The Chattanooga Commercial’s headlines on Friday, June 10, 1887, shared the tragic news of an explosion and fire at Standard Gas Machine Works, resulting in injuries and death. “General Manager Reeves Badly Injured - - Fireman Iler Killed and Matt Peak Fatally Injured and Dies in a Few Hours.” Explaining that the church bells being tolled across the city were a tribute to “the two brave lads,” the writer waxed quite poetically by adding that “the clanging bells which woke them from their last sleep on earth will never again call them to duty here.”
Both men had responded to the alarm signaling a furious fire following a gas explosion that had then ignited barrels of gasoline stored in the building, eventually triggering a second explosion and the collapse of the wall. The tragedy was witnessed by W. A. Wammack, a street car driver, who had arrived on-site just moments before the second explosion. “They were buried under the wall.”
Two days after the accident, the city staged a public funeral service for both firefighters. Friday both bodies had laid in state at Lookout Hall, located on the corner of Ninth and Popular Street. The hall had been “tastefully decorated” with black and white drapes and the engine and carriage had been parked outside. The two firefighters lay in “open, handsome caskets covered with black velvet and silver mounting,” heaped with flowers from family and friends so that only their faces were visible. Each man’s ‘battered and muddied fire hat’ hung at the head of his coffin. Both caskets bore a silver plate with the name of the individual occupant and the inscription “Rest in Peace.” A mounted wall sign proclaimed, on behalf of the local firefighters, “God Bless Our Comrades.”
From 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., thousands of individuals streamed through the hall to “take a farewell look at the features of the unfortunate men.” Tears, sobs and softly-whispered prayers were a constant reminder of the tragic event. At six pm, the hall closed. Henry Iler’s body was taken by hearse to his brother’s home on East Ninth, accompanied by the Market Street Fire Hall Company. Matt Peak’s body remained in the hall overnight.
All Chattanooga businesses were requested to close from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday and all other activities in the city and county were cancelled.
At 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, both bodies would be transported from Lookout Hall to the Presbyterian Church at 7th and Georgia Avenue. The entourage was carefully planned: A military band led the procession, playing funeral dirges, followed by the hearses. Then in order processed the Odd Fellows in full regalia, the ministers, the families of the deceased, members of the Chattanooga Fire Department, the Knights of Labor, Chattanooga elected and appointed officials and Hamilton County elected and appointed officials. Citizens were encouraged to join the procession as it moved from Ninth Street to Georgia Avenue, up Georgia to Seventh, into the Presbyterian Church or scattered across the streets and in the Court House yard as needed. The Reverend M. M. Wamboldt had been asked to preside with assistance from Dr. Bachman and Dr. Warner. The First Presbyterian Church choir, along with family members, furnished the music.
Following the service, all would accompany the young men on “their final journey” - - down Georgia Avenue to Ninth, Ninth to Market, Market to Cowart, Cowart to Montgomery and Whiteside and finally to Forest Hills Cemetery. The Grand Marshall of the funeral procession was Joe Toler and Dr. T. C. Warner served as the Grand Chaplain. Odd Fellow members Bengtston, Rowden, Case and McDaniels along with two firefights would serve as pall bearers for Peak while Iler’s family had requested two firemen and four Knights of Labor. Once the bodies had been lowered into their side-by-side graves, the Odd Fellows’ service would be held for Matt Peak and Dr. Wamboldt would offer the “final spiritual remarks for both.” Reverend Warner’s benediction echoed the prayers of the people. “God, in Thine infinite wisdom take these men into Thy Care and Keeping.”
By Saturday afternoon, conversation had begun regarding an appropriate memorial for the heroic firemen and the Times Printing Company offered to collect donations. Their donation of $100 was joined by tens of other individuals and businesses including the Mutual Real Estate Association, Tom Fort, T. A. Snow, D.B. Loveman and Co., Simpson Brothers, Divine, Vaudry and Company, C. E. Stivers, Thomas L. Cate and others. By 3 p.m., more than $500 had been collected.
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Linda Moss Mines is the Chattanooga and Hamilton County Historian.