Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | James Tobin |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Pilot |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 46 to 50 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 12/15/1900 |
| Cause of Death | Caught/Trapped |
| Nature of Death | Asphyxiation |
| Attribute of Death | Drowning |
| Type of Duty | Firehouse duties |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 12/15/1900 18:0 |
| Incident Location | Water/Waterfront |
| Incident Attribute | Boating/Diving accidents |
Incident Summary
On December 15, 1900, Chicago Fire Department Pilot James Tobin of Engine 41 died in the line of duty when he slipped off a dock and drowned in the Chicago River.
Tobin left the Engine 41 firehouse on Throop Street at 6PM to report for duty on the fireboat Geyser. When the boat’s captain called for a change of watch at midnight, firefighters realized Tobin was missing. After finding Tobin’s cap near the boat’s bow, firefighters dragged the river with boat hooks and recovered Tobin’s body.
A member of the department for fifteen years, Tobin was also a veteran of the Civil War.
Citations:
“Fireman James Tobin Drowns,” Chicago Daily Tribune, December 17, 1900.
Firefighter and Incident Images
