Jan. 3, 1905: BERLIN, GERMANY – Auguste-Victoria, the German empress and queen of Prussia, was in the palace music room with the two youngest children, Prince Joachim and Prince Oscar, when a fire broke out near the chimney. The royals watched as servants scrambled to extinguish the flames. The last embers were doused just as the firemen arrived. Kaiser Wilhelm was given a complete report of the incident.
Jan. 3, 1905: HOBOKEN, NJ – The large Elysian Supply Co. factory at 15th and Adams streets was destroyed by an early-morning fire. Flames poured from the four-story building as firemen pressed the attack hoping to keep the blaze from spreading. During the battle, an iron bracket from a fire escape fell, striking Fireman William Buckley of Engine 5. Buckley was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital, but died from his injuries.
Jan. 4, 1905: HUNTINGTON, WV – The towboat Defender was returning from Cincinnati along the windswept and icy Ohio River when a boiler explosion tore the craft into flaming pieces. The entire starboard side of the vessel was blasted away hurling the crew and passengers into the frigid waters. Eight people were killed by the blast and several others who were injured seriously were pulled from the water by rescuers.
Jan. 5, 1905: BROOKLYN, NY – A huge barrel-making building in Greenpoint was swept by flames during the early-morning hours. Flames filled the block-long structure as three alarms’ worth of men and equipment struggled to gain the upper hand. Sparks and embers showered the adjoining structures, causing serious exposure problems.
Jan. 6, 1905: SPRINGFIELD, MA – City Hall, valued at more than $50,000 was destroyed by a fire in less than an hour. The fire, discovered in the assembly hall, was believed to have been caused by an overturned kerosene lamp. Fifty people rushed to safety as the flames exploded from room to room.
Jan. 6, 1905: SPRINGFIELD, MA – City Hall, valued at more than $50,000 was destroyed by a fire in less than an hour. The fire, discovered in the assembly hall, was believed to have been caused by an overturned kerosene lamp. Fifty people rushed to safety as the flames exploded from room to room.
Jan. 12, 1905: CHELSEA, MA – Fireman Henry Giggey was rushed to a hospital in serious condition as firemen from Chelsea, Everett and Boston battled a large blaze that started in a theater and spread to other buildings. Two large brick buildings and several small frame structures were destroyed.
Jan. 16, 1905: CHICAGO – A deep-seated fire smoldering in sawdust insulation defied every effort employed by firemen to douse the fire. Clouds of thick smoke pumped from the beef storage building for more than 24 hours as fireman after fireman toppled over from the effects of the noxious fumes. Thirty-three firemen were rendered unconscious as they opened holes in the sawdust-packed walls. The fire chief estimated the blaze would require several days to extinguish completely.
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.
