Francis Fritz, July 30th, 1870
At about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 1870, a fire started in the boiler room of the Pennsylvania Steam Sugar Refinery, owned by Newhall and Boie & Co., located on the NEC of Race and Crown Streets. (Crown Street is now Lawrence Street.) This 150’ X 190’ 6 and 7 story brick building was well involved when companies arrived. During the blaze the wall on Crown Street fell, injuring many firemen some seriously.
Matthias Furey of the Philadelphia Hose Company was so severely injured by the falling wall that he was taken to Pennsylvania Hospital where he died at about 9 p.m. on July 27, 1870. Matthias Furey was 21 years, single and a boiler maker by trade.
Francis Fritz of the Philadelphia Hose Company was severely injured by the falling wall that injured other firemen. He was taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries on July 30,1870. For more information see the file on Francis Fritz.
John L. Smith, also a member of the Philadelphia Hose Co., was also injured by a falling wall while fighting this fire and died of these injuries on August 14, 1870.For more information see the file John L. Smith.
** It had been reported that James Murtland, and Frank Devlin were also killed at this blaze. New information has come to light that these men were seriously injured but recovered from their injuries. Both of these men were members of the Philadelphia Hose Co.
Francis Fritz, July 30th, 1870
At about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 1870, a fire started in the boiler room of the Pennsylvania Steam Sugar Refinery, owned by Newhall and Boie & Co., located on the NEC of Race and Crown Streets. (Crown Street is now Lawrence Street.) This 150’ X 190’ 6 and 7 story brick building was well involved when companies arrived. During the blaze the wall on Crown Street fell, injuring many firemen some seriously.
Matthias Furey of the Philadelphia Hose Company was so severely injured by the falling wall that he was taken to Pennsylvania Hospital where he died at about 9 p.m. on July 27, 1870. Matthias Furey was 21 years, single and a boiler maker by trade.
Francis Fritz of the Philadelphia Hose Company was severely injured by the falling wall that injured other firemen. He was taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries on July 30,1870. For more information see the file on Francis Fritz.
John L. Smith, also a member of the Philadelphia Hose Co., was also injured by a falling wall while fighting this fire and died of these injuries on August 14, 1870.For more information see the file John L. Smith.
** It had been reported that James Murtland, and Frank Devlin were also killed at this blaze. New information has come to light that these men were seriously injured but recovered from their injuries. Both of these men were members of the Philadelphia Hose Co.
Career History
Volunteer with the Philadelphia Hose Company