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Submitted: 5/30/17 • Approved: 5/31/17 • Last Updated: 3/31/18 • R91502-G0-S3
Father
Allen Virgil Prunty
1883-1957
Birth: Sep. 18, 1883
Indiana, USA
Death: Feb. 16, 1957
Chicago
Cook County
Illinois, USA
Allen was a City of Chicago fire fighter. He was a decorated Fireman. Allen received the City of Chicago's Highest Award for bravery, the CARTER H. HARRISON Bravery Medal in 1920 presented by Mayor Thompson. Allen rescued a 5 year old girl named Jane Dodge from a house fire. He was with Hook and ladder Company #24 at that time.
Many years later when Jane was an adult and mother, she thanked Allen for saving her that day, and introduced her child to Allen.
Allen was injured in 1913 fighting a large fire where several fellow fireman lost their lives.
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From April 1921 proceedings of the City of Chicago, City Council:
1. Allen V. Prunty, Fireman, Hook and Ladder
Company No. 24.
The case of Fireman Allen V. Prunty, in the unanimous opinion of the Board of Award, merits the highest consideration, and we therefore award him honorable mention with recommendation to the Trustees of the Carter H. Harrison Medal Fund for the award of the Carter H. Harrison Medal.
Fireman Prunty on December 8, 1920, at 4 :00 P. M..
responded with his company to a still alarm of fire in
a two-story building at 10001 Beverly avenue. The
fire had started in the basement of the building and
had spread to the upper floors. When Prunty entered the building it was heavily charged with smoke.
He heard a terrified voice which appeared to come
from the top floor and afterwards proved to be the
voice of a 5-year-old girl, who had been home alone
in the building, and who after the fire started had
fled in fright to a bedroom on the top floor and hid
under a bed.
In attempting to find the, child Prunty
encountered very heavy smoke and found it practically
impossible to ventilate because of the fact that the building was equipped with storm windows. After being driven back by the smoke he secured a smoke helmet and used it until the air gave out. He then removed the helmet and continued his search until he found the child beneath the bed.
He removed her and carried her down a ladder, which had by
that time been erected by other members of the company.
She was unconscious from the effects of smoke, but was resuscitated after ten minute application of a borrowed lung motor, which, fortunately, was at that time being carried on the fire truck.
Witnesses: Thomas E. Elliott, Captain Hook and
Ladder Company No. 24.
Contributed on 5/30/17 by prunty1
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Record #: 91502