FDNY Line of Duty Deaths
https://www.facebook.com/fireservicelineofdutydeaths/#January 6, 1907 - LODD's
Fireman Daniel J. Campbell - Engine 32
Fireman Thomas F. Lennon - Engine 32
FDNY. Financial District - Manhattan, New York
Firemen Campbell and Lennon died of the injuries they sustained while operating at a 3-alarm fire in the 6 Story George S. Hill Company warehouse at 54 and Roosevelt. They had been caught in a collapse.
When first reported in the newspapers three firemen of Engine 32 were killed by being buried under the blazing debris of the roof and top two floors of the six-story paper warehouse of the George S. Hills Company at 54 Roosevelt Street. If it was not for the quick action of Acting Chief Binns, who ordered his men out of the building just in time, many more firemen may have perished. Firemen Campbell, Lennon and John J. C. Seufert were outside on the third floor landing and decided they could get to the ground faster by going down the stairs. They had just re-entered the building through a window when there was a great burst of fire from the floor above, then a rumble and the sound of breaking timbers. Other men on the fire escapes were all tossed to the ground injuring many of them. Once the three-alarm fire was subdued rescue parties entered the building from the top and started searching for the three missing firemen. Around midnight, two women approached Chief Binns, one dressed in black and the other in regular clothes. They were both looking for Jack Seufert. The Chief stated he thought he was dead in the collapse. Mrs. Siefert went up to the building looking for him and wanted to help in digging him out. The Chief ordered her home and after sometime she went home. Early the next day the mangled body of Lennon was pulled out of the rubble and there was not much hope of finding the other two alive. Several hours later a faint noise was heard. All work was stopped and the firemen listened for the noise. What they heard was three taps followed by two taps on a pipe and then a faint hello. The men ran to the spot where the sounds were coming from and yelled “Hello! Is that you boys?” The answer came back saying he was Jack and did not feel like he was hurt but just could not move. The whole department started digging where the sound was coming from and after three hours they were no closer to finding him then before. Someone started tunneling toward where he thought the sounds were coming from. After several more hours of digging, a light was put in the tunnel and they asked Seufert if he could see it and he answered yes. Shortly after midnight the ruins shifted and everybody thought the rescuers would all be trapped. After thirty-one hours, Fireman Jack Seufert was removed alive from his prison. Fireman Seufert was trapped in a sitting position, his helmet still on saving his head from injuries. Water continually dripped on him and he would drink from this. His injuries were mostly minor cuts and bruises. Fireman Daniel J. Campbell was found only three feet from Seufert. His head was crushed by a metal stair railing. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn, 2006)
RIP. Never forget.
