Firefighter Record
Firefighter Details
| Name | William Shannon |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Department |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Type of Firefighter | Career |
| Age Range | 46 to 50 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 8/23/1914 |
| Cause of Death | Contact/Exposure |
| Nature of Death | Electrocution |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Responding to/returning from incident |
Incident Details
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 8/23/1914 |
| Incident Location | Street/Road |
| Incident Attribute | Electrical hazards |
Incident Summary
On August 23, 1914, Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant William H. Shannon of Engine 119 died in the line of duty near the Engine 119 firehouse on Avondale Avenue. A member of the fire department for twenty-six years, Shannon was electrocuted during a storm when he tried to retrieve from the street an electrical wire that he believed was no longer charged. Firefighters attempted to revive him with a resuscitating machine, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Citations:
“Wire Kills Two; Bolt Hits Woman Embalming Body; Fireman Loses Life,” Chicago Daily Tribune, August 24, 1914.
Firefighter and Incident Images
