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CLUB VALIANTS INC.
“Good Conduct and Courage Lead to Honor”
Charter Member International Association of Black Professional
Fire Fighters
(IABPFF)
7543 Williams Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19150-2211
215-276-8222/215-548-0333 (F)

Firefighter Stephen Presco
Engine 11

Killed in Line of Duty
March 07, 1907

_______________________________
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CITY’S NEGRO FIREMAN DEAD
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Only Man of His Race in Department
Dies of Injuries Received at a Fire
Stephen E. Presco, the only negro in
the Philadelphia Fire Department, died
in Jefferson Hospital yesterday as a
result of injuries received on
Wednesday at the fire at 823 Filbert
Street.

Presco and four others were standing
on a fire-escape on the sixth floor
when the walls of the building
collapsed and the men were hurled to
the ground. Three of Presco’s ribs
were fractured and he was injured
internally.

For 16 years Presco, who was 40
years old had been the only negro
fireman in this city. He lived at 1728
Christian Street. He was first
appointed in 1891 and assigned to
Engine Company No. 17, at Broad and
Race Streets. Later he was
transferred to Engine Company No.
11, South Street near Tenth. Many
were his narrow escapes from death.
Once at Broad and Bainbridge Streets
in a collision between his engine and a
truck he escaped with lacerations of
the scalp when a companion was
killed. On another occasion he slipped
and fell through the open hatchway of
a burning vessel, escaping with
bruises.
______________________________

PRESCO – On March 07, STEPHEN E.
PRESCO, son of Sophia and the late
George W. Presco, aged 40 years.
Relatives and friends, Engine
Company, No. 11; Relief Association
Philadelphia Fire Department in
general, Insurance Patrol and O.V.
Catto Lodge, I.B. P.O. of Elks invited to
attend the funeral service, Bethel A.M.
E. Church, 6th St. below Pine,
Tuesday, 12:00 Noon. Remains may
be viewed at residence, 1728 Christian
Street, Monday, from 8 to 10:30 PM
and at the church on Tuesday, from 9
to 12 Noon. Interment Eden Cemetery.

FIVE FIREMEN FALL WITH FIRE
ESCAPE
_______________________________
__

Iron Platform Breaks Away
From Burning Building at
823 Filbert Street
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MEN ARE BADLY HURT
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Five fireman were badly injured about
4’o’clock yesterday morning by the
collapse of a fire-escape at 823-25
Filbert Street, during the progress of a
fire which partially wrecked the
buildings from 821 to 827 Filbert
Street, and caused a loss of $50,000.

The injured men are:
CHARLES WILSON, 142 League
Street; fracture of both legs at the
thighs, internal injuries and lacerations
of the head.
JOHN MANSON, 1436 Christian Street;
fractured arm and internal injuries.
GEORGE WALKER, 507 Fitzwater
Street; body crushed.
STEPHEN E. PRESCO, 1728 Christian
Street; the only negro fireman in the
city; ribs fractured and internal injuries.
JOHN J. SULLIVAN, 5380 De Lancey
Street; sprained shoulder and knee.

All the men were members of the
South and Alder Streets Engine
Company. They were taken to the
Jefferson Hospital. Sullivan was able
to leave after a time.
The men had gone up the fire-escape
to the sixth floor. Just as they stepped
upon the upper platform the brick wall
to which it was attached, weakened by
the intense heat and the burning away
of interior supports, bulged and fell
outward
Down went the iron platform, striking
the framework on the floor below and
being deflected outward. It crashed
through the roof of the Dill & Collins
building, across the narrow alley,
known as Schell Street, making a
ragged hole 20 by 40 feet. Manson
clung to the fire-escape and was found
unconscious on the third floor of the
Dill and Collins building. The other
four men were hurled to the ground,
and were picked up in the alley.
William A. Davis, a negro watchman,
discovered the fire in a big box of
cotton waste, on the third floor of the
double building at 823-25, occupied by
J. Stern and Sons, shirt and waist
manufacturers. He tried to put it out
with a bucket of water before giving an
alarm. By the time the firemen arrived
the flames had gained great headway,
and it took a three hours fight to get
them under control.
The first floor of the building is
occupied by the Standard Sewing
Machine Company, and the second,
fourth, fifth and sixth floors by the
Supplee, Reeve and Whiting
Company, umbrella manufacturers.
Nearly all the goods on the three
upper floors were destroyed and that
part of the building ruined. The
tenants on the lower floors lost heavily
by water.
When the fire-excape fell into the
building occupied by Dill and Collins,
paper-makers, at 827-29, the flames
leaped the alley and threatened to
complete the destruction begun by the
falling iron frame-work. It was
necessary to almost flood the place
with water, and most of the stock of
paper stored in the building was
ruined. The building was new. The
damage to the roof alone was
estimated at $5,000. The total loss will
exceed $10,000.
Hastings and Co., gold leaf
manufacturers at 819-21, were also
damaged by water.
Nearly one hundred operatives
employed by the umbrella and shirt
makers have been thrown out of work
by the fire.
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