Our fallen hero

On Thursday, January 29th, 1874 at 2:42 AM, an alarm was sounded on box 78, 13th and Market Streets, for a fire at Olympia Theatre, a three-story brick building located at 1224-28 Market Street.

Hoseman George Devitt of Engine 3 and Hoseman Charles O’Neill of Engine 4 were both killed when they became trapped beneath the falling walls of the building.

The cause of the fire was listed as “incendiary” and the fire loss was set at $20,241.99.