NEW YORK CITY: March 3, 1909 - Just after 2 A.M., thick clouds of noxious smoke poured up the stairways of an old tenement at 374 Seventh Ave. in Manhattan, trapping many families in their apartments. Fire units arrived on scene and faced an advanced fire situation and numerous people screaming for help. Just as the first ladder was placed against the building, Fireman Frank Clark dashed to the top, hesitated for a second, and then leaped across and grabbed a window shutter. He clung there briefly before diving head first into a window chugging heavy smoke. Three firemen started up the ladder, but before they could reach the top, Clark returned to the window with an unconscious young woman suffering serious burns. With his last bit of energy, Clark handed her out the window. Exhausted and suffering from the smoke, Clark fell unconscious across the windowsill and was carried down the ladder by his comrades. Unfortunately, 10 people perished in the blaze. Clark was later presented with the Hugh Bonner Medal, the FDNY's second-highest award for bravery.
ST. LOUIS, MO: March 6, 1909 - Flames broke out in the five-story grocery establishment of L. Landau & Co. at 515 North Main St. late in the day. The blaze was in the center of the city's wholesale district and taxed the resolve of the firemen as they faced several explosions within the structure as they pressed the attack. A determined extinguishing effort held the damage to $100,000.
KITTANNING, PA: March 7, 1909 - A fire that began in the heating system of the First Presbyterian Church quickly filled the cellar and began spreading throughout the beautiful house of worship. As the fire department arrived, flames were already racing up through the belfry and mutual aid from Wickboro was requested. Sadly, the entire church, constructed in 1890, was destroyed, as was a $38,000 Carnegie pipe organ and several expensive stained-glass windows.
BRINKLEY, TN: March 8, 1909 - Thirty people were killed and scores were seriously injured as a tornado swept through the little city, destroying nearly every building. The city's fire department was given a nearly impossible task as the piles of rubble caught fire and began to spread and became a conflagration burning out of control.
LOUISVILLE, KY: March 18, 1909 - Union Station, the local terminal for five of the country's leading railroads, was destroyed by a late-night fire. The blaze was believed to have originated in defective wiring in the building's attic. The entire city fire department was called to the scene as flames swept through the huge structure. At the height of the blaze, a spectacular rescue of a telephone operator trapped on the fifth-floor was accomplished by the already exhausted firemen.
WORCESTER, MA: March 20, 1909 - Four firemen were injured, one seriously, battling a fire that destroyed the plant of the Wright Wire Co. on Hammond Street. Assistant Chief Spooner, injured by a fall, was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
SPRINGFIELD, NJ: March 27, 1909 - An overheated cooking stove started a fire in the main building of the Baltusrol Golf Club at 2 A.M. as many employees and a club guest slept in the rooms above. The chef, Gaston Sesso, dashed to the rooms above and woke all those sleeping, who quickly evacuated the building. Sesso apparently stayed too long checking the rooms, for he became trapped at an attic window and was forced to jump, breaking both his ankles. The fire destroyed the entire building as well as numerous trophies, memorabilia and expensive golf equipment.
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ: March 29, 1909 - Flames racing through a dormitory at Seton Hall College threatened hundreds of students, many of whom fled in their nightclothes. The late-night fire proved so difficult to control that help was requested from the Orange and Newark fire departments. Teams of firemen then made strategic stands to halt the spreading flames and protect surrounding structures.
HAVANA, CUBA: March 29, 1909 - Two piers of the Havana Central Railroad in the harbor were destroyed by an arson fire. A number of lighters and barges loaded with sugar were tied up to the piers as the fire started. These vessels were cut free from the docks and drifted out into the harbor ablaze. The blaze damaged structures, ships and cargo valued at more than $1 million.
PAUL HASHAGEN, a Firehouse® contributing editor, is a retired FDNY firefighter who was assigned to Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan. He is also an ex-chief of the Freeport, NY, Fire Department. Hashagen is the author of FDNY 1865-2000: Millennium Book, a history of the New York City Fire Department, and other fire service history books.
