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Subject: [Bklyn] Brooklyn Union Argus - 21 Sept 1882
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 22:51:50 EST
Brooklyn Union Argus - 21 Sept 1882
FIREMAN KEEGAN'S DEATH - Testimony Taken At the Coroner's Inquest - Coroner
Parker has Something to Say About Expecting Firemen to Risk Their Lives to
Save a Few Gallons of Oil.
Coroner PARKER held an inquest yesterday afternoon in the case of the
death of Fireman KEEGAN, who was burned at the Greenpoint oil fire on the
15th inst.
William DONALD, proprietor of the Locust Hill Oil Works, where the
fire originated, testified that when he reached the fire he saw the only way
to save anything was to draw off the oil. By five o'clock in the morning
one-half had been drawn off. About twenty minutes later the tank boiled over
and filled the yard with burning oil. KEEGAN was near the tank at the time,
with several men employed in the works and some firemen. They ran and
escaped except KEEGAN, whom the witness afterwards heard was missing. There
was about six hundred barrels of crude oil in the tank.
Fireman Wm. MCCARTY, of Engine Company No. 12, testified that he
worked at the fire until the burning oil drove him away. When the tank
boiled over he was about two hundred feet away; KEEGAN was fifteen or twenty
feet, from the tank. The witness saw Stewart DEARIE, the canal boat
captain, in the mud with his clothing ablaze, and pulled him out. There was
no water at that spot.
John M. MCKENNA, of Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, testified that he
was about ten or twelve feet from the tank when the oil boiled over. DEARIE
said that it was getting warm, and that they would have to turn the water off
from the boat. The foreman of the yard then shut off the valves of the tank.
Witness saw DEARIE run towards the creek and started after him. KEEGAN was
standing about fifteen feet from them, and ran into a passage between the
radiators and the pumping house. Witness escaped by running along the string
piece of the dock. He saw DEARIE burning in the creek.
Hugh TRAVIS and Alexander MCCORMICK, employees of the place, testified
to the breaking out of the fire, and the jury was then charged by the
Coroner. He said that the fatal result of the fire showed a great lack of
judgment on the part of somebody. In my judgment he said, it is improper to
risk a man's life to save a little property we have lost a good citizen and
fireman. No one has a right to expect such a thing.
The jury decided that death was caused by injuries received by being
accidentally burned while in the discharge of duty.
HIRAM BAKER'S SUICIDE. Testimony Taken by Coroner KELLER This Morning - The
Jury Find that the Deceased was Suffering from Aberration of Mind.
Coroner KELLER held an inquest this morning in the case of Hiram
BAKER, who took a fatal dose of carbonic acid at his residence No. 288
Schermerhorn Street, on Tuesday last. Deceased was 71 years of age.
Anna RUSSELL, granddaughter of the deceased; testified. On Tuesday at
about one o'clock in the afternoon, I went up to the third story, back room,
which was occupied as a bedroom by my grandfather. I went through his room
to get into my own room. I found him lying in his bed, his hands were
moving, his eyes twitching, and I believed he had a fit; on closer
examination I found in one hand a bottle and in the other his set of false
teeth. I ran down stairs and told my mother; then I ran out for Dr.
STERLING.
John H. STERLING, M.D., testified that he found BAKER in a state of
complete paralysis. There was contraction of the pupils, labored breathing,
and marks around his mouth and through his beard which were characteristic of
carbolic acid. He was unconscious and said nothing. In the witness' opinion
death was due to carbolic acid poisoning.
Libby RUSSELL, daughter of the deceased, testified that her father was
71 years of age and born in England. He had been despondent in consequence
of the sickness of his wife who is at the point of death, and was
weak-minded. He was not a drinking man.
The jury decided that death was due to carbolic acid poisoning, which
poison was taken by deceased with intent to destroy his own life while
laboring from aberrations of mind and despondency.
OVERCOME BY THE HEAT. Officer James REGLEY, of the First Precinct was
overcome by the heat in Adams Street yesterday.
Charles CONNOLLY, a blacksmith, living at No. 12 Cole Street,
succumbed to the heat while at work in the Pioneer Iron Works in William
Street yesterday.
C.T. WILHELMINA, a sailor on the bark ROBERT T. LAND, lying at the
foot of Van Brunt Street, was overcome by the heat yesterday and died a short
time later.
ACCIDENTS - Several Serious Casualties Reported by the Police.
Lulu POND, aged 9 years, while cutting smoked beef in the grocery
store under her parent's apartments at No. 250 Myrtle Avenue yesterday,
severely cut her left wrist.
George ORR, aged 6 years, while playing in the yard of his parents'
residence, No. 7 Seabring Street, yesterday sustained a severe wound on the
head by being struck by a board which was thrown from a window of the house.
Wm. COLLINS, aged 10 years, who lives at the foot of Henry Street, was
yesterday struck by a Hamilton Avenue car driven by Thomas HAYES, in Hamilton
Avenue, near Henry Street, sustaining a fractured leg. He was taken to St.
Peters Hospital.
John STANTON, 10 years of age, of No. 234 Hamilton Avenue, was
yesterday run over in Hamiton Avenue, near Luqueer Street, by a wagon driven
by John LESLIE, of No. 11 Avenue B, New York and slightly hurt.
Annie LUMAX, aged 21, had her left hand slightly burned this morning
while extinguishing a fire, caused in her apartments, at 117 Grand Street, by
the explosion of a kerosene oil lamp.
Transcribed by Mary E. Fitzpatrick
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