1892 Fall Detroit Newspaper
"Athletic Firemen"
Born in Detroit, he entered the old volunteer department when he was 16 years old making but $4 a week. He always keeps himself in good shape and is a good boxer, wrestler. He won a number of medals at the Scottish and Irish games.
Deadly fumes in a boat.(Detroit Newspaper)
"The men had fought as best they could even though the fumes were deadly. Finally a shift in the wind drove those filling gases back into the faces of the firemen, forcing the men to leave the decks. Down below, in the hold, were three members of E 1, Burns, Pelcher, and McLaughlin. The men on the deck either thought they would follow when one hose was withdrawn or else they forgot they were down there. Anyway, when firemen reached the dock they found those men missing.
It was John O'Neil who braved death down there in the darkness and found the three firemen. When he located them, they were crazy from fear and fumes. They fell upon O'Neil and tore his clothes from his body, but grasping Burns and Pelcher in his arms, he carried them to safety."
Nov 27, 1899 he became chief of battalion 1. Assistant Chief O'Neil retires on account of disabilities 11-1910. He told of his life as he said,
If you like people and treat them right, they will treat you right.
A good fireman observes the entire book of rules and if a man is a good firemen and lives up to the rule book, then he is a good man."
"I belonged to the city of Detroit. And proud I am that I did belong to it for I was born in the city, I have lived here all my life, and it is a city to be proud of."
In the 41 years of his service, Mr. O'Neil was never reprimanded and never had charges brought against him. He died July 4, 1911. The big fellow would likely have chosen death under a fallen wall rather than on a white cot at the St. Mary's hospital, as the result of carbide fumes.
Chiefs McGraw and Callahan and 104 firemen escorted the body of Battalion Chief John O'Neil to its resting place in Mt Elliott Cemetery from St Ann's Catholic Church.
"Athletic Firemen"
Born in Detroit, he entered the old volunteer department when he was 16 years old making but $4 a week. He always keeps himself in good shape and is a good boxer, wrestler. He won a number of medals at the Scottish and Irish games.
Deadly fumes in a boat.(Detroit Newspaper)
"The men had fought as best they could even though the fumes were deadly. Finally a shift in the wind drove those filling gases back into the faces of the firemen, forcing the men to leave the decks. Down below, in the hold, were three members of E 1, Burns, Pelcher, and McLaughlin. The men on the deck either thought they would follow when one hose was withdrawn or else they forgot they were down there. Anyway, when firemen reached the dock they found those men missing.
It was John O'Neil who braved death down there in the darkness and found the three firemen. When he located them, they were crazy from fear and fumes. They fell upon O'Neil and tore his clothes from his body, but grasping Burns and Pelcher in his arms, he carried them to safety."
Nov 27, 1899 he became chief of battalion 1. Assistant Chief O'Neil retires on account of disabilities 11-1910. He told of his life as he said,
If you like people and treat them right, they will treat you right.
A good fireman observes the entire book of rules and if a man is a good firemen and lives up to the rule book, then he is a good man."
"I belonged to the city of Detroit. And proud I am that I did belong to it for I was born in the city, I have lived here all my life, and it is a city to be proud of."
In the 41 years of his service, Mr. O'Neil was never reprimanded and never had charges brought against him. He died July 4, 1911. The big fellow would likely have chosen death under a fallen wall rather than on a white cot at the St. Mary's hospital, as the result of carbide fumes.
Chiefs McGraw and Callahan and 104 firemen escorted the body of Battalion Chief John O'Neil to its resting place in Mt Elliott Cemetery from St Ann's Catholic Church.
1892 Fall Detroit Newspaper
"Athletic Firemen"
Born in Detroit, he entered the old volunteer department when he was 16 years old making but $4 a week. He always keeps himself in good shape and is a good boxer, wrestler. He won a number of medals at the Scottish and Irish games.
Deadly fumes in a boat.(Detroit Newspaper)
"The men had fought as best they could even though the fumes were deadly. Finally a shift in the wind drove those filling gases back into the faces of the firemen, forcing the men to leave the decks. Down below, in the hold, were three members of E 1, Burns, Pelcher, and McLaughlin. The men on the deck either thought they would follow when one hose was withdrawn or else they forgot they were down there. Anyway, when firemen reached the dock they found those men missing.
It was John O'Neil who braved death down there in the darkness and found the three firemen. When he located them, they were crazy from fear and fumes. They fell upon O'Neil and tore his clothes from his body, but grasping Burns and Pelcher in his arms, he carried them to safety."
Nov 27, 1899 he became chief of battalion 1. Assistant Chief O'Neil retires on account of disabilities 11-1910. He told of his life as he said,
If you like people and treat them right, they will treat you right.
A good fireman observes the entire book of rules and if a man is a good firemen and lives up to the rule book, then he is a good man."
"I belonged to the city of Detroit. And proud I am that I did belong to it for I was born in the city, I have lived here all my life, and it is a city to be proud of."
In the 41 years of his service, Mr. O'Neil was never reprimanded and never had charges brought against him. He died July 4, 1911. The big fellow would likely have chosen death under a fallen wall rather than on a white cot at the St. Mary's hospital, as the result of carbide fumes.
Chiefs McGraw and Callahan and 104 firemen escorted the body of Battalion Chief John O'Neil to its resting place in Mt Elliott Cemetery from St Ann's Catholic Church.
"Athletic Firemen"
Born in Detroit, he entered the old volunteer department when he was 16 years old making but $4 a week. He always keeps himself in good shape and is a good boxer, wrestler. He won a number of medals at the Scottish and Irish games.
Deadly fumes in a boat.(Detroit Newspaper)
"The men had fought as best they could even though the fumes were deadly. Finally a shift in the wind drove those filling gases back into the faces of the firemen, forcing the men to leave the decks. Down below, in the hold, were three members of E 1, Burns, Pelcher, and McLaughlin. The men on the deck either thought they would follow when one hose was withdrawn or else they forgot they were down there. Anyway, when firemen reached the dock they found those men missing.
It was John O'Neil who braved death down there in the darkness and found the three firemen. When he located them, they were crazy from fear and fumes. They fell upon O'Neil and tore his clothes from his body, but grasping Burns and Pelcher in his arms, he carried them to safety."
Nov 27, 1899 he became chief of battalion 1. Assistant Chief O'Neil retires on account of disabilities 11-1910. He told of his life as he said,
If you like people and treat them right, they will treat you right.
A good fireman observes the entire book of rules and if a man is a good firemen and lives up to the rule book, then he is a good man."
"I belonged to the city of Detroit. And proud I am that I did belong to it for I was born in the city, I have lived here all my life, and it is a city to be proud of."
In the 41 years of his service, Mr. O'Neil was never reprimanded and never had charges brought against him. He died July 4, 1911. The big fellow would likely have chosen death under a fallen wall rather than on a white cot at the St. Mary's hospital, as the result of carbide fumes.
Chiefs McGraw and Callahan and 104 firemen escorted the body of Battalion Chief John O'Neil to its resting place in Mt Elliott Cemetery from St Ann's Catholic Church.
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