MEAGOR, DIENER

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Friday, August 23, 2013 at 06:46:27 :

Independent Journal
July 2, 1936
Pages 1 & 8

Falls Into Ditch When Blinded With Smoke

The fearful tragedy which occurred last Saturday afternoon, when Robert A. Meagor, Captain of the San Anselmo Fire Department was burned to death during a grass and brush fire, culminated in the funeral service Tuesday afternoon, when fellow firemen, and relatives and friends in large number attended the last rites, held at the Keaton & Dusel Chapel, with interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Dr. E. J. Hollenbach, of the Presbyterian Seminary at San Anselmo, spoke the words of comfort to members of the family; praised the heroism of the young man, approaching 31 years, and one who had died in the performance of his duty.

Fellow firemen, who had worked with Robert Meagor during many a fire in the past twelve years, carried the casket into the chapel, which was banked with flowers, and they assisted in lowering their comrade into the grave at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Terrible Shock
It was a sad and heart breaking occasion for all, especially his wife, Ethel Meagor, to whom the deceased has been married for a year and a half. But the young wife stood up bravely under the ordeal, supported by close relatives and friends of the young fireman, who had endeared himself to every one with whom he had come in contact.

Besides the wife, Robert Meagor was survived by his mother, Mrs. Annie B. Meagor; a sister, Mrs. Annabelle Diener; and three brothers, Joseph C., William R., and John A. Meagor. Another brother, Richard B. Meagor, passed away some years ago.

Besides being one of the leaders in the San Anselmo Fire Department, he was a member of Marin Lodge No. 191, F. & A. M. No. 191, of San Rafael; San Rafael Pyramid No. 31, Order of Sciots. He was a native of California.

The charred body of Robert Meagor was found by the firefighters in the bottom of a deep gully, after he had been separated from other firemen, and lost in the dense smoke of a fire which swept over 15 acres east of the Sleepy Hollow Ranch.

With characteristic bravery and initiative young Meagor had volunteered to release a loop of the fire hose which had become fastened about a tree stump. This took him into the thick of the blaze and clouds of smoke, which hid him from view. He preformed the self-assigned task, but the finding of his body a half hour later told the terrible story of a struggle with Death.

Body Found
The cry of a young boy who stumbled upon the body of the dead fireman, aroused the attention of the fire fighters, and the body was removed to the morgue.

Dr. Harry Hund, who happened to be in the neighborhood making a call, examined the remains as they lay in the bottom of the ditch. The doctor, as well as the firemen, was of the opinion that Meagor had been blinded by the smoke and fallen striking his head on the rim of an automobile wheel lying in the bottom of the gulch and that the blow might have rendered him unconscious.

During the funeral hour Tuesday, all business houses in San Anselmo closed their doors out of respect for their most enterprising and best loved citizens. San Anselmo’s mayor and members of the city council attended the funeral service as honorary bearers.