Capt. Woodrow Bloxom, the ghost of Fire Station No. 9

Fire Station No. 9 is almost always mentioned in haunted places and ghost stories of El Paso. Mysterious events have been credited to the ghost of Woodard Bloxom, the captain of Fire Station No. 9, who died after battling a fire Feb. 13, 1934. Firefighters who have worked at the station give accounts of feeling a presence behind them as they climb the stairs, feeling a cold sensation as if the ghost passed through their bodies, finding furniture randomly scattered, and seeing the big bay door open by itself.

I decided to look up the fire and circumstances surrounding Bloxom's death and found this article from the Times dated Feb. 14, 1934:

Six injured in $65,000 blaze

Firefighters Trapped By Flames In Furniture Company Warehouse

Crowds At Scene

Officials Unable To Trace Source Of Conflagration At 1700 Magoffin

Trapped by a wall of fire in the blazing American Furniture company warehouse at 1700 Magoffin avenue yesterday afternoon, three El Paso firemen suffered severe burns in rushing to safety through the flames.

Capt. Woodward F. Bloxom, 41, of fire station No. 9, was burned seriously on the back and shoulders when enveloped by the flames. Firemen Loften L. Jones, 24, and Louis Eisenbruch, 44, suffered severe burns on the hands and face at the same time.

The warehouse was destroyed.

Other firefighters injured were Victor H. Lawton, John Drew and Jack Dungan. All sustained minor injuries.

$5000 loss to building

One of the brick walls of the one-story, barn-like structure was left standing last night. Fire chief John T. Cullivan estimated the building loss at $5000.

The blaze destroyed some $60,000 worth of furniture stored within the building, said Mannie Blaugrund, the American Furniture company secretary.

“The loss was covered by insurance as to what it cost us,” said Blaugrund, “but the insurance will not cover the replacement cost. We’re going to make arrangements tomorrow for another warehouse, and continue on in business just the same.”

Mrs. Blanche Cunningham owned the building. The eastern third of the structure, which is vacant and is not rented by the furniture company, was saved by firemen who climbed on the roof and played water over the flames.

Fire officials were unable to determine the origin of the blaze.

The blaze started at 5:30 p.m. and the flames quickly shot high into the air. The fire company in station No. 9, across the street from the warehouse, immediately swung into action as a general alarm was sounded.

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Second alarm sounded

The flames spread quickly, and a second alarm was sounded. Soon six crews of firemen were playing streams of water on the fire, apparently with little effect. The blaze shot 50 feet into the still air, and a column of smoke rose hundreds of feet higher.

Hundreds of persons homeward bound from the downtown district soon gathered at the scene, drawn by the smoke and flames which could be seen plainly for miles around.

Many of the younger persons in the crowd climbed on neighboring roofs and the 75-foot fireman’s training tower in the city compound just across the street from the warehouse.

Crowds edging closer to the burning building as the flames died down were doused repeatedly with water from the streams operated by firemen, who went inside the building when the heat became less intense.

Flames continued shooting high from the western end of the building for more than an hour after the fire was discovered.

Tin roof falls

Sections of the tin roof fell in from time to time during the fire's progress with loud reports resembling explosions.

The charred mass of furniture within the building smoldered for several hours after the fire had been extinguished.

An almost total absence of wind-aided fireman in keeping the blaze from spreading to neighboring warehouses. Telephone and electric light poles near the burning building caught fire and had to be kept wet, and all wires in the vicinity were down.

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Fire captain dies of hurts

The following day, Feb. 15, the Times reported the death of Capt. Bloxom:

Bloxom Expires After Being Trapped In $65,000 Warehouse Blaze

Burns received late Tuesday while fighting a warehouse blaze t 1700 Magoffin avenue proved fatal to Capt. W.F. Bloxom, 41, 1909 Alabama street. He died at 12:50 p.m. yesterday at Masonic hospital.

Trapped in the building, Capt. Bloxom probably inhaled flames in an attempt to escape, doctors said.

Funeral services are pending at Peak-Hagedon mortuary. Fire Chief John Sullivan said yesterday firefighters would serve as a guard of honor at the services.

Had dangerous post

Capt. Bloxom joined the fire department in 1916, was made a lieutenant in 1918, and a captain in 1924. He was assigned to the warehouse district, considered by firemen, one of the department's most dangerous posts.

His record as a fireman was perfect, Chief Sullivan said.

He is survived by his widow and an eight-year-old daughter, Dovie Mae; and a sister, Mrs. R.C. Pickens, and brother, Wilton Bloxom, both of Shreveport, La.

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Conducts investigation

Fire Marshall B.J. Zabriskle said yesterday an investigation of the fire which took Capt. Bloxom’s life and damaged the warehouse, leased by the American Furniture company, to the extent of $65,000, will probably be completed today.

Employes denied they had been smoking in the corner of the warehouse where the fire started. They testified they tried to put the fire out with their hands before calling the fire department.

Two other firemen, Lofton Jones, 24k and Louis Eisenbruch, 44, were being treated at Masonic hospital last night for serious burns. Doctors believe they will recover.

Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.com or at 915-546-6179.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Capt. Woodrow Bloxom, the ghost of Fire Station No. 9

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