Daring Rescue of Philadelphia Firemen

Daring Rescue of Philadelphia Firemen

Forming a human chain when the roof of a Kensington wood-turning mill at Philadelphia collapsed during an early morning fire November 13, firemen saved twelve comrades from death in the building. The men were on the roof, when an explosion occurred, plunging them through the breaking roof into the fire. Of the twelve, five were badly injured. Captain Henry Schmidtter, of Engine 6, is in the hospital with a fractured skull, broken collarbone and numerous other injuries. The other'firemen who were injured were Lieutenant Richard Morrow, Michael Dolan and Eugene Cuttle, of Engine 6, and Michael McHenry, of Truck 10. Each received cuts and bruises. The firemen climbed to the three-story mill during the height of the blaze. They were directing streams into the third floor, when the explosion, which split the walls of the building and made the roof crumble, occurred. The firemen in the street heard the roof fall and climbed ladders to the top of the walls. Several firemen stood at one of the ladders while other firemen went into the building, holding each other’s hands. In this way they were able to reach the imperiled firemen and carry them to safety. Seven of the men who fell through the roof were able to make their way to the ladder without assistance. The five injured men, however. were picked up and carried to the street. The rescuers had difficulty in finding Schmidtter. When he was picked up he was unconscious. The explosion occurred on the first floor, among paints and varnishes. The loss was about $10,000.

Forming a human chain when the roof of a Kensington wood-turning mill at Philadelphia collapsed during an early morning fire November 13, firemen saved twelve comrades from death in the building. The men were on the roof, when an explosion occurred, plunging them through the breaking roof into the fire. Of the twelve, five were badly injured. Captain Henry Schmidtter, of Engine 6, is in the hospital with a fractured skull, broken collarbone and numerous other injuries. The other'firemen who were injured were Lieutenant Richard Morrow, Michael Dolan and Eugene Cuttle, of Engine 6, and Michael McHenry, of Truck 10. Each received cuts and bruises. The firemen climbed to the three-story mill during the height of the blaze. They were directing streams into the third floor, when the explosion, which split the walls of the building and made the roof crumble, occurred. The firemen in the street heard the roof fall and climbed ladders to the top of the walls. Several firemen stood at one of the ladders while other firemen went into the building, holding each other’s hands. In this way they were able to reach the imperiled firemen and carry them to safety. Seven of the men who fell through the roof were able to make their way to the ladder without assistance. The five injured men, however. were picked up and carried to the street. The rescuers had difficulty in finding Schmidtter. When he was picked up he was unconscious. The explosion occurred on the first floor, among paints and varnishes. The loss was about $10,000.