THE  LAST  ALARM

FIREMAN WILSON E. HENNION

ENGINE CO. 10

MARCH 21, 1881

At 05:30 hours, a sleeping coachman awakened to discover flames on the second floor of the two-story brick carriage house and barn, at 135 Brunswick Street, between Astor and Wright Streets, where he resided. He ran to Alarm Box 28, at Clinton and Elizabeth Avenues, and turned in the alarm, bringing Newark's Bravest to the scene. They found heavy fire showing from the second floor of the structure and threatening nearby properties. However, quick work by fireman kept the fire confined to the building of origin, with damage to the second floor, roof, and cupola.

At the height of the fire, the members of Engine 10 had stretched a line to the second floor via the interior stairs, but couldn't reach the seat of the fire due to very dense smoke. Chief Engineer Benedict, who had entered the second floor via a ladder at the window, took the line and operated it on the fire while lying on his stomach. He then called to the members of Engine 10 to take their line back, and he proceeded to the doorway to get fresh air.

The blue #1 (upper center) indicates the location of the fire building, while #2 (lower right) indicates the
location of Engine 10's quarters.

As he walked to the door, he tripped over the body of a fireman lying on the floor. He dragged the figure to the door, where he was met by other firemen who assisted in carrying the unconscious man to Engine 10's nearby quarters. He was identified as Probationary Fireman Wilson E. Hennion, and a doctor was called to come to the firehouse.

Hennion, 24, who had been with the department just a few days, was pronounced dead. It was his first and last fire. He lived in a boarding house at Astor and Brunswick Sts., and was to be married in a few weeks. It was found that he had heart disease, and doctors felt that the combination of the excitement of the fire and the dense smoke, combined to cause his death. Fire losses were set at $500 ($10,863).