THE GREAT CHICAGO CONFLAGRATION
Roster of the Department at the time of the Big Fire.
As years roll on, the great fire of October 8 and 9, 1871, which laid waste such an extensive portion of Chicago, destroyed such a vast amount of property, and was the direct cause of the loss of so many lives, is becoming more and more of a mere memory, and in these go-ahead days of making history will soon become a mere tradition. In order, therefore, that the remembrance of those men who so bravely fought the flames on those two eventful days may not be forgotten there is published today in these columns a complete roster of the Chicago fire department on October 8 and 9, the correctness of which can be vouched for by the survivors. How difficult was the task of obtaining ibis list may be inferred from the fact that the payroll of the city’s lire and police force for October, 1871, was unattainable, and cannot be found, nor can any authentic roster of the lire force be met with in any library extant, or in any of the many so-called histories of the greatest conflagration of modern times.
The surviving firemen of October 8 and 9, 1871, held their first reunion on October 8, 1904. Thirty-live were present. The old hoys met in the pavilion of Biggio Brothers, No. 6 Canal street, which occupies the site of the first firemen’s rendezvous following the great fire. Lawrence Biggio, the elder, now dead, who came to Chicago in 184(1, was one of the best friends any fireman or fire reporter ever had, and his sons are chips of the old block In the evening of his busy life be conducted a remunerative resort, just west of the Western hotel, on Randolph street an historical landmark, which, escaping the great fire, had a blaze of its own, and was razed to the ground in 1887. Former Fire Chiefs Benner and Musham were elected at the first reunion in 1904 president and vicepresident of the Fire Veterans of 1871 ;
D. D. Mealy, treasurer; and W. II. Townsend and L. J. Walsh, financial and recording secretaries. James H. Hildreth, who belonged to the Taylor battery in the Civil war, and was alderman of the old Seventh ward when he dynamited the buildings in 1871. was made an honorary member of the association So was Michael Loftus Ahern, who reported the great lire for the Chicago Republican, which, soon after the conflagration, was merged into the present Inter Ocean. The second reunion was held on October 8. 1905. and only thirty-one members answered rollcali. First Assistant Marshal Townsend, former Battalion Chief Joel A. Kinney and Captain Paul Hitt having died within the preceding year. Professor Barrett, chief operator in the lire alarm office in 1871, and afterwards city electrician, was elected treasurer, in place of 1). I). Mealy, who resigned and was unanimously chosen Historian of the Fire Veteranof 1871, 1 be letter “D” after names in the following roster signifies “Dead.” Those veterans who are alive are numbered.
THE ROSTERR.
Fire Marshal Robt. A. Williams, D.
First Assistant Chief John Schank. D.
Second Assistant Chief lorns Walters, I.
Third Assistant Chief Matt. Benner, 2.
Master Mechanic Wm. Horner. D.
Clerk Hiram Arnick, D.
Fire Warden S. Division, Benj. F. McCarthy, D.
Fire Warden N. Division, John McCauley, D.
Fire Warden W Division, Chas. H. Chapin, D.
Chief’s Driver John Desmond. D.
First Asst. Chf’s Driver Ambrose N. Wilson, D.
Second Asst. Chf’s Driver Geo. W. Weller, 3.
Third Asst. Chf’s Driver David M. Hyland, 4.
Supply Wag Driver Albin C. King. D.
Bell-Ringer, City Hall Matthias Schaefer. 5.
Hose-Cleaner John Toner, D.
Supt. Fire Al. Tel. F. B. Chandler, D.
First Asst John P. Barrett, 6.
Operator Geo. E. Fuller, D.
Operator John F. Stevens, 7,
Repairer John Kennedy, D.
Repairer Wru. J. Brown. D.
Repairer Fred W. Gundl, 8.
STEAMER LONG JOHN. NO. I.
Foreman Alexander McMonagle, D.
Engineer Timothy Moyuihan, 9.
Stoker Joseph L. Gilbert. D.
Pipeman Frank Butterfield. D.
Pipeman Geo. W. Wagner, D.
Pipeman Andrew Coffey, D.
Pipeman Wm. C. Flannery, D.
Driver Michael Kennedy, D.
Driver Wm. E. Hand, 10.
Watchman Wm. Hendricks, D.
STEAMER WABANSIA? NO. 2.
Foreman Michael Sullivan, D.
