Today in Fire History 7/13
On 7/13/1865 the P. T. Barnum's museum burned down; for a twenty-five-cent admission, visitors viewed an ever-revolving series of "attractions" in the building located on the corner of Broadway and Ann Street in lower Manhattan. “Barnum quickly re-opened the American Museum at a different location, but it too burned to the ground in 1868. After the second fire, Barnum turned to the circus, for which he remains well known to this day.”
On 7/13/1863 anti-draft mobs burn several buildings in New York City; over 1,000 died in the “New York Draft Riots.” A violent disturbance resulting from new laws passed by Congress drafting men to fight in Civil War, this is the largest civil insurrection in American history excluding the Civil War. Lincoln sent several regiments of militia and troops to control the city.
On 7/13/1958 an Anne Arundel County, Maryland firefighter “collapsed while fighting a fire. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.”
On 7/13/1980 two Adell, Wisconsin firefighters died in “an explosion that occurred after firefighters had put out what appeared to be "a routine shed fire." Several fireworks being stored in the utility shed exploded.”
On 7/13/1992 a Calgary, Canada firefighter “died from smoke inhalation received after entering a burning building looking for possible victims, while battling a three-alarm fire at the 17th Avenue Inn, 3608 17th Ave. S.E”
On 7/13/1996 a Holyoke, Massachusetts firefighter died “while searching for victims at a multiple-family dwelling fire. The firefighter's crew was ordered to search the interior of the third floor (fire floor). While searching and ventilating, the firefighter collapsed on the porch of one of the apartments. He was not revived despite the attempts of fellow firefighters who performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.”
On 7/13/1997 a Bangor, Michigan firefighter died “after 45 minutes of fighting a fire, which destroyed a mobile home, he collapsed due to extreme heat exhaustion. The air temperature was 90 degrees and the humidity was quite high. He was rushed to the hospital.”
On 7/13/1994 a gas explosion at an old age home in Milan a city in northern Italy killed twenty-seven.
On 7/13/1945 a four-alarm fire in the ten-story Houston, Texas Cotton Hotel resulted in a mass evacuation of nearly 200 guests.
On 7/13/1911 forest fires killed twenty-seven in Porcupine District,?Ontario.
On 7/13/1911 the Duluth, Minnesota waterfront was destroyed by a fire that started in the warehouse.
On 7/13/1908 a box factory in Atlanta, Georgia fire that started at 11:20 p.m. in the four-story building on Marietta Street extended to a stable.
On 7/13/1894 the Edon, Ohio conflagration destroyed seventy-two buildings including nearly the entire business section of the town.
On 7/13/1845 a fire in New York City destroyed over 1,000 homes and killed many.
On 7/13/1977 New York City experiences a 25-hour blackout.
On 7/13/1943 the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in history ended. “The Battle of Kursk, involving some 6,000 tanks, two million men, and 5,000 aircraft, ends with the German offensive repulsed by the Soviets at a heavy cost.”
On 7/13/1865 Horace Greeley advises his readers to "Go west young man"
On 7/13/1787 Congress established the Northwest Territory that excluded slavery.