Albany Fire Department Line of Duty Deaths
https://www.facebook.com/fireservicelineofdutydeaths/#December 19, 1892 - LODDs
Albany Fire Department. Albany, New York
Captain Charles E. Marshall Engine 4
Fireman Fred Amthor Engine 4
Fireman Bernard Bamer Engine 4
Fireman John W. Bridgford Engine 4
A dust explosion started a spectacular fire in a mill. While operating at the fire, a Captain and three Firemen were killed when a 70 foot high brick wall feel on them, crushing them to death. One of the ironies of the tragedy was that Firemen Bamer was wearing a helmet that had been handed down to him from a Fireman who was also killed in a wall collapse in 1885. Fireman Bamer's dying words were, " I knew it would bring me bad luck", referring to the helmet.
The New York Times
BURIED UNDER THE WALLS; THREE FIREMEN KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED. EXPLOSION IN AN ALBANY FLOUR MILL DESTROYED THE PROPERTY AND TERRIBLY BURNED A PARTNER -- HOURS LATER A WALL SIXTY FEET HIGH FELL ON THE FIREMEN.
ALBANY, Dec. 10 -- At 12:30 o'clock this afternoon a terrific explosion occurred in the elevator shaft of the Fort Orange Milling Company's building, facing oil the river front and backing up on the Erie Canal basin. The sparks set fire to the dry grain and flour. In an instant the blaze rushed up the shaft, and before an alarm was sent in the entire structure was a mass of flames.