Source: Los Angeles Fire
Department Photo Album Collection
Circa 1928
Engine Company No. 29---Truck Company No. 4
158 South Western Avenue
FIREMAN KILLED
UNDER WHEELS
TRUCK CRUSHES
HOSEMAN TREE;
COMRADE HURT
One fireman was killed, another suffered injuries to
both arms and possible internal injuries early today when two sections of ladders on hook
and ladder truck No.4 worked loose as the apparatus was turning south on Western avenue
from Beverly Boulevard and hurled both men from their places on the rear of the truck, one
fireman falling under the rear wheel and his companion being thrown several feet through
the air to the curbing.
The dead man, Hoseman Harry L. Tree, 27 years of age, of 700 West First street,
died instantly, investigators report, the heavy wheel passing over the upper part of his
body. Tree was an exhibition jumper and ladder-climber and held the world's record for
safety-net jumping.
Hoseman Arthur E. Huber, 453 North Lafayette Park Place, who was thrown from the
rear of the truck by the same ladder, was carried for more than fifteen feet by the force
of the blow. He was removed to the Georgia street Hospital where surgeons reported that he
was suffering from shock, injuries to both arms and possible internal injuries.
According to firemen on the truck and witnesses, the apparatus was traveling
slowly at the time of the accident. The men had answered an alarm at 404 South Sierra
Bonita avenue, where an ammonia leak had been reported in a refrigeration system, and were
on their way back to the station when the ladders fell from the truck.
Deputy Fire Chief Holmes assumed charge of the investigation and reported that
he believed the loosening of the ladder clamps was accidental and not due to faulty
construction or carelessness on the part of the firemen.
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Los Angeles Times, March
22, 1929.
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Source: LAFD Photo Album
Collection
Harry Tree atop of Truck 4. |
PLAN INQUEST
OVER FIREMAN
Coroner to Probe
Accident That Killed
Hoseman H.
L. Tree
L. Tree
An inquest was scheduled
for tomorrow by Coroner Frank Nance in the death of Hoseman Harry L. Tree, 27. of 700 West
First street, who was instantly killed shortly after midnight at Western avenue and
Beverly boulevard when thrown beneath the rear wheels of hook and ladder truck No.4.
HAD WORLD'S RECORD
Tree, who held the world's record for safety-net jumping and who had thrilled
thousands in exhibition jumps for the fire department, was returning to a firehouse with
the company when two ladders worked loose and hurled him to the pavement.
Chief Police and Fire Surgeon Wallace Dodge of the Georgia Street Receiving
Hospital announced today that Hoseman Arthur E. Huber, 26, of 453 North Lafayette Park
place, a member of the fire company, who also was hurled from the running-board of the
apparatus as it turned a corner, would recover. Huber suffered injuries to his arms and
body bruises.
The truck company was returning from an alarm sounded at 404 South Sierra Bonita
avenue, where a refrigeration system was found to be faulty.
CHIEF INVESTIGATES
Battalion Fire Chief John Home investigated the accident and expressed the belief
that the ladder clamps loosened on the frame of the huge 85-foot aerial truck, permitting
two long ladders to drop as a left turn was being executed, and precipitated the firemen
to the pavement.
Fire Chief Ralph J. Scott today took personal charge of the inquiry.
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Los Angeles Express,
March 22, 1929. |
SPEEDING L.A.
TRUCK KILLS
FIREMAN
Three men, one a city
fireman, and one woman were dead today victims of automobile accidents throughout toe Los
Angeles area during the past 24 hours.
Hurled from the rear of a speeding fire truck when one of the ladders to which
he was clinging slipped out of place, Harry L. Tree, member of Truck Co. No.4 and holder
of several world records for leaping into safety nets from dizzy heights, was thrown
beneath the rear wheels of the heavy vehicle early today and crushed to death.
The accident occurred as the truck was swinging swiftly north into Western
avenue from Beverly boulevard. Tree and a companion, Arthur E. Huber, were tossed from the
truck, but the latter, thrown clear from the wheels, escaped with minor injuries.......
