Beampte O'Keefe Slaat mede-offisier

St. Louis Police Officer Cornelius O’Keefe performed countless acts of bravery over his career. Op Mei 26, 1901, O’Keefe proved his toughness and quick thinking again by saving a fellow officer from an excited horse and shed fire.

St. Louis Polisie Beampte Joseph A. Gerk gepatrolleer sy klop op Agtiende Street gedurende die oggend van Mei 26, 1901, when he saw flames and fire trucks blocks away. Officer Gerk ran to the fire at the rear of 1402 Olive Street.

When Officer Gerk arrived, a desperate Mrs. S.J. Oliver begged Gerk to save her thoroughbred horse stuck in the shed. Officer Gerk climbed over a couple of buggies but could not get the horse to move.

Gerk grabbed the horse around the neck and started pulling the frightened animal. The horse suddenly jerked his head and threw Gerk up in the air. Gerk’s blouse caught on a harness peg.

While being stuck on the harness peg kept the terrified horse from trampling Gerk, Gerk was helpless as the fire started moving toward both. As Gerk struggled mightily in a fruitless attempt to escape, Officer Con (Cornelius) O’Keefe burst into the shed.

Officer O’Keefe struck the harness peg with his club freeing Gerk. Both officers kicked out the wall allowing the officers and the horse to escape. As soon as the group exited the building, the shed completely collapsed in flames.

Die St. Louis Fire Department put out the fire before it could spread but it destroyed all three sheds owned by B.J. Parker. Parker lived in the house at 1402 Olive Street. The sheds were at the rear of this address.

Thanks to Officer O’Keefe’s actions, 27-year-old Officer Joseph A. Gerk lived to the ripe old age of eighty-two. He passed away in St. Louis on April 2, 1957.

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