Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | Henry Coyle |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Pipeman |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | [Unknown] |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 6/14/1879 |
| Cause of Death | Caught/Trapped |
| Nature of Death | Asphyxiation |
| Attribute of Death | Drowning |
| Type of Duty | Responding to/returning from incident |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 6/14/1879 0:26 |
| Incident Location | Street/Road , Water/Waterfront |
| Incident Attribute | Traffic accidents |
Incident Summary
On June 14, 1879, Chicago Fire Department Pipeman Henry T. Coyle of Engine 11 died in the line of duty while responding to a fire alarm near the intersection of LaSalle and Lake Streets.
Coyle and three other firefighters were riding in the Engine 11 hose cart as it raced south on State Street, and the hose cart was less than forty feet away from the State Street Bridge before the driver realized that the swing bridge was open. As the other two firefighters jumped clear, Coyle and the driver attempted to stop the horse, but they were pulled into the river along with the hose cart. The driver survived the fall, but Coyle drowned.
Funeral services for Coyle were held at St. Stephen’s Church on June 16, and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery.
Citations:
“Terrible Accident,” Chicago Daily Tribune, June 14, 1879.
“Murder,” Chicago Daily Tribune, June 15, 1879.
“The Bridge Horror,” Chicago Daily Tribune, June 15, 1879.
“Coyle’s Funeral,” Chicago Daily Tribune, June 17, 1879.
Firefighter and Incident Images
