Our fallen hero

On Sunday, September 9, 1900 paving work was being done on the street in front of the Delaware & Schuykill Market located at Delaware and Dock Streets. At approximately 2:15 pm a pot of tar overheated and exploded into flames. The pot was located underneath a large arch that connected the two buildings of the market. The flames from the pot reached the arch some 45 ft above and lit it on fire.

At 2:19 pm Box 1416, located at Front and Spruce Streets, was transmitted. Engine 48 responded with Assistant Foreman James Sowney in charge. Hoses were stretched to the top of the arch. A large hole had to be cut in the roof of the arch to reach the fire inside. The three firefighters, lead by Assistant Foreman Sowney, climbed through the hole into the smoke-filled space between the roof and the celling of the arch. Without warning the ceiling collapsed. The three men in the space fell through. Two of the men, Fireman George Ernst and Charles Wilson of Engine 11 were able to grab hold of the flaming boards and kept from falling. Assistant Foreman Sowney was not as lucky. He fell through the hole and to his death on the pavement below.