Policeman Jacob Albright died trying to save the life of another officer, Hiram Hammer, at the scene of a building fire near 3rd and Callowhill sts. He died several days later from congestion of the lungs caused by injuries sustained at the fire. He was 49 years old.
Hiram Hammer, of the Marshal's Police of Northern Liberties, died the night of Wednesday, December 21, 1853 of injuries in the collapse of James S. Keen and J. Firth's warehouse on North Third street. The building was owned by a Mr. David Fitzpatrick. Keen was a dealer in leather, hides, goatskins, sumac oils, &c. There was heavy stock of these goods that were consumed in the fire.
About 10:30 p.m. on December 21st, fire broke out in the large double four-storied brick storehouse nos. 198 and 200 North Third street, between Wood and Callowhill streets. The looking-glass store owned by Jacob Fritz, No., 196 adjoining on the south, quickly caught on fire.
Hammer was in the Fritz property with members of local fire companies when a falling wall broke through the roof and carried each successive floor to the cellar. Hammer and between five or six firemen were trapped by the debris. Most of the firemen got out quickly except for one. Hammer was heard moaning under the rubble.
Another Marshall officer, Jacob Albright (of the Northern Liberties Division) was also injured attempting to rescue Hammer. Officer Albright and Officer Jenkins had tied a rope around Hammer to pull him out when another portion of the building collapsed causing a timber beam to fall on Albright's legs, trapping him up to the waist for two hours. During that time, firemen kept water on the burning timbers beyond him and he was provided stimulants and freed by using jackscrews. He had terrible burns on his lower limbs. He was extricated at 1:30 a.m. The crowd cheered when he was released and he was carried to his home.
One of the fireman was reported missing. Hammer's mutilated body was recovered between 10 and 11 a.m. the next day, December 22nd. His skull had been fractured and one arm and one foot were dreadfully burned. His face and body were disfigured. By 9 o'clock that evening, doctors thought Albright was recovering.
Hammer's funeral was held December 25, 1853 at his residence 257 Second Street near Callowhill. Policeman Jacob Albright died later that night at his 51 Duke street residence in Northern Liberties. He was interred at Old Dunkards Burial Ground in Germantown.
The funeral of Policeman Albright was held on December 30, 1853 at 2 p.m. from his residence and he was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Officer Hammer left a wife and six children. In early January 1854, a man named Jacob H. Vanderree was arrested for falsely collecting money for the widow. He had a history of arrests for similar acts.
In April 1854, construction was underway for two four-storied stores where the building collapsed.
Biography by Drew Techner
Hiram Hammer, of the Marshal's Police of Northern Liberties, died the night of Wednesday, December 21, 1853 of injuries in the collapse of James S. Keen and J. Firth's warehouse on North Third street. The building was owned by a Mr. David Fitzpatrick. Keen was a dealer in leather, hides, goatskins, sumac oils, &c. There was heavy stock of these goods that were consumed in the fire.
About 10:30 p.m. on December 21st, fire broke out in the large double four-storied brick storehouse nos. 198 and 200 North Third street, between Wood and Callowhill streets. The looking-glass store owned by Jacob Fritz, No., 196 adjoining on the south, quickly caught on fire.
Hammer was in the Fritz property with members of local fire companies when a falling wall broke through the roof and carried each successive floor to the cellar. Hammer and between five or six firemen were trapped by the debris. Most of the firemen got out quickly except for one. Hammer was heard moaning under the rubble.
Another Marshall officer, Jacob Albright (of the Northern Liberties Division) was also injured attempting to rescue Hammer. Officer Albright and Officer Jenkins had tied a rope around Hammer to pull him out when another portion of the building collapsed causing a timber beam to fall on Albright's legs, trapping him up to the waist for two hours. During that time, firemen kept water on the burning timbers beyond him and he was provided stimulants and freed by using jackscrews. He had terrible burns on his lower limbs. He was extricated at 1:30 a.m. The crowd cheered when he was released and he was carried to his home.
One of the fireman was reported missing. Hammer's mutilated body was recovered between 10 and 11 a.m. the next day, December 22nd. His skull had been fractured and one arm and one foot were dreadfully burned. His face and body were disfigured. By 9 o'clock that evening, doctors thought Albright was recovering.
Hammer's funeral was held December 25, 1853 at his residence 257 Second Street near Callowhill. Policeman Jacob Albright died later that night at his 51 Duke street residence in Northern Liberties. He was interred at Old Dunkards Burial Ground in Germantown.
The funeral of Policeman Albright was held on December 30, 1853 at 2 p.m. from his residence and he was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Officer Hammer left a wife and six children. In early January 1854, a man named Jacob H. Vanderree was arrested for falsely collecting money for the widow. He had a history of arrests for similar acts.
In April 1854, construction was underway for two four-storied stores where the building collapsed.
