PRE-FDNY Line of Duty Death
July 19, 1845 - LODD
Volunteer Fireman Augustus T. Cowdrey, 22
Engine 42
FDNY. Manhattan, New York
An early-morning blaze, which started in a sperm oil store, rapidly spread down New Street and across Exchange Place to Broad Street. When the fire reached a large warehouse, which contained a large quantity of saltpeter, it burned for a short time and then exploded. The massive blast shook the entire city and was heard as far away as Sandy Hook, NJ. One firefighter and 29 civilians were killed in the explosion, which vaporized the warehouse. Cowdrey was blown to shreds and no trace of him was ever found. On the other hand, a firefighter from Engine 16 was on the roof of the warehouse when it blew. The entire roof lifted off the building in the blast, flew across Broad Street, and landed on top of another building. The firefighter suffered nothing more than a dislocated ankle. The explosion destroyed three adjacent buildings and started numerous fires in the area. Many of the city's hand-drawn fire engines were destroyed in the blast and help had to be called from Brooklyn and Newark, NJ. The fire destroyed everything in its path from the financial district to the tenements of the poor. In the 12 hours the fire raged, over 300 buildings, covering an area of six-square-blocks, were destroyed and many more were damaged. Losses were placed at $10 million. Severe criticism was later leveled at the City Hall bell ringer. It was stated that had he rang the bell, as was his duty to do, the fire would not have spread beyond the original building.
RIP. Never forget.