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Source: T. F. Schneider,
Captain, LACoFD
Head dive from sixth
floor at Exposition Park.
Monroe Centennial Exhibition.
July 24th to August 5th 1923 |
LOS
ANGELES HERALD
March 22, 1929
|
DEPT. HIGH
JUMPER KILLED
WHEN TRUCK CRUSHES HEAD
________
Harry Louis Tree, aged 27, of Truck Co, No. 4, was
instantly killed on the night of March 21, 1929, 11:46
p.m., at the corner of Beverly Blvd. and Western Avenue,
while responding to an alarm from 404 So. Sierra Bonita
Avenue.
Hurled from the Truck when a ladder
became loosened, allowing him to fall in such a manner
that he was caught by the rear wheel crushing his head.
Brother Tree was the holder of
several World's records for jumping into safety nets
from dizzy heights and has taken very prominent parts in
such feats here, both at Angeles Temple and at the
Coliseum at our Annual Foot Ball Games.
He was appointed in the Department on
June 16, 1922. Joined the Association, Oct. 1922; resigned
the Department, Oct. 1, 1925; reinstated in
Department, Dec. 8, 1926; but was never reinstated in
the Association.
He was very conscientious and was
well liked by all who knew him.
Funeral services were held at Alveraz
& Moore Funeral Parlors and burial in Evergreen
Cemetery, Monday, March 25th, 1929, under the auspices
of the Firemen's Relief Association, assisted by the
Fire Department Band.
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The Grape
Vine,1929
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By Bob Patterson
THE
Assistant Chief leaned back in his chair and hooked a thumb through his suspender. He held
the paper at arms length and read the second paragraph again. "Didn't he
give any reason for this resignation other than this?"
The Battalion Chief sitting opposite him shrugged puzzled shoulders.
"Well, you know Tree, sir. His life was his own and if he figured he could
'better himself' as he puts it, then I suppose he really believes it."
"But the man has put four years in on the department. Is he dissatisfied
with the job or does he want to leave for other reasons?" Before the other could
answer he further queried: "Tell me what you know of Tree. What kind of a man is
he?"
The other officer paused in thought. "I always knew him as a quiet type of
man, sir. He had strong religious convictions and was a solid follower of Aimee
McPherson's teachings. The boys were accustomed to ride him about his ideas and I imagine
that might explain his reserved attitude. You'll remember he gave exhibitions of jumping
into the net from the dome of the evangelist's temple and also a number of times from the
big aerial and the training tower, so he isn't one to quit the job because he couldn't
take a little bantering from the men. Harry seems to have plenty of good fire fighting
nerve and a level-headed sense of duty."
"So you suppose this has something to do with his religious beliefs?"
The superior nodded toward the paper.
"Well, I heard a few of the men making guesses as to whether or not Tree
was turning to missionary work, but that's about all that I can tell you, sir."
From that point on the conversation of the two officers drifted to more
pertinent points of fire-fighting, it being mutually understood that Harry Tree would
receive an O.K. on his application for resignation.
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So it was for a period of nearly a full year, Tree was known as an
ex-fireman. No one ever knew the exact nature of his work during his period
of absence other than a few close friends who were not members of the
department, but it was strongly rumored that he was working with his church.
His name had barely begun to be referred to in the past tense when on an
afternoon in December, the Chief Engineer received an application for
reinstatement on the city's fire-fighting forces bearing the signature of
Harry Tree. The application was approved by rather surprised superior
officers and Harry was again made a fireman. He had lost his seniority and
time but not his ability as a fire-fighter.
Harry's past activities were seldom brought up for it was
generally accepted that things hadn't worked out as expected. He became
active in the Bureau of Public Relations in addition to his duties in the
engine house, and shortly before his transfer to Truck 4 had perfected a
valuable call system whereby the services of physicians in all or any part
of the city might be had within a few moments should the rescue companies
require it.
Truck Co. 4 was at that time located on Western near Beverly, in the station now
occupied by 29s. It was in the command of Captain James Tango, serving under Battalion
Chief Home. Tree had served only a few months on the company when on the night of
June--,1924, a telephone alarm caused heavy fire boots to pound the floor in an answering
rush for positions.