Biography by Drew Techner
Policeman Jacob Albright died trying to save the life of another officer, Hiram Hammer, at the scene of a building fire near 3rd and Callowhill sts. He died several days later from congestion of the lungs caused by injuries sustained at the fire. He was 49 years old.
Hiram Hammer, of the Marshal's Police of Northern Liberties, died the night of Wednesday, December 21, 1853 of injuries in the collapse of James S. Keen and J. Firth's warehouse on North Third street. The building was owned by a Mr. David Fitzpatrick. Keen was a dealer in leather, hides, goatskins, sumac oils, &c. There was heavy stock of these goods that were consumed in the fire.
About 10:30 p.m. on December 21st, fire broke out in the large double four-storied brick storehouse nos. 198 and 200 North Third street, between Wood and Callowhill streets. The looking-glass store owned by Jacob Fritz, No., 196 adjoining on the south, quickly caught on fire.
Hammer was in the Fritz property with members of local fire companies when a falling wall broke through the roof and carried each successive floor to the cellar. Hammer and between five or six firemen were trapped by the debris. Most of the firemen got out quickly except for one. Hammer was heard moaning under the rubble.
Another Marshall officer, Jacob Albright (of the Northern Liberties Division) was also injured attempting to rescue Hammer. Officer Albright and Officer Jenkins had tied a rope around Hammer to pull him out when another portion of the building collapsed causing a timber beam to fall on Albright's legs, trapping him up to the waist for two hours. During that time, firemen kept water on the burning timbers beyond him and he was provided stimulants and freed by using jackscrews. He had terrible burns on his lower limbs. He was extricated at 1:30 a.m. The crowd cheered when he was released and he was carried to his home.
One of the fireman was reported missing. Hammer's mutilated body was recovered between 10 and 11 a.m. the next day, December 22nd. His skull had been fractured and one arm and one foot were dreadfully burned. His face and body were disfigured. By 9 o'clock that evening, doctors thought Albright was recovering.
Hammer's funeral was held December 25, 1853 at his residence 257 Second Street near Callowhill. Policeman Jacob Albright died later that night at his 51 Duke street residence in Northern Liberties. He was interred at Old Dunkards Burial Ground in Germantown.
The funeral of Policeman Albright was held on December 30, 1853 at 2 p.m. from his residence and he was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Officer Hammer left a wife and six children. In early January 1854, a man named Jacob H. Vanderree was arrested for falsely collecting money for the widow. He had a history of arrests for similar acts.
In April 1854, construction was underway for two four-storied stores where the building collapsed.
Biography by Drew Techner
Hiram Hammer, of the Marshal's Police of Northern Liberties, died the night of Wednesday, December 21, 1853 of injuries in the collapse of James S. Keen and J. Firth's warehouse on North Third street. The building was owned by a Mr. David Fitzpatrick. Keen was a dealer in leather, hides, goatskins, sumac oils, &c. There was heavy stock of these goods that were consumed in the fire.
About 10:30 p.m. on December 21st, fire broke out in the large double four-storied brick storehouse nos. 198 and 200 North Third street, between Wood and Callowhill streets. The looking-glass store owned by Jacob Fritz, No., 196 adjoining on the south, quickly caught on fire.
Hammer was in the Fritz property with members of local fire companies when a falling wall broke through the roof and carried each successive floor to the cellar. Hammer and between five or six firemen were trapped by the debris. Most of the firemen got out quickly except for one. Hammer was heard moaning under the rubble.
Another Marshall officer, Jacob Albright (of the Northern Liberties Division) was also injured attempting to rescue Hammer. Officer Albright and Officer Jenkins had tied a rope around Hammer to pull him out when another portion of the building collapsed causing a timber beam to fall on Albright's legs, trapping him up to the waist for two hours. During that time, firemen kept water on the burning timbers beyond him and he was provided stimulants and freed by using jackscrews. He had terrible burns on his lower limbs. He was extricated at 1:30 a.m. The crowd cheered when he was released and he was carried to his home.
One of the fireman was reported missing. Hammer's mutilated body was recovered between 10 and 11 a.m. the next day, December 22nd. His skull had been fractured and one arm and one foot were dreadfully burned. His face and body were disfigured. By 9 o'clock that evening, doctors thought Albright was recovering.
Hammer's funeral was held December 25, 1853 at his residence 257 Second Street near Callowhill. Policeman Jacob Albright died later that night at his 51 Duke street residence in Northern Liberties. He was interred at Old Dunkards Burial Ground in Germantown.
The funeral of Policeman Albright was held on December 30, 1853 at 2 p.m. from his residence and he was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Officer Hammer left a wife and six children. In early January 1854, a man named Jacob H. Vanderree was arrested for falsely collecting money for the widow. He had a history of arrests for similar acts.
In April 1854, construction was underway for two four-storied stores where the building collapsed.
Biography by Drew Techner
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