Battalion Chief Eugene Terpeny was one of the striking figures of the Department when in the heyday of his glory as a firefighter. He was six feet four inches in height and built in the proportion. His career was one of honor and credit. He was appointed as a fireman on March 7, 1880, when he was twenty-two years old. He rose steadily to the positions of lieutenant and captain. When he had served twenty years in the Department he was made Battalion Chief.
On April 6, 1897 he met his first serious mishap. In a dangerous fire in Harlem, his men had to span the space between two buildings with a ladder to reach the seat of the fire. He plunged twenty feet; an injury to his spine and internal injuries resulting.
In his career he had many remarkable escapes and saved a dozen lives at the risk of his own. When he was made Battalion Chief, Hook and Ladder Company 10 and Harlem admirers presented him with a diamond badge.
He retired after 34 years of service to the City of New York and lived out the remainder of his life in Jamesport on the North Fork of Long Island.
~courtesy of Gary U.
On April 6, 1897 he met his first serious mishap. In a dangerous fire in Harlem, his men had to span the space between two buildings with a ladder to reach the seat of the fire. He plunged twenty feet; an injury to his spine and internal injuries resulting.
In his career he had many remarkable escapes and saved a dozen lives at the risk of his own. When he was made Battalion Chief, Hook and Ladder Company 10 and Harlem admirers presented him with a diamond badge.
He retired after 34 years of service to the City of New York and lived out the remainder of his life in Jamesport on the North Fork of Long Island.
~courtesy of Gary U.
Battalion Chief Eugene Terpeny was one of the striking figures of the Department when in the heyday of his glory as a firefighter. He was six feet four inches in height and built in the proportion. His career was one of honor and credit. He was appointed as a fireman on March 7, 1880, when he was twenty-two years old. He rose steadily to the positions of lieutenant and captain. When he had served twenty years in the Department he was made Battalion Chief.
On April 6, 1897 he met his first serious mishap. In a dangerous fire in Harlem, his men had to span the space between two buildings with a ladder to reach the seat of the fire. He plunged twenty feet; an injury to his spine and internal injuries resulting.
In his career he had many remarkable escapes and saved a dozen lives at the risk of his own. When he was made Battalion Chief, Hook and Ladder Company 10 and Harlem admirers presented him with a diamond badge.
He retired after 34 years of service to the City of New York and lived out the remainder of his life in Jamesport on the North Fork of Long Island.
~courtesy of Gary U.
On April 6, 1897 he met his first serious mishap. In a dangerous fire in Harlem, his men had to span the space between two buildings with a ladder to reach the seat of the fire. He plunged twenty feet; an injury to his spine and internal injuries resulting.
In his career he had many remarkable escapes and saved a dozen lives at the risk of his own. When he was made Battalion Chief, Hook and Ladder Company 10 and Harlem admirers presented him with a diamond badge.
He retired after 34 years of service to the City of New York and lived out the remainder of his life in Jamesport on the North Fork of Long Island.
~courtesy of Gary U.
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