Waukesha Fire Department Honors Fallen Fire Fighters

WAUKESHA, WI—A small memorial was held at St. Joe's Cemetery in Waukesha on Tuesday to honor two firefighters who died in the line of duty. Bernard McCaffery and Frank O’ Brien both died on May 11, 1934.

Joseph Hoffman, assistant fire chief, told Patch each year they try to commemorate this day in "our thoughts, activities and actions."

"We thankfully only have three line of duty deaths in our department, McCaffery, Obrien and Albert Mevis, September 15, 1891. We recognize and reflect on these events each year on the anniversaries," Hoffman said.

According to Hoffman and Dan Carstens, Waukesha Fire Department historian, firefighters respond from both fire stations to a small porch fire at 1027 Greenfield Ave. on May 11, 1934.

"Responding from Station 1, Engine 3, were Lt. William Gedakovitz, Driver Charles Richards and on the tail board, firefighters, Bernard McCaffery and Frank O’ Brien.

The fire engine traveled east on Broadway to the five points, then turned onto Main Street travelling at a high rate of speed. Backing slowly through the Main Street tracks, from the north, was a SOO line switch engine, tender and thirteen cars.

There was a flash signal at the crossing and witnesses noticed it operating, but it didn't come on until after the truck is past the Hartwell intersection. The train’s bell rang but the train’s whistle didn't blow.

Gedakovitz noticed the train and slammed on the brakes 114 feet from the tracks. He pulled the emergency brake at the last second and veered the engine to the left sharply, trying to steer between a building and the tracks. The train’s brakes were applied. The rear of the fire engine hit the tender.

O’Brien was hurled under the train wheels and one leg was severed. He was dragged until the train stops, 105 feet, dying within minutes.

McCaffery was thrown heavily against the truck and then to the ground suffering a punctured lung (believed to be from a pike pole) and other internal injuries. He died an hour after the collision.

Firefighters Frank O’Brien, 52, and Bernard McCaffery, 31, are Waukesha’s second and third Line of Duty Deaths. O’Brien had served 28 years.

Many came to the joint funeral. Fire departments from southeastern Wisconsin fill in at the Waukesha’s stations during the ceremonies.

After an investigation, a verdict in March 1935, finds the firefighters riding in the front seat eighty percent negligent.

Two law suits are filed against the SOO Line Railway by widows, Catherine O’Brien and Virginia McCaffery.

On July 2nd, 1936, the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirms judgments for the widows of O’Brien and McCaffery totaling $23,800. The jury finds the accident was from the failure of Jacob Schmidt, the tower man operating the flash signals of the crossing, to give the driver of the truck sufficient warning of the approaching engine.

The front seat firefighters were exonerated.

The damaged 1927 Sterling was rebuilt and retitled as a 1934 Pirsch. This same fire engine has been returned to the City by the Waukesha Old Car Club and is now stored at Station 2 and is utilized for Community out reach activities in the Department."