Engineer Fred Allen, 11.
Stoker Wm. Olwell, D.
Pipeman Michael Giemer, D.
Pipeman Peter Phalen, 12.
Pipeman Theo. l.agger, D.
Driver Isaac M. Adler, 13.
Driver Wm. Otto, D.
Watchman Patrick Kearns, D.
STEAMER WM. JAMES? NO. 3.
Foreman John McLean, D.
Engineer Chas. S. Petrie, D.
Stoker John Michael, D.
Pipeman Henry Anderson, D.
Pipeman Rollin G. Harmon, D.
Pipeman Patrick Dignan, 14.
Pipeman Caspar A. Charleston, 15.
Driver James McNamara, 16.
Driver Patrick Garrity, D.
STEAMER JACOB REHN, NO. 4.
Foreman Gottfried Carlson.
Engineer John Doyle, D.
Stoker Chas. Osborn, D.
Pipeman Lewis Lawson, D.
Pipeman Lorenz. Schmidt, 17.
Pipeman Geo. L. Taylor, 18.
Driver Adam Breit, 19.
Driver Fred Vargcs, D.
Watchman John Agnew, 20.
STEAMER CHICAGO. NO. 5.
Foreman Christian Schimmels, 21.
Cngineer Henry V. Coleman, D.
Stoker Chas. Schoeder, 22.
Pipeman Michael Conway. D.
Pipeman David Kenyon. D.
Pipeman Henry Welch, D.
Driver James McClelland, D.
Driver Chas. Finery, D.
Watchman Ira Maix, D.
STEAMER LITTLE GIANT, NO. 6.
Foreman Wm. Musham, 24 Engineer Wm. S. Dunham, D.
Stoker Joseph l.agger, D.
Pipeman John Campion, 25.
Pipeman Michael Dolan, D.
Pipeman Frank R. Howard, D.
Driver John Windheim, 26.
Driver Calvin Cole, D.
Watchman Joseph Lauf, D.
STEAMER LIBERTY. NO. 7.
(The above steamer was destroyed in fire department repair shops on October 9. 1871. Used after being rebuilt as substitute; located in quarters of engine 17; only one man assigned.) Engineer Benj. Rice. 1).
STEAMER ECONOMY? NO. 8.
Foreman Nicholas Dubach, D.
Engineer John C. Cooney, 27.
Stoker Wallace T. Phelps. D.
Pipeman Anthony Lagger. 28.
Pipeman Nicholas Lewis. 29.
Pipeman Joseph Stoltz. D.
Driver Richard Stringer. D.
Driver John Mergenthaler, D.
Watchman Chas. Schank. D.
STEAMER FRANK SHERMAN? NO. 9.
Foreman Joel A. Kinney, D.
Engineer John Holm, D.
Stoker Geo. Leady, 30.
Pipeman, John M. Reis. D.
Pipeman John Fitzgerald, 31.
Pipeman Christian Goodman, D.
Driver Arthur Slocum, D.
Driver Claudius Blair. 32.
Watchman Thos. Sanderson, D.
STEAMER J. B. RICE. NO. 10.
Foreman James J. Walsh. 33. lengineer Levi A Forrester, D.
Stoker Dan’l H. O’Brien, D.
Pioeman Joseph Burkhardt. D.
Pipeman Edwin Roberts, D.
Pipeman Richard F’itz.gerald, D.
Driver Wm. H. Townsend, D.
Driver James A. Donegatt, 34.
Watchman John Hulm, D.
STEAMER A. C. COVENTRY, NO. 11.
Foreman Laurence J. Walsh, 35.
Engineer Frank R. Sowersby, 36.
Stoker Chas. H. Ripley, D.
Pipeman John Lauf, 37.
Pipeman Dan’l D. Healy, 38.
Pipeman Herman Baer, D.
Pipeman Fred Reis, D.
Driver John J. McClellan, 39.
Driver Cornelius Casey, D.
Watchman Thos. Melvin, D.
STEAMER T. B. BROWN, NO. 12.
Foreman Fred W. Taplin, D.
Engineer John E. Ferguson, 40.
Stoker George L. Lathrop, 41.
Pipeman Jos. E. Pazen, 42.
Pipeman Janies Cuddy, D.
Pipeman Joseph Casserley, 43.
Driver Chas. Pratt, D.
Driver Horace N. Ward, 44.
