Taps Sound for Jack Airedale, Canine Mascot of Fire Laddies

Camden firemen and policemen paid their final respects to stout-hearted Jack Airedale yesterday. The beloved mascot of Headquarters Fire Company, Fifth and Arch streets, whose life was crushed out under the wheels of truck No. 2, his own wagon, Monday, was accorded a hero's funeral. His body was interred in teh cemetary at the rear of St. Paul's and the First Baptist churches, close by his fire station home, and taps were sounded at 5p.m., just as the sun was setting in the west.

Camden Courier-Post – November 7, 1934

Taps Sound for Jack Airedale, Canine Mascot of Fire Laddies

Camden firemen and policemen paid their final respects to stout-hearted Jack Airedale yesterday.

The beloved mascot of Headquarters Fire Company, Fifth and Arch streets, whose life was crushed out under the wheels of truck No. 2, his own wagon, Monday, was accorded a hero’s funeral. His body was interred in the cemetery at the rear of St. Paul’s and the First Baptist churches, close by his fire station home, and taps were sounded at 5 p.m., just as the sun was setting in the west.

People from every station of life visited the fire station to pay homage to the doughty fire-fighter, who was killed answering his last call. Senator Albert S. Woodruff, City Commissioner Harold W. Bennett, Miss Florence Hughes, chairman of the Camden County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Fire Chief John S. Lennox and Deputy Chief William Hearn were among the estimated throng of 3500 who passed his bire.

Letters and telegrams of sympathy poured into the headquarters company throughout the day. There were more than 10 offers of dogs to serve as mascots and take Jack’s place. These were kindly but firmly rejected by members of the headquarters company.

“There will only be one Jack,” they said. “We appreciate all these offers, but we don’t want another mascot right now.”

The funeral rites for the dog here were impressive.

Active bearers included Raymond Stark, John K Taylor[sic] and Everett Joslin, members of the Camden police department; William Spencer and John Strouss[sic], of fire truck No 1, John McKay, Lester Anderson and Chester Andrews[sic], of truck No. 2.

The honorary members were Captain Van Phefferts[sic], Russell Anderson, Harry Haines and Charles Edwards of truck No. 1; Nelson Andrews, Christopher Moll, Arthur Batten, George Boone and Rox Abbott, of truck No. 1.

At the appointed hour a dummy alarm was sounded. Jack Airedale was carried to his favorite place on truck No. 2. The vehicle moved slowly along Fifth street to Federal, then to Fourth and back to Arch street. When it passed the fire station the bells in the tower tolled.

At the cemetery Jack was placed alongside his predecessors, Alva and Gimp, dogs, and Skibby and Old Black Bill, cats, who were at one time mascots of the station.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.