Fireman Injured When Thrown From Truck

Another Rides Without Pants

Lt. Coffey Falls From Fire Truck as It Swings Down Auburn St--Condition Not Serious.

One fireman was painfully injured and another rode through Main st without his pants, as Central and Amherst st stations responded to an early morning alarm from Box 17 which might have heralded a blaze of serious proportions at the Community Oil company on Franklin st, situated as it is near a number of oil tanks and in a congested area of the city.

In the excitement of leaving his station on an alarm which might have quickly become general to all stations, Lt. Jeremiah G. Coffey, of Amherst st, about to leave for his day off, grabbed one of the rods on Engine 1 as she swung from the station and sped on her way. As the heavy vehicle swerved from Amherst into Auburn st, the rod lifted in some manner and Lt. Coffey was flung off onto the sidewalk, landing on his back and receiving a cut on his head which required three stitches to close.

Rushed to the hospital by ambulance, Lt. Coffey was also found to have sustained numerous bruises, and X-rays were taken of one of his shoulders and a leg. He will be obliged to remain in the hospital for several days, said Fire Chief Anthony J. Molloy.

Another fireman left Central station in such a rush to reach the fire that he forgot his pants and panicked the people on Main st as he rode along clad only in shirt, shorts and boots. Still shivering from sallying forth into the cold morning air with so few clothes, he returned to the station where he was the butt of a good deal of humor from other firemen and various townsfolk.

George Farwell, 30 Broad st, who was in the oil company's office when an oil stove exploded and started the blaze, was also rushed to the hospital and treated for burns around the neck and head. He was later released, it was said.

The small structure was entirely destroyed in the fire, which was checked before it reached an adjoining store room. No estimate of the loss was available at noon, but it was described as not more than a few hundred dollars. The Community Oil company, a branch of a Manchester-owned corporation was recently purchased from the Atlantic terminal. It was known formerly as the Petroleum Service company.

Nashua Telegraph, Nashua, NH 13 Sept 1946
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!