Watchman Michael S. Taplin, D.
STEAMER A. D. TITSWORTH, NO. 13.
Foreman M. W. Shay, 45.
Engineer John H. Manning, D.
Stoker Wnt. A. Mclntire, D.
Pipeman .A. W. Pendleton, 46.
Pipeman Peter Trainor, D.
Pipeman Frank B. Lane, D.
Pipeman Thos, J. Canty, D.
Driver Myron J. Crum, D.
Driver Chas. Evans, D.
Watchman Alexander Reynolds, D.
STEAMER FRED GL’ND, NO. 14.
Foreman D. J. Swenie, D.
Engineer John J. Berry, 47.
Stoker Edmund Keiser, D.
Pipeman Aaron Jansen. D.
Pipeman Nicholas Weinand, 48.
Pipeman Wm. H. Hoisington, D.
Driver Peter Schnur, 49.
Driver Daniel Daly, D.
Watchman John Parrel, D.
STEAMER ILLINOIS? NO. 15.
Foreman Wm. Mullen, 50. Engineer Francis Berry, 51.
Stoker James Kingswell. 52.
Pipeman John Meyers, D.
Pipeman John O’Day, 53.
Driver Joseph Fritsch, 54.
Driver Norman T. Ormsby, D.
STEAMER WINNEBAGO, NO. l6.
Foreman John Dreher, D.
Engineer Jas. F. Enright. 55.
Stoker Patrick Crowley, 56.
Pipeman. (company short-handed)
Pipeman.
Driver James Philips, D.
Watchman Dennis Deneen, D.
STEAMER R. A. WILLIAMS, NO. 17.
Foreman Chas. T. Brown, D.
Engineer Thad. Healy, D.
Stoker John Strickler, D.
Pipeman John Cook, 56.
Pipeman Arthur Calder. 57.
Pipeman Edward F. Ferris. D.
Pipeman Daniel Toontey. 58.
Driver Adam Barber, 59.
Driver Patrick Lamey. D.
Watchman, Daniel O’Connell, D.
HOSE ELEVATOR, NO. 2.
James Enright,
Frank R. Locke,
Conrad Ruhl,
Thomas Burns,
PIONEER HOOK AND LADDER, NO. I.
Foreman Frank Swenie, D.
Truckman Chas. Miller, D.
Truckman John Gleason, D.
Driver John Dorsett. D.
PROTECTION HOOK AND LADDER? NO. 2.
Foreman George Rati, D.
Truckman Patrick Murtaugh, 60.
Truckman Lewis Fiene. 61.
Truckman Hugo Franzen. D.
Truckman Adam Cook. D.
Driver James Houser, D.
RESCUE HOOK AND LADDER, NO. I.
Foreman. John H. Greene, D.
Truckman Wm. Fries. 62.
Truckman Thomas Maxwell, 63.
Truckman Chas. M. Duffy, D.
Truckman James Duff, D.
Driver Norman N. Holt, 64.
HOOK AND LAUDER NO. 4.
Foreman George Ernest, D.
Truckman Jos. O’Donohue, 65.
Truckman Henry H. Breternitz, D.
Truckman Francis Flannigan, D.
Driver Isaac Hallic, D.
TEMPEST HOSE, NO. I.
Foreman Leo Meyers, D.
Hoseman Paul Ditt, D.
Hoseman John George, 66.
Driver John Fowler, D.
AMERICAN HOSE, NO. 2.
Foreman John Dorsey, D.
Hoseman David Manwell, 67.
Driver Chas. A. Anderson, 68.
John A. FItick.
HOSE NO. 3.
Foreman Matthew Schuh, D.
Hoseman George Steurnagle, 69.
Driver Peter Lawson, D.
LINCOLN HOSE, NO. 4.
Foreman John; C. Schmidt, 70.
Hoseman Edw. E. Varges, 71.
Driver George Hardell, D.
WASHINGTON HOSE, NO. 3.
Foreman James J. Grant, D.
Hoseman James Young, D.
Driver Reuben Bunnell, 72.
DOUGLAS HOSE, NO. 6.
Foreman Thomas Barry, D.
Hoseman Geo. H. ldell, D.
Driver Fugene Sullivan, 73.
“Chicago, November n, 1905.—I hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the members of the fire department on October 8, 1871.
“Historian of Fire Veterans of 1871.”
