Green Fodder Shredder,Small Domestic Green Fodder Chopper,Thickened Green Fodder Chopper,Four Knife Green Fodder Chopper Hunan Nongle Machinery Co., Ltd. , https://www.nongleagro.com
Another Chapter in the History of the Evanston Fire Department
It was a fateful Wednesday, December 13, 1905, when a series of tragic events unfolded at the Mark Manufacturing Company, casting a dark shadow over the Evanston Fire Department. That morning, George McKimmons began his first day as a new firefighter, stepping into a role filled with both pride and peril. Meanwhile, just the night before, Mayor John Barker had announced Carl Harrison's appointment as the new Chief Fire Marshal, succeeding Norman Holmes. Harrison, who was also the son of a former fire chief, reluctantly agreed to take office—but only after requesting to delay his start date by one day, citing superstition about starting on the "unlucky 13th." In his stead, Acting Chief Jack Sweeting prepared for what seemed like any other fire call.
Unbeknownst to everyone present, this decision would mark the beginning of the darkest chapter in Evanston’s firefighting history.
Mark Manufacturing Company, located at 1900 Dempster Street, stood as Evanston's largest employer, employing 1,000 workers at its peak. Founded in 1901 by Cyrus Mark and his sons, Clayton and Anson, the company specialized in producing wrought-iron pipe. Its sprawling complex included multiple structures: the main pipe mill, an engine house, warehouses, and various auxiliary buildings.
The day began innocuously enough, but chaos erupted around noon when crude oil leaked from a pipe in the socket room of the mill and ignited. All 200 employees were safely evacuated, and the company's own firefighting equipment was deployed to contain the flames while the EFD responded. By 1 PM, Engine Company 1 and Truck Company 1 arrived to find the pipe mill engulfed in flames. Water pressure from the hydrants was insufficient due to the plant's remote location, rendering the chemical engine useless and forcing reliance on the department's sole steam fire engine, the 600-gallon-per-minute "City of Evanston No. 1."
Assistant Chief Sweeting ordered Truck Company 1 to enter via the north door and Engine Company 1 to attack from the southeast corner. Despite these efforts, the intensity of the fire drove firefighters back, and tragedy soon struck. A massive explosion sent the south wall crashing down, trapping several men beneath its debris. Rookie firefighter George McKimmons narrowly escaped injury when he was outside pulling up slack on the hose line.
Inside, Lieutenant Thomas Norman led Truck Company 1 in a desperate rescue effort. They managed to free William Craig, a 35-year-old father of two who had recently rejoined the force after working as a dining car conductor. Craig, though conscious, asked a bewildering question before succumbing to his injuries at the hospital. Tragically, George Stiles, a 32-year-old veteran of nearly five years, wasn't as fortunate. Found pinned beneath burning wreckage, Stiles succumbed to severe head trauma after being rushed to the hospital.
The toll didn’t stop there. Three additional firefighters were seriously injured: Thomas Watson suffered extensive burns and smoke inhalation; Edward Johnson endured deep cuts and bruising; and Jack Eckberg sustained burns while aiding in the rescue. Even rookie McKimmons narrowly avoided worse harm when a brick struck his helmet.
Superstitious Carl Harrison arrived after the collapse, claiming he had merely come to observe. Freezing temperatures, high winds, and mechanical failures further complicated firefighting efforts. Eventually, reinforcements arrived from the Chicago Fire Department, but not before the Mark Manufacturing Company suffered devastating losses totaling $115,000—the highest property damage ever recorded in an Evanston fire until the destruction of Boltwood Intermediate School decades later.
George McKimmons, who started his career that very day, went on to serve two terms with the Evanston Fire Department before joining the Chicago Fire Department in 1915. His legacy continued through his brother Dan, who retired as a lieutenant in 1943 after 31 years of service. This incident remains etched in memory as one of the most harrowing days in the history of the Evanston Fire Department, a stark reminder of the dangers faced daily by those who answer the call to protect their communities.