The New York herald., 1922-01-20
EXFIRE FIGHTER DIES
NOT FIGHTING DEATH
Francis +. Pouch, Veteran of
Old Days, Absent From
=.
Volunteer Reunion.
GAVE MUCH TO CHARITIES
Lived and Died in Shadow of
Borough Hall Which He
Helped to Build.

Francis e. Pouch. who more than half
q century ago tugged with other stout
lads at the ropes of Pacific Engine IA,
died yesterday morning at his home at
sos Adams street. Brooklyn. He passed
away in his seventy-ninth year just
nine hours before what he had looked
forward to as the most important re-
union in years of the Brooklyn volun-
tecr Firemen's Association at Borough
Hall. short way from his house.
Death was a familiar of the old fire
fighter, for until his retirement some
years ago he was am undertaken and
had laid to rest many CT the men who
had worked with him on the pumps at
fierce blazes of the COS. SO unafraid Of
the thought OF death was he that he
had written his own obituary notice.
had outlined plans for his funeral and
had selected his own casket.
Up to three weeks age, when his stout
constitution began to give way. Francis
Pouch could usually be seen at room
on the grond floor of Borough Hail.
There, amid silver trumpets, battered
helmets, queer old pictures of red shirted
firemen in vigorous action, framed pho
toEraphs and documents. and big
model of Putnam 81, which squirted
sixty feet further than steam fire.
engine. to the everlasting glory of her
crew-amidst all these things he prob
ably would have been found talking to
ether old veterans.
Shop Gloomy and Quaint.
II he was not there he was either
out on one of his numerous errands OF
generosity or else could be found at 305
Adams street. This address is more
than usually gloomy undertakers shop.
AS you enter, the door in some un-
known fashion transmits a message to
little house back of the shop and
separated from 1t by several PAGES. The
back door Of the undertaker's shop
would lead you to Pouch in his home.
home he had occupied for seventy-five
years. The shop, despite its Dickens
esque atmosphere, Is somewhat more
recent for once the Pouch vegetable
garden was located on It's site.
At the house yesterday a nephew OF
the old fire fighter said that nothing
would be given out about him until
copies had been made Of his own obitu-
AIRY. When that would be was vague.
Nothing was to be said until then.
1t was not hard to learn from John
b. Byrne, chief Of the Appellate Divi-
sion OF the Supreme Court and presi-
dent of the volunteer firemen; from
Thomas A. Wildwood, an old companion
of Pacific IA. and from others. Of
Pouch's life. He was born in Washing
ton street. block from Adams. AS n
boy, Mr.. Byrne said. Pouch had worked
as a carpenter on Borough Hall. then
known as City Hall. and still thus
known to the veterans despite CONSOLE
dation. His father and brother were
carpenters. The contractor who en-
ployed young Pouch was Samuel Booth,
later Mayor of Brooklyn.
Fought Famous BIaxes.
In the course of his fire fighting Pouch
took part in the struggles to save the
Empire Stores, the pride Of BroolSlyns &
waterfront; the Erie basin floating ele-
vators and many other confagratiors.
Mr. Byrne displayed yesterday with
great pride silver trumpet Mr.. Poucl,
had given him which bore the date 1876
and words of presentation to Franl:
Spinola, later a General and a Senator,
from the men Of Eagle A." Among the
men of Pouchs own company were Fred
erick Massey. later Fire Commissioner,
and Harry Polhemus, after whom Pol
hemus place was named
In the course OF his work as an un-
dertaker, Mr. Pouch prospered. and de-
voted much of his money to charitable
work He was active among the Odd
Fellows and Free Masons. as we'll as
being a trustee OF the Firemen's Asso-
citation and treasurer of the benevolent
and for widows and orphans. He was
leading and one of the Oldest men,
bcrs of the Moravian Church. in Jay
street. near Myrtle avenue, and donated
the organ and many other objects OF
interior fitting.
Mr.. Pouch was a bachelor. He leaves
several nephews and nieces, one OF the
former carrying on the undertaking
huqinpsa