Firefighter William Davis

Photo of Firefighter William Davis
Last Call: Thu, Dec 10th, 1891
Date of Incident: Wed, Dec 9th, 1891
Cause of Death: Structural Collapse
Service Time: 18 years
Age: 45

Incident

On December 9, 1891 at 6:20pm a fire started at the Boone Paper Company in the 600 block of West Jefferson Street and quickly spread to the upper floors and roof of the Bamberger Streng & Co, F. W. Johanboeke & Son and the Bliss-Woolford-Payne Company.

The fire was brought under control with great difficulty at 10:00pm. Several fire companies were left to overhaul the Boone Paper Company. Some of the gas accumulated in the basement of the Bamberger and Streng & Co. building located next door to the burned out ruins of the Boone Paper Company.

At approximately 2:34am, while firemen were raking away the ruins of the Boone Paper company, a large gas explosion occured at the Banberger, Strong & Co. building and flames broke from every floor and shot through the roof.

The explosion caused a wall from the Boone Paper Company to collapse onto Firefighters Samuel Baker, William Davis, Thomas Moore and Anthony Schlicht.

All 4 firefighters perished in the explosion.

Agency

Louisville Fire Department
Louisville Fire Department Patch
Louisville Salvage Corps Patch
Louisville Volunteer Fire Department Patch
1135 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40203
(502) 574-3701
Chief Gregory Frederick

Tributes

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