Our fallen hero

On Sunday, October 30, 1938 at 4:43 PM, an alarm was sounded on Box 52, 5^th & Callowhill Streets for a fire in an automobile located at the intersection of 5^th and Callowhill Streets.

While responding to this incident, Engine 20 responded north on 9^th Street and the Rescue Squad was responding east on Race Street. At the intersection of 9^th and Race Streets, the Rescue Squad crashed into the side of Engine 20.

The impact threw four firemen from the apparatus. A civilian, Charles Olone, suffered a fractured pelvis after being struck by one of the ejected firemen. Another civilian, Thomas Zielinski, was struck by flying equipment and was treated for body bruises. Hoseman William H. Friedenberger and Hoseman John Linaka, both of the Rescue Squad, were killed in the collision.

Other firemen injured in the accident:
Hoseman Joseph Cohill of the Rescue Squad: abrasions of both hands and scalp
Hoseman George Holden of the Rescue Squad: abrasions of the back
Hoseman Joseph Murphy of the Rescue Squad: head injury
Hoseman Joseph Scherf of the Rescue Squad: head injury
Hoseman James McNally of Engine 20: hip injury
Hoseman William Coulson Jr. of Engine 20: lacerations and abrasions of the left hand
Hoseman Michael Ennis of Engine 20: head injury
Hoseman Michael Barry of Engine 20: fractured skull, left leg, and hip
Hoseman Julius Bergmeister, Driver of Engine 20’s wagon:  lacerated scalp and fracture of the right shoulder