| Engine 16 Ladder 7 Supreme Sacrifice |
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Source: Fire Bell Club News Letter June 1999
Engine 16 John J. O'Keefe Fireman
August 17, 1966
Box 5-920-16 Welfare Island Training Academy
Fireman John J. O'Deefe of Engine Company 16 (Manhattan) suffered a fatal heart attack
while training at the fire academy at Welfare Island (Roosevelt Island). He died before
they could get him to a hospital. He was married with Five children and was 46 years old.
Source: FDNY Library Scrap Book.
Ladder 16 James Hartnett Lieutenant
Ladder 16 Louis Hardina Fireman
Ladder 7 William F. Pratt Fireman
Engine 65 John H. Cosgrove Lieutenant
Engine 65 James F. Greene Fireman
Engine 65 Thomas S. Finn Fireman
Engine 39 Peter A. Daly Fireman
August 1, 1932
Engine 39 Edward R. Maloney Fireman
August 18, 1932 (Injured August 1, 1932)
Box 66-22-924 113 East 57th Street
A small fire in the sub cellar followed by an explosion from fumes from the paint shop killed
eight Firemen. The 41 story Ritz Tower was a combination hotel and apartment building
with stores on the first floor. While the Firemen were in the basement groping around in
the smoke filled hallway an explosion ripped through a passageway. Lieutenant James
Hartnett of Ladder 16 and Fireman Thomas Finn of engine 65 were the closest to the
paint shop, were killed instantly. The hallway was filled with bricks and debris from the
explosion. A few men who were not injured started to pull the injured out when three
minutes later a second explosion ripped through the paint shop again. The second
explosion was much bigger than the first, blew wall partitions out and went up the
dumbwaiter to the first floor stores. The jewelry store had its plate glass windows blown
out and over $100, 000 worth of jewels were scattered on the street. Five other Firemen
were killed or fatally injured in the second blast. Lieutenant John Cosgrove of Engine 65
died during the blast along with Fireman Peter Daly of Ladder 16 and William Pratt of
Ladder 7 who were all injured in the first blast and were killed in the second blast. Pratt
was the last one found almost two hours after the blast. He was detailed to Ladder 2.
Fireman Edward Maloney of Engine 39 died from his injuries on August 18, 1932.
Source: New York Times August 2, 1932 Page 1 Column 3 ,Page 3 Column 4-5-6
Engine 16 William E. Schalle Fireman
February 4, 1919
Box 422 377 4th Avenue
Fireman William E. Schalle of Engine 16, was overcome by smoke while fighting a fire at
377 4th Avenue in the Standard Comb Company at 10:10 in the Morning. He died the
next day in the Hospital. Several people were rescued and one worker was killed, but
Fireman Schalle's death was not in any news paper.
Source: NY Times Feb 4, 1919 fie Record NY Herald Feb, 1919 Part 1 Page 3 Column 4
Ladder 7 Harry E. Flynn Fireman
September 13, 1917
Camp Upton Yaphank Long Island
While assigned to the Military Service Division, Fireman Harry E. Flynn became sick with
influenza while being stationed at Camp Upton, Yaphank, Long Island. The epidemic of
1917-1918 cost fifteen to twenty-one million deaths worldwide and over twelve thousand
New Yorkers each year.
Source: The Encyclopedia of New York City Edited by Kenneth M. Jackson Page 588
Column 2
Engine 16 Joseph H. White Fireman
March 28, 1910
Box 365 1st Avenue and 23rd Street
Joseph White of Engine 16 was run over at 1st Avenue and 23rd Street by his own Engine
yesterday afternoon. He died ten minutes later in Bellevue Hospital. White had failed to
strap himself to the seat when he left the Engine House and when the wheels of the
Engine struck a deep rut he was pitched forward between the two galloping horses. The
wheel of the Engine passed over his body. The fire was at 325 1st Avenue in a grocery
store. White was only 28 years old, unmarried and appointed to the Department on
October 21, 1903.
Source: New York Times March 29, 1910 Page 1
Ladder 7 William Ryan Fireman
November 4, 1901
Box 387 1st Avenue and 23rd Street
Fireman William Ryan, was 58 years old of East 10th Street, attached to Hook & Ladder
Company No. 7 was killed yesterday afternoon. Ryan with his Company had responded
to a slight fire at 400 East 23rd Street and driving the horses in place of the regular
driver. When the Truck halted in front of 403 East 23rd Street. Ryan attempted to
descent to the pavement. His foot slipped from the top of the wheel and he fell. His head
struck the stones of the pavement, and he never regained consciousness. When an
ambulance arrived from Bellevue Hospital a few minutes later, Ryan was dead.
Source: New York Times, Nov 5 1901 Page 14 Column 2
Engine 16 Jacob Edler Fireman
March 27, 1871 (Injured March 18, 1871)
Box 548 2nd Avenue and 38th Street
Fireman Edler was killed while driving the tender of Engine 16. Ladder 7 was standing on
the railroad tracks in 2nd Avenue near East 38th Street. Engine 16 went up the Avenue
on the same track and ran into the rear part of the truck. Fireman Edler was struck with
the point of the 42 foot ladder and thrown to he pavement, causing a compound fracture
of the right leg. One of the Engines horses was injured, the pole broken, and the brace of
the seat bent. The 42 foot ladder also broke.
