Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, October 01, 2006 at 06:07:30 :
Marin Journal
Saturday, 12 March 1932
Veteran Fireman Dies While Watching Fire Destroy Building Here
While fighting a fire believed of incendiary origin, Clarence (Fritz) Johansen was called to take a man, who had collapsed while watching the fire, to the hospital. At the hospital he learned that the stricken man was his father, Martin Johansen, former chief of the San Rafael Fire Department, and one of its oldest members.
He was placed in the fire truck, Dr. Harry O. Hund, who had been watching the fire, attending him, and was driven to the hospital by his son. There artificial respiration was resorted to but it was of no avail and Dr. Hund said he believed that the pioneer fireman had dies a short time after he was stricken.
Heart Trouble
Death was due to heart trouble. Johansen had been under the care of a physician for some time. It is believed that the exertion of rushing to the fire, he and Mrs. Johansen having walked from t heir home about 6 blocks away, proved too much for him.
Adding to the tragedy, was the fact that Clarence Johansen was called from the hospital to answer an alarm which had been turned in from Box 39 (Fourth and Irwin Streets) which proved to be a false alarm. Assistant Fire Chief Walter Castro stated today that arrests of the persons who turned in the false alarm may be made shortly and that the miscreants will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Pioneer Resident
Johansen, known to his hosts of friends affectionately as “Marty,” came to San Rafael in 1877. He was associated in the furniture business for a number of years and more recently had been in the employ of M. Burke of the Marin Furniture and Decorating Co. He has been a member of the San Rafael Fire Department for more than 40 years and was one of the most valuable and highly respected men in the organization. He was a prominent member of the Native Sons and of the Eagles.
He was born in San Francisco 59 years ago. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Annie Johansen, his son Clarence Johansen, his brothers Ludwig and Emil Ronberg.
The funeral will be held Monday morning at 10 a.m. at the mortuary of Keaton and Dusel and interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The remains are now at the family home 529 D Street.
$1000 Loss
The fire at which “Marty” Johansen collapsed was in the Franetti Building at Fourth and D Streets. It was a spectacular conflagration. The blaze could be seen for blocks away. Assistant Chief Castro stated that he believes that the fire might have been “set” as the building, a large old two-story structure, was vacant. It is known that the building had been used as a rendezvous by some of the younger element in the city. The fire started on the back porch on the first floor and spread rapidly up the rear of the building, gutting one room on the second floor. The fire department did some remarkable work in getting the fire under control as it had a big headway before the alarm came in. The building is the property now of Angelo R. Duperu, San Francisco realtor. He married in turn two of the Franetti sisters, the first wife dying and the second wife committing suicide a short time ago. The damage is estimated at $1000 and is covered by insurance.
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Died
JOHANSEN – In San Rafael, Mar. 11, 1932, Martin M. (Marty) Johansen, beloved husband of Annie Johansen, loving father of Clarence Martie Johansen, loving brother of Ludwig Johansen and Emil Ronberg, a native of San Francisco, aged 59 years, a member of San Rafael Aerie, No. 256, F.W.E. and Mt. Tamalpais Parlor, No. 64, Native Sons of the Golden West and the San Rafael Fire Department.
Friends are invited to attend the funeral Monday, march 14, 1932, at 10 o’clock a.m. at the mortuary of Keaton and Dusel. Friends may call at Mr. Johansen’s late residence, 529 D St., San Rafael. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
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