Robert Bellamy - Wilmington FD, Company No. 8
After fighting a fire all night on Market Street between Front and Water Streets, Bellamy and Merrick were inside one of the burned structures when a wall collapsed around 5:30 A.M. on February 14,1868 trapping them and others (civilians) who were close by. After a drastic search their bodies were found crushed beneath the rubble. Bellamy and Merrick were members of the Cape Fear Company #3. They were buried with public honors, however we have never been able to locate their gravesites.. Fire Company No. 8 was one of the city's "colored" fire companies.
