Will The Real Hero Please Stand??

During a fire on Springfield Avenue during August, 1912, a firefighter bravely rescued a woman from the flames.

Captain Denis Guidera, of Truck 3, was commended by the Board of Commissioners after reading his account of the rescue at their weekly meeting. He stated that he had used a 20-foot ladder to rescue the girl from a second-floor balcony, where she was appealing for help.

No sooner than they had issued words of approval regarding Captain Guidera's heroism, they read a report from Captain Joseph A. Weber, of Engine 6, that Firefighter Rothlein, of his company, had performed the same heroic rescue.

After the shock of the conflicting reports wore off, a third account was read of the rescue from Captain James Dolan, of Engine 20, claiming he was the valiant rescuer!!

It seems that back in the good ol' days, feats of personal bravery weighed heavily in promotions.

It's unknown what decision was reached by the commissioners, but I do know that Captain Denis Guidera did go on to become a Battalion Chief.