George R. Parson, June 10th, 1946
On Halloween night, Wednesday, October 31, 1945 at 7:44 PM, an alarm was sounded on Box 4676, Haines and Boyer Streets.
While responding, at the intersection of Chelten and Chew, Truck 8 was proceeding east on Chelten and collided with Engine 51 that was proceeding north on Chew. Engine 51’s apparatus was struck squarely in the side. Engine 51 was turned completely around and driven towards the northeast corner.
At the time, a group of pedestrians were watching a Halloween parade. The pumper struck Mrs. Margaret E. King and dragged her about 15 feet before striking the store window of the Capitol Cleaners and Dyers. Mrs. King was killed instantly.
Many firefighters were injured in this collision including: Frank Scullen, Harold Rhodes, James Carroll, William Richardson, Frank McMahon, George Parson, Carl Sutton, and Frank Spencer.
An off-duty firefighter, James Devanney was also injured. Witnesses on the scene reported that “one fireman was pitched so high that he cleared the trolley wires before landing in the street.” Another fireman “landed on the hood of an automobile parked about 25 feet from the scene of the crash.”
Ladderman George R. Parson of Truck 8, who was among the injured firemen, died of the injuries he sustained on June 10, 1946.
The cause of the alarm turned out to be a pulled box (false alarm)!
George R. Parson, June 10th, 1946
On Halloween night, Wednesday, October 31, 1945 at 7:44 PM, an alarm was sounded on Box 4676, Haines and Boyer Streets.
While responding, at the intersection of Chelten and Chew, Truck 8 was proceeding east on Chelten and collided with Engine 51 that was proceeding north on Chew. Engine 51’s apparatus was struck squarely in the side. Engine 51 was turned completely around and driven towards the northeast corner.
At the time, a group of pedestrians were watching a Halloween parade. The pumper struck Mrs. Margaret E. King and dragged her about 15 feet before striking the store window of the Capitol Cleaners and Dyers. Mrs. King was killed instantly.
Many firefighters were injured in this collision including: Frank Scullen, Harold Rhodes, James Carroll, William Richardson, Frank McMahon, George Parson, Carl Sutton, and Frank Spencer.
An off-duty firefighter, James Devanney was also injured. Witnesses on the scene reported that “one fireman was pitched so high that he cleared the trolley wires before landing in the street.” Another fireman “landed on the hood of an automobile parked about 25 feet from the scene of the crash.”
Ladderman George R. Parson of Truck 8, who was among the injured firemen, died of the injuries he sustained on June 10, 1946.
The cause of the alarm turned out to be a pulled box (false alarm)!
Career History
Appointed Hoseman Engine 37 - January 16, 1926
Transferred Hoseman Engine 34 - April 1, 1927
Transferred Ladderman Truck 8 - March 16, 1933