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Pilot of the retired Fireboat John J. Harvey, Bob Lenney looks out at the flowers that were just placed on what remains of pier 42 where John J. Harvey lost his life.
On February 11, 1930 fire occurred aboard the North German Lloyd liner Muenchen; just arrived at Pier 42, Morton Street, North River.
As The Fireboat Thomas Willett, assigned to Engine 86, steamed in, her Pilot brought her into the slip to work on the ship's starboard side.
While alongside a number of explosions tore through the hull of the Muenchen.
One of the worst hurled large sections of steel which wrecked the Willett's pilothouse, sweeping men overboard.
Most were quickly rescued; but the Pilot, carried over the side by a piece of steel, wasn't recovered till four hours later.
He had been killed instantly.
The Pilot's name was John J. Harvey
Photo by: Don 5/28/01 Click on the photo above.
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The Fireboat Harvey was auctioned off and saved from the scrap yard by some dedicated New Yorkers and placed on the National Register of Historical Places!
Photo by: Don 4/22/01
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The Fireboat Willett working at the Grace Line Fire, Pier 57, in 1947.
The fireboat Thomas Willett, the boat John Harvey died
on.
Identical fireboats Thomas Willett and James Duane were built at the Marvel
Shipyard in Newburgh, NY in 1908.
Also built there at the same time was the
fireboat Lawrence. The two sisters were on the roster till 1959.
Photo "Collection of Al Trojanowicz"
She is now known as "Circle Line XIV" and is still around owned by the Circle Line docked in the Brooklyn
Navy Yard.
She has been striped of all her fire fighting gear and her
deck house has been dramatically altered, but she still stands tall!
Photo By: Don 05/28/01