The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28
FIREMEN TO GET
MEDALS TUESDAY
Patrick R. O'Connor, Now in
France, Leads List
With Two.
HYLAN TO HONOR HEROES
Daring Rescucs in 1917 to Be
COmmemorated at Annual
Ceremony.

Firemen VINO In 1917 performed brave
deeds in the course Of their duty and
have displayed initiative and efficiency
In improving the work of the Fire De-
partment will be presented with medals
by Mayor Hylan at the City Hall at noon
Tuesday. These medals are the coveted
reward OF the city and individuals and
are given every year.
Three of these are now in the military
service Of their country, where they are
making as good soldiers as they did
fremen. and 1t is not a coincidence that
one of them heads the entire list of
awards. He is Fireman Patrick II.
OConnor. who before he went to France
was member of Hook and Ladder IA
and who has been awarded both the
James Gordon Bennett medal and the
department medal.
Saved Fat Mans Life.
OConnor saved the life OF Michael
Mahoney at a fire at 23 East 12Sth street
February 30. 1917. Mahoney, man
weighing more than 200 pounds, was
flames and smoke rolling up around Kim
and pouring over the edge of the roof.
O'Connor crawled through the smoke to
the edge of the roof and while comrades
held his legs let himself head down until
he could grasp Mahoney's wrists. The
coping cracked and bent under him. but
the fireman held and was pulled back
to safety with Mahoney
The Hugh Bonner medal and the de-
partment medal were awarded to Fire
man George p. Fowler of Hook and
Ladder 40. who gained distinction in
this his first year on the force. He
saved the life of Mrs. Filomeno at 3O7
West 127th street April IS, 1917, by
holding to a rung of the aerial ladder
and catching the woman as she jumped
from window, where she had been
standing. The board of merit, of which
Deputy Commissioner Charles w. Culkin
is chairman. said OF this:
r An unusual summons to exercise the
highest order of courage came to the
fireman on this occasion, and his nerve,
strength and efficiency were put TO the
hardest test in this perilous position in
order to effect this successful rescue.
Had II not been for his good work the
woman undoubtedly would have lost her
life"
The Trevor-Warren medal and the de-
partmcnt medal were awarded to Fire
man George J. Nelson Of Hook and Lad
der IA for aiding Patrick r O'Connor
in the Mahoney rescue. After O'Connor
got hold of the man and was not able
OF his own weight to pull him up Nelson
also let himself over the edge OF the
roof and between them Mahoney was
saved.
Chief of Battalion Richard J. Mar
shall was awarded the Strong medal
Tor supervising the Rescue of firemen al
fire at So John street, Brooklyn.
| october 10, 1917. Three firemen were
missing in the gas and smoke filled
| building and Marshall led his men in
| and found three unconscious. They were
taken out and Marshall again went back
into the building to find the officer of
the company. but the smoke and gas
drove him out
Fireman Harry +. Gray of Hook and
Ladder 10 was awarded the Wertheim
| medal for the rescue of Capt Denis
Mcnamara of Engine IS, at a fire in
2l0 East Twenty-third street, Septem-
Der /. 1917. Capt. Mcnamara and two
of his men were cut of In the rear by
an explosion. They reached a window
where Mcnamara, severely burned, hung
over the sill
Capt. Klein HonOred.
Gray faised a twenty-five foot ladder
to his shoulder without assistance and
| held 1t until Mcnamara could brace his
| foot against it and slip down to a shat
| tered window in the third floor, where
| there were no flames.
The Brooklyn Citi-en's medal is
| awarded to Capt George J. Klein OF
Hook and Ladder 1O5 for rescuing fire.
| men overcome by smoke and gas in So
| John street, Brooklyn.
! Klein led his men into the fifth floor
| found Fireman Willie L. Scaplehorn OF
Engine PSI unconscious and carried him
| out He again went in and carried
| Lieut.. John A. Smith of Engine 251 to
| safety. Both men would have died bu,
| for his work.
Fireman I1hn 3. DENIM of Hook and
| Ladder 1865 also gained honor at this
| fire and was awarded the Hurley medal
He was with Klein in the rescue OF
| Smith and Scaplehorn and stuck to his
| work, although severely punished by
heat and smoke. The Crimmins medal
was won by Fireman Frederick r. Bros
nan Of Hook and Ladder los for also
aiding in these rescues. This was one
| OF the worst fires OF the year for the
| men engaged.
| The award for the most highly efficien
| and best disciplined company in tht
| department. the Stephenson medal, |:
won by Capt. Timothy w. Crowley OF
| Engine 81, triple company on on,
| OF the busiest streets OF the lower city
| Capt. Crowley has the reputation o.
never allowing a fireman to precede hin
| into a building. and has a unique recon-
| Of devotion to duty.
Several years ago at fire at Mul
| berry and Canal streets where highly
explosive chemicals were housed. the
| floor being charged with chlorine gas
the same dealy gas used by the Ger
mans. Crowley refused to let his mel
enter and went in alone. He removed
the burning chemicals, but it nearl,
| cost him his life and permanently i'm
| paired his health and eyesight.
| Life Net Wins Medal.
The Administration medal has beer
awarded to Thomas F. Dougherty, dep
uty chief, who submitted to the Com
missioner the best suggestion for the i'm
! provement of the Department. Chic
| Dougherty's idea is that of specia
| life net to be carried on hose wagons
| and used when the larger and ordnar!
| life net Is not at hand. II is sor
| of breaches buoy Men go to the top
| Of buildings on each side OF the BURNING
building and lower ropes to which tn,
| life net Is attached. 1t Is then raise,
| to the level of the window at which tn,
person to be rescued Is standing. 1t ha
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