Edward K. Henk, March 12th, 1868
Edward K. Henk aka Hank
On Tuesday morning March 12, 1868, at about 11:30 a.m. an alarm of fire was sounded for a fire in a two-story brick building on the east side of West St. above Coats Street. This building was owned and occupied by Charles Supplee, as a carpenter shop. During the blaze the firemen were in the alley between the carpenter shop and a stable, keeping the flames from spreading. Suddenly the side wall collapsed into the alley, burying the firemen. Among them was 23 years old Edward Hank of the Spring Garden Steam Fire Engine Co. who was killed instantly.
During the fire, firemen were stationed on the roofs of neighboring building playing streams of water into the carpenter's shop. After the collapse when men were beginning rescue operations, the men on the roofs turned their streams on the rescuers, forcing them back. They disobeyed orders of the Chief Engineer to stop and put their streams back onto the fire. Police were summoned and the streams were directed on them. Finally, the men on the roofs were arrested and rescue operations continued.
Edward Hank was laid to rest in the Monument Cemetery in the plot of the Association for Relief of Disabled Fireman, which he was a member. On April 25, 1871, his remains were removed and interned in the Greenwood Cemetery. A stone was placed on his grave which reads:
Edward K. Henk
son of
John & Mary Henk
Born Jan. 15, 1845
Drummer Boy Co C 67th
Regt PA Vols.
Active Member of Spring
Garden S. F. Engine Co. No 43
Killed
by a Wall Falling on Him at
Fire in West St. Abo Coats St.
March 12, 1868
(West Street today is now known as Uber Street and is between 19th & 20th Streets. Coats is now Fairmount Ave.)
Edward K. Henk, March 12th, 1868
Edward K. Henk aka Hank
On Tuesday morning March 12, 1868, at about 11:30 a.m. an alarm of fire was sounded for a fire in a two-story brick building on the east side of West St. above Coats Street. This building was owned and occupied by Charles Supplee, as a carpenter shop. During the blaze the firemen were in the alley between the carpenter shop and a stable, keeping the flames from spreading. Suddenly the side wall collapsed into the alley, burying the firemen. Among them was 23 years old Edward Hank of the Spring Garden Steam Fire Engine Co. who was killed instantly.
During the fire, firemen were stationed on the roofs of neighboring building playing streams of water into the carpenter's shop. After the collapse when men were beginning rescue operations, the men on the roofs turned their streams on the rescuers, forcing them back. They disobeyed orders of the Chief Engineer to stop and put their streams back onto the fire. Police were summoned and the streams were directed on them. Finally, the men on the roofs were arrested and rescue operations continued.
Edward Hank was laid to rest in the Monument Cemetery in the plot of the Association for Relief of Disabled Fireman, which he was a member. On April 25, 1871, his remains were removed and interned in the Greenwood Cemetery. A stone was placed on his grave which reads:
Edward K. Henk
son of
John & Mary Henk
Born Jan. 15, 1845
Drummer Boy Co C 67th
Regt PA Vols.
Active Member of Spring
Garden S. F. Engine Co. No 43
Killed
by a Wall Falling on Him at
Fire in West St. Abo Coats St.
March 12, 1868
(West Street today is now known as Uber Street and is between 19th & 20th Streets. Coats is now Fairmount Ave.)
Career History
Volunteer with the Spring Garden SFE Company