IFLODD: Firefighter Memorial


Firefighter Record

Firefighter Details

Name George Rau
Agency Chicago Fire Department
Rank Captain
Type of Firefighter Career
Age Range [Unknown]
Sex Male
Date of Birth 0/0/0
Date of Death 8/8/1878
Cause of Death Vehicle collision
Nature of Death Trauma
Attribute of Death [not applicable]
Type of Duty Responding to/returning from incident

Incident Details

Incident Name N/A
Incident City Chicago
Incident State IL
Incident Date 8/8/1878 3:24
Incident Location Street/Road
Incident Attribute Traffic accidents

Incident Summary

On August 8, 1878, Chicago Fire Department Captain George H. Rau of Engine 1 died in the line of duty while responding to a fire alarm near the intersection of Randolph and Market Streets. Rau and three other firefighters were traveling north on Franklin Street in the Engine 1 hose cart when they were struck by a Chicago Fire Patrol wagon traveling west on Monroe Street. The hose cart overturned and Rau was crushed under the cart’s right wheel. Two other firefighters were injured in the collision, but the hose cart driver and the fourteen men in the patrol wagon were uninjured.

Citations:

“Fatal Accident,” Chicago Daily Tribune, Aug. 9, 1878.

“The Collision,” Chicago Daily Tribune, Aug. 10, 1878.


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