Post by tammccann on Aug 24, 2010 17:40:42 GMT 1
John Battersby, James Hastie, Charles Orr and David Smith died at a fire in Hatrick's, Renfield Street, Glasgow on the 7th January, 1898
On the 7th of January 1898 a large fire raged in the centre of Glasgow. The Glasgow Fire Service responded to the alarm call in the usual manner by dispatching horse drawn steam pumps and handcarts which raced to the scene from the fire station located in College Street.
As the fire ripped through the property of W&R Hatricks chemical works in Renfield Street a large explosion took place causing an upper floor to collapse, burying and killing four Glasgow Firemen. John Battersby senior (a Glasgow councillor and magistrate) had penned a poem in memory of the four Firemen who were killed.
A CALL TO DUTY; T’was nobly done,
In doing that DUTY a crown was won;
The lives of others, a life each gave.
A CALL TO DUTY; t’was nothing rare
to receive the summons, and danger share;
Each man to his post of peril sprang
The moment the alarming Fire-bell rang
The sleeping city aroused by the sound
of rushing feet, while all around
a ruddy glow o’er roof and spire,
Proclaimed the dreadful sign of ‘FIRE’
soon, brave hearts, they thought the danger past
The flames grew dim, subdued at last.
When lo! regardless of the hissing sound,
The Firemen nobley stood their ground.
Hark, The loud thunder burst, the shattered wall,
The choking cloud, the crashing fall,
The piercing shriek, the smothered groan,
The mattered prayer, the dying moan
Think of the dead, for ever gone,
Leaving wives and weans to mourn,
The skillful may heal, assuage the pain
But who shall call the dead to life again.
Mourn for the dead by the blood stained hier,
Stand mute, and let a sympathising tear,
Be shed for the widows and children left,
Their nearest and dearest by , death now bereft.
JOHN BATTERSBY (senior)
Saddly the only grave that has toppled over is John Battersby
i am hopefull that we can get this restored to its former place
On the 7th of January 1898 a large fire raged in the centre of Glasgow. The Glasgow Fire Service responded to the alarm call in the usual manner by dispatching horse drawn steam pumps and handcarts which raced to the scene from the fire station located in College Street.
As the fire ripped through the property of W&R Hatricks chemical works in Renfield Street a large explosion took place causing an upper floor to collapse, burying and killing four Glasgow Firemen. John Battersby senior (a Glasgow councillor and magistrate) had penned a poem in memory of the four Firemen who were killed.
A CALL TO DUTY; T’was nobly done,
In doing that DUTY a crown was won;
The lives of others, a life each gave.
A CALL TO DUTY; t’was nothing rare
to receive the summons, and danger share;
Each man to his post of peril sprang
The moment the alarming Fire-bell rang
The sleeping city aroused by the sound
of rushing feet, while all around
a ruddy glow o’er roof and spire,
Proclaimed the dreadful sign of ‘FIRE’
soon, brave hearts, they thought the danger past
The flames grew dim, subdued at last.
When lo! regardless of the hissing sound,
The Firemen nobley stood their ground.
Hark, The loud thunder burst, the shattered wall,
The choking cloud, the crashing fall,
The piercing shriek, the smothered groan,
The mattered prayer, the dying moan
Think of the dead, for ever gone,
Leaving wives and weans to mourn,
The skillful may heal, assuage the pain
But who shall call the dead to life again.
Mourn for the dead by the blood stained hier,
Stand mute, and let a sympathising tear,
Be shed for the widows and children left,
Their nearest and dearest by , death now bereft.
JOHN BATTERSBY (senior)
Saddly the only grave that has toppled over is John Battersby
i am hopefull that we can get this restored to its former place