Chicago Union Stock Yards Fire (1910) on:
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The Chicago Union Stock Yards fire occurred from December 22 to December 23, 1910 and resulted in the deaths of twenty-one
The fire, which broke out at Warehouse 7 of the Nelson Morris Company at the Chicago
In 2004, a memorial to all Chicago firefighters who have perished in the line of duty was erected near the location of the 1910 Stock Yards fire. The memorial was created at the urging of Chicago firefighters, who helped to raise about 75% of the $170,000 cost of the statue. At the time it was dedicated, the names of 530 deceased firefighters were carved around its base.
Early film pioneer
Chicago Public Library Account
Chicago, IL Union Stockyard Fire, Dec 1910, gendisasters.com
{{Chicago Fire Department, state=autocollapse 1910 fires in the United States Building fires in the United States Fires in Illinois History of Chicago 1910 in Illinois Chicago Fire Department Building collapses in the United States Building collapses caused by fire
Chicago Fire Department
The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) provides fire suppression, rescue services, Hazardous Materials Response services and emergency medical response services to the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chi ...
firemen.
Until September 11, 2001
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commerc ...
, it was the deadliest building collapse in American history, in terms of firefighter fatalities, although the Texas City Disaster of 1947 killed more firefighters overall. It remains the worst such incident in Chicago history.
History
The fire, which broke out at Warehouse 7 of the Nelson Morris Company at the Chicago Union Stock Yards
The Union Stock Yard & Transit Co., or The Yards, was the meatpacking district in Chicago for more than a century, starting in 1865. The district was operated by a group of railroad companies that acquired marshland and turned it into a central ...
on the 4300 block of South Loomis Street, was first reported on December 22 at 4:09 am. Half an hour later it was listed as a 4-11 ( four alarm) blaze and within a few hours, more than thirty fire engines were battling the blaze. By the time the blaze was extinguished at 6:37 am on December 23, 50 engine companies and seven hook and ladder companies had been called to the scene. Fire hydrant
A fire hydrant, waterplug, or firecock (archaic) is a connection point by which firefighters can tap into a water supply. It is a component of active fire protection. Underground fire hydrants have been used in Europe and Asia since at least ...
s near the location had been shut off prior to the outbreak of the fire to prevent freezing.
Twenty-one firemen, including Fire Chief James J. Horan, and three civilians were killed when one of the blazing buildings collapsed with them inside. Following Horan's death, First Assistant Chief Charles Seyferlich took command of the operations, diverting men from fighting the fire to search and retrieve the dead firefighters.
Memorials
In 2004, a memorial to all Chicago firefighters who have perished in the line of duty was erected near the location of the 1910 Stock Yards fire. The memorial was created at the urging of Chicago firefighters, who helped to raise about 75% of the $170,000 cost of the statue. At the time it was dedicated, the names of 530 deceased firefighters were carved around its base.
Early film pioneer Freeman Harrison Owens
Freeman Harrison Owens (July 20, 1890 – December 9, 1979) was an early American filmmaker and aerial photographer.
Biography
was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the only child of Charles H. Owens and Christabel Harrison. He attended Pine Blu ...
filmed a newsreel
A newsreel is a form of short documentary film, containing news stories and items of topical interest, that was prevalent between the 1910s and the mid 1970s. Typically presented in a cinema, newsreels were a source of current affairs, informa ...
of the fire and the firefighting effort.
References
Further reading
*Cosgrove, Bill. ''Chicago's Forgotten Tragedy''. AuthorHouse, 2010. .External links
Chicago Public Library Account
Chicago, IL Union Stockyard Fire, Dec 1910, gendisasters.com
{{Chicago Fire Department, state=autocollapse 1910 fires in the United States Building fires in the United States Fires in Illinois History of Chicago 1910 in Illinois Chicago Fire Department Building collapses in the United States Building collapses caused by fire