Source: The Casualties and Deaths in the Uniformed Force book FDNY Page 7
Engine 16 John J. O'Keefe Fireman
August 17, 1966
Box 5-920-16 Welfare Island Training Academy
Fireman John J. O'Deefe of Engine Company 16 (Manhattan) suffered a fatal heart attack
while training at the fire academy at Welfare Island (Roosevelt Island). He died before
they could get him to a hospital. He was married with Five children and was 46 years old.
Source: FDNY Library Scrap Book.
Ladder 16 James Hartnett Lieutenant
Ladder 16 Louis Hardina Fireman
Ladder 7 William F. Pratt Fireman
Engine 65 John H. Cosgrove Lieutenant
Engine 65 James F. Greene Fireman
Engine 65 Thomas S. Finn Fireman
Engine 39 Peter A. Daly Fireman
August 1, 1932
Engine 39 Edward R. Maloney Fireman
August 18, 1932 (Injured August 1, 1932)
Box 66-22-924 113 East 57th Street
A small fire in the sub cellar followed by an explosion from fumes from the paint shop killed
eight Firemen. The 41 story Ritz Tower was a combination hotel and apartment building
with stores on the first floor. While the Firemen were in the basement groping around in
the smoke filled hallway an explosion ripped through a passageway. Lieutenant James
Hartnett of Ladder 16 and Fireman Thomas Finn of engine 65 were the closest to the
paint shop, were killed instantly. The hallway was filled with bricks and debris from the
explosion. A few men who were not injured started to pull the injured out when three
minutes later a second explosion ripped through the paint shop again. The second
explosion was much bigger than the first, blew wall partitions out and went up the
dumbwaiter to the first floor stores. The jewelry store had its plate glass windows blown
out and over $100, 000 worth of jewels were scattered on the street. Five other Firemen
were killed or fatally injured in the second blast. Lieutenant John Cosgrove of Engine 65
died during the blast along with Fireman Peter Daly of Ladder 16 and William Pratt of
Ladder 7 who were all injured in the first blast and were killed in the second blast. Pratt
was the last one found almost two hours after the blast. He was detailed to Ladder 2.
Fireman Edward Maloney of Engine 39 died from his injuries on August 18, 1932.
Source: New York Times August 2, 1932 Page 1 Column 3 ,Page 3 Column 4-5-6
Engine 16 William E. Schalle Fireman
February 4, 1919
Box 422 377 4th Avenue
Fireman William E. Schalle of Engine 16, was overcome by smoke while fighting a fire at
377 4th Avenue in the Standard Comb Company at 10:10 in the Morning. He died the
next day in the Hospital. Several people were rescued and one worker was killed, but
Fireman Schalle's death was not in any news paper.
Source: NY Times Feb 4, 1919 fie Record NY Herald Feb, 1919 Part 1 Page 3 Column 4
Ladder 7 Harry E. Flynn Fireman
September 13, 1917
Camp Upton Yaphank Long Island
While assigned to the Military Service Division, Fireman Harry E. Flynn became sick with
influenza while being stationed at Camp Upton, Yaphank, Long Island. The epidemic of
1917-1918 cost fifteen to twenty-one million deaths worldwide and over twelve thousand
New Yorkers each year.
Source: The Encyclopedia of New York City Edited by Kenneth M. Jackson Page 588
Column 2
Engine 16 Joseph H. White Fireman
March 28, 1910
Box 365 1st Avenue and 23rd Street
Joseph White of Engine 16 was run over at 1st Avenue and 23rd Street by his own Engine
yesterday afternoon. He died ten minutes later in Bellevue Hospital. White had failed to
strap himself to the seat when he left the Engine House and when the wheels of the
Engine struck a deep rut he was pitched forward between the two galloping horses. The
wheel of the Engine passed over his body. The fire was at 325 1st Avenue in a grocery
store. White was only 28 years old, unmarried and appointed to the Department on
October 21, 1903.
Source: New York Times March 29, 1910 Page 1
Ladder 7 William Ryan Fireman
November 4, 1901
Box 387 1st Avenue and 23rd Street
Fireman William Ryan, was 58 years old of East 10th Street, attached to Hook & Ladder
Company No. 7 was killed yesterday afternoon. Ryan with his Company had responded
to a slight fire at 400 East 23rd Street and driving the horses in place of the regular
driver. When the Truck halted in front of 403 East 23rd Street. Ryan attempted to
descent to the pavement. His foot slipped from the top of the wheel and he fell. His head
struck the stones of the pavement, and he never regained consciousness. When an
ambulance arrived from Bellevue Hospital a few minutes later, Ryan was dead.
Source: New York Times, Nov 5 1901 Page 14 Column 2
Engine 16 Jacob Edler Fireman
March 27, 1871 (Injured March 18, 1871)
Box 548 2nd Avenue and 38th Street
Fireman Edler was killed while driving the tender of Engine 16. Ladder 7 was standing on
the railroad tracks in 2nd Avenue near East 38th Street. Engine 16 went up the Avenue
on the same track and ran into the rear part of the truck. Fireman Edler was struck with
the point of the 42 foot ladder and thrown to he pavement, causing a compound fracture
of the right leg. One of the Engines horses was injured, the pole broken, and the brace of
the seat bent. The 42 foot ladder also broke.
Source: The Casualties and Deaths in the Uniformed Force book FDNY Page 7