Oct. 1, 1905: ST. PAUL, MN - A passenger-line train heading west collided with a freight train while traveling on the Fourth Street viaduct. Five of the passenger cars derailed and tumbled down the 27-foot embankment and quickly caught fire. St. Paul firemen arrived, doused the flames and began rescuing numerous trapped people. One woman was killed, five other passengers were in serious condition and scores of people were treated and released.
Oct. 1, 1905: HIROSHIMA, JAPAN - Flames broke out in an army storehouse just after 1 A.M. Twelve hours later, the flames were still raging and had swept through more than 20 buildings. Stores of provisions and clothing fed the swelling fire. Estimates ranged at between $2 million and $5 million in losses.
Oct. 4, 1905: BROOKLYN, NY - Three children perished and numerous people were trapped as flames raced through a Reid Avenue rowhouse around midnight. Two off-duty firemen from Manhattan happened to be passing by and began rescuing those trapped inside. They were able to awaken numerous sleeping tenants and then pulled two women and a man onto a fire escape.
Oct. 6, 1905: NEW YORK CITY - An entire block in Harlem containing stables and lumber yards were burning between the East River and Pleasant Avenue at East 107th Street. Three firemen were overcome by dense smoke. Hundreds of horses were released and 200 families from nearby tenements fled into the night. Firemen scrambled to stop the rapidly extending flames. Four alarms were turned in as a strong wind hampered extinguishment efforts.
Oct. 9, 1905: NEW ROCHELLE, NY - A wood-frame building that stored oil and gasoline was the scene of a stubborn fire. The alarm was turned in at 8 P.M. and saw the response of the entire New Rochelle Fire Department within minutes. Gleaming rigs decked with flowers and firemen in full uniforms and white gloves were marching toward their annual inspection when the alarm rang out. An explosion extended the flames to several other structures, but the department was able to bring the stubborn fire under control.
Oct. 13, 1905: PORTLAND, OR - The Lewis and Clark Fairground was the site of a serious fire during the Oregon Fair. Flames destroyed exhibits, artwork and statuary in the Missouri Building. Firemen were able to contain the fire to the building of origin, but the structure was destroyed.
Oct. 13: BUCYRUS, OH - A fire started in the grandstand of the County Fair. Within several minutes, the entire fairground was a sea of flames as a stampede of spectators fled for their lives. Several people were badly burned by the wind-driven blaze.
Oct. 15, 1905: POCANTICO, NY - The efforts of 100 Christian Brothers saved a large herd of cows and dozens of horses imperiled by flames in the monastery stables. Some of the brothers formed a bucket brigade while others hurried to save the trapped animals. Firemen from the Pocantico Hose Company arrived and joined the Brothers in fighting the flames.
Oct. 16, 1905: HOBOKEN, NJ - Yet another serious fire swept a waterfront pier near the Lakawana docks. The fire broke out in a blacksmith shop and spread quickly. First to arrive were volunteer firemen from Weehawken. Moments later, companies from Hoboken arrived and a tense moment gave way quickly as both units joined forces to subdue the growing flames.
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.
