TWO MORE HEROES GONE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2293, 23 July 1880, Page 2

TWO MORE HEROES GONE.

(New York “Freeman’s Journal.”) Two more gallant firemen have offered up their lives in the performance of their duty. Thomas J. Dougherty and John F. Cassidy, members of the Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, on Friday of last week, were killed at the great lire that destroyed the buildings Nos. 381 and 386, Broadwa} r , New York. The manner in which they met their death, in presence of their comrades, while the streets were crowded with spectators, was thrilling in the extreme. The fire was raging violently within the building which was difficult of access. Foreman Hutchinson, with his men, had ascended to the roof of the adjoining building, and accompanied by several of them, had reached the roof of the burning building, for the purpose of opening the scuttle or cutting a hole through. To all appearances the roof was solid, and Dougherty stamped upon it to test it, and remarked to his companion, “ solid as a ball-room lloor.” Seven mem were now upon the roof, and they advanced to perform the work desired. Suddenly a dull noise beneath was heard, and the roof heaved slightly, then, with a loud explosion collapsed, and fell in, crashing through the timber of floor after floor to the bottom. Dougherty and Cassidy, who were foremost, went down into the fiery depths. Down into that hell of flame, and heat, and smoke, beyond the possibility of aid, there to perish while thousands stood gazing at the scene, ignorant of the terrible tragedy then transpiring. Their death must have been instantaneous, for the intensity of the heat and smoke must have rendered them insensible before the torture of burning began. But a more horrible death can hardly be imagined. Two strong powerful men, in the full vigour of youthful manhood, suddenly plunged into a gulf of flame, is such a shocking tragedy that it is almost impossible to realize that it actually occurred. The companions of these unfortunate men, being nearer to the party-wall, clung to the parapet, or threw themselves over in the corner building. So narrow was their escape that one of them lost his axe and

another his hook. These fell into the mass of the burning building through which the flames shot up in a column of terrible fierceness. A score of other firemen, who were coming on the roof, returned to the street with the survivors of Ho. 1, their presence being now useless. Had the roof fallen half a minute later, twenty or thirty men would have been burned with it. All who witnessed this terrible catastrophe were completely unmanned, and the comrades of the two unfortunate men were sent to their quarters. A reporter seeking particulars of the accident, called upon Foreman Hutchinson, a stout, strong man, who was vainly trying to clear the mist from his eyes so as to enable him to enter an account of the accident in his journal. His lips quivered as he turned away with a deprecatory motion, “ Not now,” he said, “ not now, please; all I can say is, we were up on the roof trying to break a hole, and pull the scuttle off. We stood quite near the coping, and the roof appeared quite solid, when, all at once, it went down like a shot. My (fod ! and they went with it.” The number of firemen who have perished, or been maimed for life during the past year, while in the performance of duty, has been unusually great. It is a sacrifice made by humanity to cheap architecture and defective buildings. But the gallant men who devote their lives to the fire service are not deterred in their efforts in behalf of their fellow citizens. Perils of the most terrible nature stare them in the face every time they are called out to a fire ; but this in no wise damps their ardour, or checks their determination to do their duty. The most gallant and heroic band of men to be found to-day in any locality are the firemen of our cities. Is it not time that citizens in general recognised this fact and honored them as they deserve ?