Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Patrick Murphy |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Truckman |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 26 to 30 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 10/19/1883 |
| Cause of Death | Fall |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Firefighting operations |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 10/11/1883 19:0 |
| Incident Location | Industry/ Manufacturing |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
Incident Summary
On October 11, 1883, Chicago Fire Department Truckman Patrick W. Murphy of Truck 2 was fatally injured in the line of duty while fighting an industrial fire. Murphy was injured when he fell three stories at the Weber Wagon Company factory, located at the intersection of Union and Lake Streets.
The fire started around 7PM, and the flames were fed by the dry lumber used for manufacturing wagons. While the brick construction of the building created a furnace-like atmosphere inside the building during the fire, interior brick walls that compartmentalized the building also helped to contain the fire within portions of the second and third floors.
Murphy was treated by a team of doctors at a nearby firehouse, and was later taken to his home, where he succumbed to his injuries on October 19.
Citations
“Conflagrations,” Chicago Daily Tribune, October 12, 1883.
“Fireman Murphy,” Chicago Daily Tribune, October 13, 1883.
Firefighter and Incident Images
