MFD Line of Duty Deaths
February 4, 1903 - LODD
Milwaukee Fire Department. Milwaukee, WI
Chief James Foley, 58
Pipeman Thomas Droney, 24 - Chemical 1
Truckman Edward Hogan, 26 - Truck 1
They died from the effects of inhaling acid fumes at the Schwaab Stamp & Seal Company acid spill on February 3rd. Droney had answered an alarm in the evening after being at the spill, and was found lying unconscious in the snow next to the engine. He was revived and refused to go to the hospital. Several hours later he died in quarters. Hogan died shortly after Captain White did several hours before. Chief Foley remarked shortly after White's death that by morning he would be a dead man. He was right; he died in the wee hours of the morning. All of the men suffered severe searing of their lungs by the acid fumes and slowly suffocated in their own fluids.
Chief James Foley was considered the most popular and respected Chief of the Milwaukee Fire Dept. He made vast improvements in the department, and strongly advocated tougher codes to make buildings safer. He was appointed Chief in 1883 and died, along with three of his firefighters, as a result of an acid spill at the Schwab Stamp & Seal Company in February of 1903.
Firemen Killed (Milwaukee, Wis. - 1903), Clark County, Wisconsin History
Firemen Killed (Milwaukee, Wis. - 1903), Clark County, Wisconsin Records
www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Milwaukee, WI February 4, 1903 Schwab Stamp & Seal Acid Spill
February 4, 1903 an acid spill occurred at the Schwab Stamp & Seal Company. About 2:00 p.m. an acid carboy broke open on the 2nd floor of the facility
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