[Accident at] 1001 N. 5th Street
Available
Image Details
- Source:
- The Valentine
- Collection:
- Finnegan Photograph Collection
- Date:
- 6/14/1963
- Region:
-
Richmond, Virginia
(inherited from source) - Description:
- Black and white photograph showing Richmond emergency personnel on the scene of an accident which killed two firefighters, Captain Harvey S. Hicks and Douglas P. Evans, and a contractor, Mr. Perkins; image of fire, police and rescue workers at the rear of 1001 N. 5th Street in Jackson Ward, Richmond, Virginia. __Firefighters remained segregated at Engine Company 9 until 1963. A tragedy struck in 1963 that caused the department to take another look at segregation. On June 14, 1963 Captain Harvey S. Hicks, Douglas P. Evans and Calvin Wade attempted to rescue a self-employed contractor from a 23-feet deep pit. When the three failed to return, Herman Brown went down to see what had happened and saw that all four men had passed out. Feeling weak himself, Brown climbed back up the ladder. Lt. Oscar Blake went down next. Having just enough strength to pull off his mask, Lt. Blake climbed back up the ladder. By that time other firefighters had arrived. Using air packs they brought Wade up, administered oxygen and he regained consciousness. All Wade could remember was Captain Hicks was giving artificial respiration to the contractor. Captain Harvey S. Hicks, Firefighter Douglas P. Evans and the contractor were pronounced deceased on arrival at St. Phillip's Hospital. Captain Harvey S. Hicks, the department's highest-ranking black officer and firefighter Douglas P. Evans suffocated in this rescue attempt of a contractor who was also a good friend of the firefighters. Since all the black firefighters were stationed together it was possible that a major catastrophe could possibly wipe out the company. (http://www.legeros.com/history/ebf/national.shtml) Inscription: Stamped __"Donald L. Dressler / 1005 Crafton Lane / Richmond 22, Virginia / dressler Photo" __Verso ||Written __"6/14/1963" __Verso Geographic Description: Richmond, Va. --Jackson Ward (Richmond, Va.) --5th Street (Richmond, Va.)
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