Huber and Tree had reached their positions on the left side of the truck and
were already cinching up their axe belts as Tillerman Shaver twisted the wheel and cleared
the doorway. Outside the night was clear with the chill of early spring now changing to
warmer breezes, easily turned by the heavy weave of fire coats. Tree, with caution born of
past experience, rattled the 20-foot ladders locked to the right side to test their
security and then passed his right arms through the rugs, locking his body to the
apparatus as was his usual custom. The ladder pins had been working out from time to time
until it had been advisable to send in a requisition for repairs. The matter wasn't
serious but it would offer the men that extra once of security if remedied.
The rig rolled into Sierra Bonita avenue and the men felt old man momentum
trying to pull them off as the tillerman cut the wheels hard over to right. On reaching
the point of alarm it was found that a domestic refrigerator had caused enough trouble to
warrant the use of a Burrell. It is significant that no ladders were touched on the run.
Truck 4 pulled away from the scene with the men in their same positions.
Shaver hunched his shoulders against the breeze which whipped about his exposed
position and silently cursed the designer who decided that all tiller seats should be set
just high enough in the air to escape the protection of anything that might be used as a
windbreak. The wheel chattered in his hands as they crossed the rough spot at Highland and
Beverly and he glanced down over the bouncing ladders at the rest of the crew. It wouldn't
be long until they'd be stomping up the stairs into the dormitory again. The ol' nest was
gonna feel good.
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As they approached Western avenue Shaver observed Fireman Smart prepare
for the turn. The tillerman watched the traffic buttons slide by until the way was clear, then
wound the wheel to the left to begin the necessary arc. He suddenly heard the unmistakable
rattle of loose ladders and whipped his eyes back to the men ahead. The entire rear
portion of the two side-mounted 20-foot ladders to which Tree and Huber were clinging for
support were moving away from the apparatus! Shaver slammed a heavy boot heel on the
signal button and whirled the tillerwheel in the opposite direction as the rear portion of
both ladders rode Tree and Huber to the pavement. Tree was hopelessly locked by his right
arm and pivoted on his back in a spin which threw his head directly under the big tiller
wheels.
Tillerman Shaver paled as he felt the sharp side-jerk on his steering wheel and
the accompanying bump of contact. The rig slowed to a stop within fifty feet of where the
first signal was given and Shaver tore at his seat strap. Huber had been dragging with the
ladders and had finally dropped to the pavement comparatively unhurt. Tree lay motionless
in the middle of Beverly boulevard with his head resting on the inside rail of the car
tracks. Shaver jumped to the pavement ahead of the rest of the crew and rushed toward
Harry Tree but stopped ten feet short of his goal. There wasn't any use in going further
for there was no possibility of first aid. Tree's metal helmet had been crushed by the
heavy trailer wheel. The helmet had never left his head.
The men whitened and swallowed as they approached the scene and looked down at
their former buddy. Someone summoned the coroner as one of the crew covered the body with
a canvas equipment cover. Death was instantaneous.
Huber was rushed to the hospital where he soon recovered from slight injuries.
Had the front pins also bounced out of their keepers the result might quite easily have
been a double tragedy.
The investigation which followed Tree's death placed the roughness of the
Highland-Beverly intersection to be the cause of the loosened ladder for it was testified
that the locks and pins on all ladders were tested and found secure at 6:00 that evening.
Both the auto fireman and tillerman had handled the rig expertly in order to prevent the
tragedy and were moving at a speed of about twenty miles per hour when the accident
occurred.
This is not an unexpected form of death for a fireman who actually spends about
fifty percent of his fighting duty clinging to the side of a racing apparatus which
dodging street cars, trucks, and that ever present car owner who doesn't want to stop. The
jerking sway of a heavy rig as if swings along traffic lanes has at one time or another
given every man on the department a feeling of uneasy doubt as to whether the ladder,
brace, or equipment to which he is subjecting the entire pull of his body will hold in
place. It is at a time such as this when the memory of Harry Tree has made nearly all of
us look down at the blurred warning of rushing pavement and grope for a more secure grip
on the rig.
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