Henry Clay Walters, September 16th, 1866
In the early hours of Sunday, September 16, 1866, a vacant house was set on fire. This small brickhouse was located on Greenwich St. below Moyamensing Pike. The alarm came in at 1:15 a.m. and the men of the Shiffler Hose Co. responded. They drug several lengths of hose to the fire because they were only a few blocks away, also they were afraid their hose carriage would be attacked. This had been the scheme of several rival companies. They would set a fire and when their rivals would show up, they would be attacked. Sometimes damaging the equipment.
The fire was under control when the Weccacoe Fire Co. arrived with only their hose carriage. A confrontation between the two ensued. Before long this escalated into a full-scale riot. Men poured out of the bars and joined in. It didn’t take long before gun fire rang out. Witnesses stated that more than 30 shots were fired.
Henry C. Walters of the Shiffler Hose Co. was standing on the sidewalk not participating in the riot, when he wass hot in the chest, the bullet passed through his heart, and he fell to the pavement dead. An investigation was conducted and James Edmonson of the Weccacoe Fire Co. was identified as the man who shot Henry Walters. Edmonson was arrested and was waiting his trial.
Henry C. Walter’s funeral on September 23, was attended by numerous fire companies while the Shiffler turned out with over 200 members. Two men from each fire company and civic groups constituted the pall bearers. Henry Walters was 23 years old and unmarried. He was laid to rest in the Lafayette Cemetery.
Henry Clay Walters, September 16th, 1866
In the early hours of Sunday, September 16, 1866, a vacant house was set on fire. This small brickhouse was located on Greenwich St. below Moyamensing Pike. The alarm came in at 1:15 a.m. and the men of the Shiffler Hose Co. responded. They drug several lengths of hose to the fire because they were only a few blocks away, also they were afraid their hose carriage would be attacked. This had been the scheme of several rival companies. They would set a fire and when their rivals would show up, they would be attacked. Sometimes damaging the equipment.
The fire was under control when the Weccacoe Fire Co. arrived with only their hose carriage. A confrontation between the two ensued. Before long this escalated into a full-scale riot. Men poured out of the bars and joined in. It didn’t take long before gun fire rang out. Witnesses stated that more than 30 shots were fired.
Henry C. Walters of the Shiffler Hose Co. was standing on the sidewalk not participating in the riot, when he wass hot in the chest, the bullet passed through his heart, and he fell to the pavement dead. An investigation was conducted and James Edmonson of the Weccacoe Fire Co. was identified as the man who shot Henry Walters. Edmonson was arrested and was waiting his trial.
Henry C. Walter’s funeral on September 23, was attended by numerous fire companies while the Shiffler turned out with over 200 members. Two men from each fire company and civic groups constituted the pall bearers. Henry Walters was 23 years old and unmarried. He was laid to rest in the Lafayette Cemetery.
Career History
Volunteer with the Shiffler Hose Company