Evening star., 1930-06-14
DEATH ENDS CAREER
OF PETER R. DAVIS
Served Department 81 Years
and Was Decorated in
Knickerbocker Disaster.

For 81 years Acting Deputy Chief
Peter r. Davis, white-haired veteran OF
countless fires, has scaled fireladders to
smoke filled and flaming buildings,
courageous always in the face OF danger.
Yesterday one Of those ladders spit
in half as he climbed from the third
floor of the flre-wrecked Rudolph b
West Building, and sent him hurtling to
his death.
The veteran frefighter died at Emerg-
ency Hospital three hours after he was
picked up from the hose-filled pave
n1ent At his bedside were his wife,
Mrs. Ethel Davis, and his boon COM
panion, Fire Chief George Watson.
Outside in the corridors score Of his
fireflghters stood-ready at the slightest
call to give blood that might save their
chief. He died, however, before the
TRANSMISSION could be made.
Twice before the veteran had scaled
the ladder to the third floor Of the
building. It was on his third trip, just
as he had one foot on the ladder TO
descend, that the ladder, also bearing
three of his men, broke and threw them
all to the ground below. Scores Of his
men ran TO him, and carried him
tendefly away from the last fire in
which he would participate.
Member Of Department 81 Years.
Chief Davis. who was IS years old,
had been 2 member Of the Fire Depart-
He Was appointed to the force as
a private on April l., 1898, and was
given . lieutenancy in 1897. Two years
later he was appointed Q captain,
In 1918 Chief Davis was made Q
battalion chief and while In that ca
pacity was decorated for heroisn in
the Knickerbocker Theater disaster on
January "a, 1924. Chief Davis was
among the first to arrive at the
wrecked building and carried more
than o score Of the dying and injured
from the theater.
He was promoted TO acting deputy
chief on May 10, 1927.
The death Of the veteran IRE on
cial cut short q long cherished desire
TO be made o full-fledged deputy be-
fore his retirement. He has been
eligible for retirement for the past IL
years.
Gassed in Drise0II Fire.
In March Of 1929, the chief was
confined to bed for more than two
months after he was seriously gassed
in the Hotel Driscoll fire.
Fire Chief Watson expressed deep
regret at the passing Of one he termed
as "one Of his best and most reliable
firemen."
He was q real fireman." said Chief
Watson. II have never known him u
raise his voice In anger at a fire
he was always calm and collected In
face of the greatest danger. He waS
one Of my best friends"
Today flags in every section of thu
city ny at half-staff In honor of ths
courageous fireflghter. This order wal
issued by Chief Watson last night.
Ak eta Nva~
Ethel Davis, the widow, and a sister
Mrs. Ella Talant Of Westmorelant
County, Va, are Chief Davis only sur
vivors.
Wife at Bedside at End.
Mrs. Davis hurried to Emergency
Hospital when notified by q reporter
from The Star that her husband had
bsen injured and waited anxiously
when 1t was found that Chief Davis
was more seriously injured than at first
thought. She bore UP bravely, how
ever, confident that the doctors anC
nurses would do all they could for hin
and there was nothing she could do but
wait. She was there when the enc
came.
A tribute TO Capt. Davis was paid thi'
morning on behalf of the ColuInbis
Heights Citizens Association through
J. Clinton Hiatt, former president. Capt
Davis was member Of the association
| many years.
Funeral services for Capt. Davis vii
be held at his home at 1880 o'clocl
Monday afternoon followed by church
! services at National Memorial Baptis
Church, Sixteenth street and Columbis
| road, at 2:30 o'clock. Pail bearers viii
be Deputy Chief Phillip w. Nicholson
Battalion Chief c. e. Schrou1, Capt. A
| S. Haight, Capt. II. A. Chapman, Pvt
SON. Interment will be in Cedar Hill
| Cemetery.