February 6, 1901 – LODD
Driver Fireman Mortimer A. Roberts, 33 - Engine 231
FDNY. Brownsville, New York
Fireman Roberts the driver of the Engine, located in the Brownville section, while going to a fire was thrown from his seat and badly injured. He died the next morning in St. Mary's Hospital. The alarm came in at 8:10pm for a fire on Blake Avenue. Roberts jumped into his seat and as soon as the horses were harnessed he drove down through Watkins Street at a pretty fair speed on the mud road. Half a block below Belmont Avenue one of the front wheels of the engine struck a rut and Roberts was thrown from his seat. The horses stopped and a man on the tender took the reins of the engine horses and again started for the fire. Two others picked up Roberts and carried him to a nearby drug store. An ambulance from St. Mary's responded to the call and found that several of Roberts' ribs were crushed. In an investigation it was later learned that it was a stormy day, and the Engine Company was called out in the night while the storm was at it's worst. At Watkins Street and Lavonia Avenue the city had been doing work on the streets, and had left huge piles of dirt in the middle of the street. There was no sign of danger and Roberts drove the engine into the obstruction. He was thrown upon his head and received injuries from which he died. His wife sued the City for $30,000 claiming their negligence due to piles of dirt left in the roadway by a work crew. She won the case and was awarded $10,000 in April 1902.
RIP. Never forget.
Driver Fireman Mortimer A. Roberts, 33 - Engine 231
FDNY. Brownsville, New York
Fireman Roberts the driver of the Engine, located in the Brownville section, while going to a fire was thrown from his seat and badly injured. He died the next morning in St. Mary's Hospital. The alarm came in at 8:10pm for a fire on Blake Avenue. Roberts jumped into his seat and as soon as the horses were harnessed he drove down through Watkins Street at a pretty fair speed on the mud road. Half a block below Belmont Avenue one of the front wheels of the engine struck a rut and Roberts was thrown from his seat. The horses stopped and a man on the tender took the reins of the engine horses and again started for the fire. Two others picked up Roberts and carried him to a nearby drug store. An ambulance from St. Mary's responded to the call and found that several of Roberts' ribs were crushed. In an investigation it was later learned that it was a stormy day, and the Engine Company was called out in the night while the storm was at it's worst. At Watkins Street and Lavonia Avenue the city had been doing work on the streets, and had left huge piles of dirt in the middle of the street. There was no sign of danger and Roberts drove the engine into the obstruction. He was thrown upon his head and received injuries from which he died. His wife sued the City for $30,000 claiming their negligence due to piles of dirt left in the roadway by a work crew. She won the case and was awarded $10,000 in April 1902.
RIP. Never forget.
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