Life and Death a Continent Apart
Saving Marquetta
THE BRONX, NEW YORK
David Camidge never thought of himself as a hero. But because he took action, 10-month-old Marquetta Francis is alive and well today.
A city building inspector and Local 375 (DC 37) member, Camidge was having lunch in his car when he smelled smoke. “I got out to look under the hood. Then I heard this man yelling, ‘Fire! Fire! Get out!’”
Camidge looked up and saw black smoke billowing from a house across the street. A woman was trapped there, trying to open a second-story window. There was a baby in her arms. Without a second thought, he swung into action.
“I tried to open the door and couldn’t, so I kicked it in and ran up into black smoke.” Camidge’s familiarity with the building’s layout helped him find the front room; he quickly broke the window and climbed out onto the narrow ledge, holding Marquetta.
“The man on the ground called to me to throw the baby. I just couldn’t do that.” Instead he stretched out on the ledge and handed the baby down.
By the time he went back to get Marquetta’s grandmother, Camidge could hear the fire trucks coming. He stayed with her and got her onto the ladder, but he didn’t climb down himself: “Believe it or not, I’m scared of heights.” Instead, he walked down the stairs.
Three months later, DC 37’s Public Employee Press brought Camidge and Marquetta together for the first time since the fire.
Camidge — whose daughter, Kaylin, is two — realized he had reacted with a father’s instincts. His eyes got misty as he said, “I hope somebody would go into a fire for Kaylin. I’m glad I was there.”
Another Needless Death
MORTON, WASHINGTON
On Feb. 26, flags flew at half staff throughout the state of Washington. It was the day of Sam E. Williams’ funeral. He was 44.
A state highway worker and secretary of Local 1290 (Council 28), Williams was flagging traffic along State Route 12, when he was run down by a motorist. He died on the way to the hospital.
Williams left his wife, Isabelle, Samuel III and three daughters, Nellie, Kelsey and Krystal. AFSCME members joined the 100-car caravan to the funeral.
In an ironic twist of fate, the state legislature had just that day refused to hear SB 6600 — a bill setting up special benefits for highway workers injured or killed on the job. The legislature did respond to Williams’ death by permitting state employees to donate excess leave to the families of workers killed on the job. Donations from Williams’ union sisters and brothers will help his family handle their dire financial situation.
