3 NASHVILLE FF'S KILLED IN FURNITURE FIRE 1/2/1892

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Nashville Line of Duty Deaths​

January 2, 1892 - LODD's
Nashville Fire Department. Nashville, TN


Captain Charles C. Gowdy, 38 - Engine 4
Fireman Stokely Allen, 29 - Engine 4
Fireman Harvey Ewing - Engine 4

On arrival, firemen found heavy fire and smoke showing from the seventh floor of a factory. High winds and freezing temperatures hampered firefighting efforts, allowing the fire to spread rapidly to a furniture company next door. Multiple lines were placed in operation around the fire and the members of Engine 4 were assigned to operate a line on the roof across the alley from the burning furniture store. Without warning, an entire wall of the furniture store collapsed onto the roof where the members of Engine 4 were operating, killing them instantly. The fire burned for five hours, consuming 11 buildings in a square-block area. The charred bodies of Allen and Ewing were recovered the following day, but Gowdy's body wasn't found until two days later. He was still clutching the nozzle of the line he was operating in his hands. The three men belonged to the city's first all-black fire company, which was formed in 1885. There was resistance from the community to the all-black company at first, but later changed to acceptance and admiration when the company proved themselves exceptionally capable. Gowdy, who was born in slavery, resigned his seat on the City Council to take the fire department appointment as head of the company. He was the highest-ranking black firefighter in the country at the time of his death. Allen was his brother-in-law. Ewing's grandson went on to become a firefighter, retiring in 1991, and still has the nozzle that his grandfather was found clutching in his charred hands.

 

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Linda Oaks​

1892 started with the wind blowing a strong gale. New Years day a disastrous fire broke out in the dry goods store of S. L. Meyers at 1:40 AM in Clarksville. For a time it seemed the whole town would burn. Nashville Fire Department offered aid. The flames were hard to control. The sparks and burning pieces of timber blew across two blocks, to the north and set fire to the old Planters House. Soon the flames were brought under control. S. L. Meyers and Planters House entirely destroyed. Aid from Nashville was met with a thanks, but not needed. Tomorrow will be Nashvilles turn. Starting in the store of Webb Stevenson & Co. at 5:40 PM. Smell of smoke filled the air. The engines were working as fire rose from the roof of the building. A murmur from the crowd that had gathered "The whole block is gone". They were right and more. 6:25 the building was nothing but a shell, A. J. Rhodes & Co. furniture was a blaze. The streams playing the fire were weak. 6:36 the first real stream of water was turned on the flames. For the first time the water was thrown as high fourth floor on the front of the building. In the rear of the building the firemen had better success. From the beginning there water pressure was better. 6:45 floors of Rhodes building fell and shortly after top part of front wall toppled into the street. At 7 the flames reached the Warren building. The seven stories of the building against the direction of the wind was wrapped in flames. The Rhodes building to the south was a roaring furnace, the great gap between where the Webb Stevenson building had been was a mass of red hot brick. The upper walls of the Warren building showed cracks and a moment later the seventh story tottered into the alley to the north and newly created space to the south, dulling the brightness of the flamess for an instant. A cheer arose from the crowd, little knew that within a short while the falling of a wall would create a sadness through out Nashville, for the death of three firemen. East Nashville Stockell Engine Company No. 4 were on the roof of the Phillips & Buttroff building their stream directed into the window of the Warren building. The Phillips & Buttroff structure was almost cut into, within minutes the whole building was ablaze. Several other buildins were lost. The fight was on to prevent the fire from crosing Church Street. Firemen, police and citizens worked. And were rewarded. The fire stopped at Church Street. It was 10.30 the fire was under control. Estimate made by the insurance men put the loss at $500,000. 11 buildings, hand full of injuries and three dead. Bodies of Ewing and Allen were discovered January 3rd. They were identified by their locker keys. Gowdy was found the next day. The funeral was held at Hall of Representatives in State Capitol. They were laid to rest Mount Ararat Cemetery. Captain Charles C. Gowdy Born: April 15, 1854. Reel Driver Stokley Henry Allen Born: 1862. Pipeman J. Harvey Ewing Born: January 04, 1848. All Died January 02, 1892. Stockell Engine Engine Company No. 4 was located 421 Woodland Street. It was established January 15, 1885. Captain Gowdy was the first Captain. It was Nashville first all black Engine Company. Engine Company No. 4 later became Engine Company No. 11. (In 1992 the grave markers could not be located at Mt Ararat Cemetery. Greenwood Cemeteries bought Mount Ararat in 1982 and changed the name to Greenwood West. Greenwood West is located to your right as you get off I 40 at Fesslers Lane. Mt. Ararat is section closest to downtown. Nashville first four line of duty deaths are buried there. Edward Demoss March 08, 1873 (our first LODD responding to alarm Hook and Ladder truck turned over). Captain Gowdy, Harvey Ewing and Stokley Allen January 02, 1892)

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