the crasb
came, said Robert l.. Hill. "rhere bad
~, geeh no warning and we were framed ON
,he roof l don't know how MANY nen
mere were There had been NO signs 80
.ne walls bulging when we turned the
WAFER on 1t. I don't remember anvthIng
street" iieA W the
Hin is in the st. Lukes Hospitai
bruised from head to feet.
husseil Stackhouse. Of 4617 Edgemont
street. trankford, was with Hill He
floor. w VIC ~
1 was helping the other men with n
line of hose when there was a. shout, he
said. The air was filled with fiying
bricks and part of the roof sank be-
meath my feet. l went with the wreck
age through the building to the first floor.
thought that we would never reach the
ground I was pinned under timber and
could not move.
"Soon l heard Captain Murphy and his
N en- scrambling through the ruins and
shouting. l was mighty glad to hear
them and l shouted back as hard as I
could. It was not long before they dug
me out"
Stackhouse has many bruises and a
badly strained back. He also Is in st.
LulSe's Hospital.
JAMES PLANNED TO RETIRE.
William F. James was appointed bat
TALON chief September l, 1918, after hav-
ing served in the fire department since
August p, 1892. A Philadelphlan by BIRTH
he received rapid promotion. He was
promoted to an assistant foremanship,
which corresponded to what Is now a
lieutenancy, April II, 1894 On February
9, 1897, he was appointed foreman, or cap
tain.
James was one of the most popular
men in the service and was known as
an "a No. 1 fighter" one of the highest
praises a fireman can give fellow fire.
man. He planned to retire September 1,
this year, two years from the date he
received his last promotion. James, who
was unmarried, was born October IA, 1851
He lived at 2I65 Amber street.
A Smoke eater" was the title which
John Hillman. Jr., earned from his fell
lows for his daring during the two years
he was in the service. He was appointed
ladderman November %, 1913, and was de-
tailed to Truck No z, at 4th street and
Girard avenue, which housed also Engine
Company No. 20, to which his father,
John Hillman, was attached as fireman
1t was his fathers fate to go to the same
fire and to witness the disaster which
cost the life of his son.
Hillman, Jr., is survived by his wife
with whom he lived at 114O North orlan-
ma street
The Potter plant is one of the largest
manufacturing establishments in the
northeastern section of the city. 1t was
founded by Thomas Potter after he had
left the employ of the Bush Hill Oilcloth
Works. In 1888 he started in business on
his own account, shortly after purchasing
the Bush Hill factory.
His enterprise soon made the firm
known throughout the country. In 1870
the company moved the plant to I'd street
and Erie avenue. The founder of this
plant was instrumental in the organiza-
tion of the paid fire department.