New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-07
THE FIRE RECORD.
BUSINESS BLOCK DESTROYED.
PARTICULARS OF THE FIRE AT RED BANK-LossEs

RED BANK, n. j., Nov. 6.-The fire which
was briefly chroncled to-day as occurring here Sun
day evening destroyed property which is estimated in
value Mt s25OOOO. The principal business
DOCK OF the town was swept away with the exception OF
two or three buildings the largest and handsomest
church In the town destroyed twentyfour business
firms were burned out and nearly dozen families
deprived OF shelter
The fire began in a stable in the rear of the
bakery of Joseph Child near the intersection
OF Broad and Fronsts. 1t spread rapidly owing to
the combusble character of the buildings and their
tents the prevalence Of high wind which shifted from
quarter TO quarter and thus carried the flames in all
directions, and the inefciency of the time
means Tor the extinguishment of fires, that within
four hours more than 100000 worth Of property was
gone and the citizens who early had abored for the
salvation of the town, passive spectators of the
burning ruins
Two theories were held to-day concerning the
origin OF the fire. One that the flames resulted from
the careessness of OF a crowd Of colored men
who have been I'm the habit of making the Child stable
place OF rendezvous; the other that they started from
sparks blown from the chimney of an adjoining building
into the haymow Of the barn. The latter theory how
even has few believers in Red Bank to-day and dis
proved by the positive assertion by the occupant OF the
building in question, that the fires there Sunday were
all coal fires and not newly ndcd at any time in
the evening.
The alarm was given by the ringing OF the frc-bell
anu tHo SHOUTS OF persons IN the streets aDouJ hNo
linutes before o'clock The Rev. W. VI. White pastor
of the Methodist Episcopal Church which destroyed
by the fire. had concluded his preparatory services and
begun his sermon. Tho changing of the bell and the
shouts arrested the attention Of wOrshppers, and
without waiting for the formal dsmssion. they left the
church Six other churches left by their
cns without the usual bencdlcon from the pulpit and
te streets in the vicinity soon crowded by the
GOWNS popuace. The citizens Of Red Bank knew the
significance of fire in their town, unproyidcd as it IS
with any halfway adequate water supply.
The volunteer fire department was promptly on hand.
It had at its disposal two od-fashioned hand-cngnes.
two hose carriages and two chemical extngishers. The
Shrewsbury River, whence the water had to he drawn,
forty rods from the OF the fire. The remen
worked vigorously hut twenty minutes lost before
water was hed to the me- and by that time the haneS
from building TO building alon the west side of
BrOad-st and the south side OF Front. The flames
grew hotter and 'otter apd mounted higher and
h her until they Illuminated the country round about
far ~ Asbury Park and Ocean Grove on the
south. Farmers for miles around drove In to see
the unusual spectacle, and their wagons were utilized
in transporting to places OF safety the goods that were
taken by hundreds of willing hands from the stores
hOrseman rode 10 EalOntOYn ana Oceanic and enlisted
the services of their fire companies but they came too
way to the Music Hall on the south and the
cottage OF Mis Ennelne ilneh on the West, leaving
nothing standing WITHIN their limits save the walls OF
the First ational Bank Building. and the corner build
ing owned by Spinning Patterson which saved BY
Its strong irewals and the vigilance OF the men VINO
protected Ito roof ana cOrnces by covering them WIN
carpets. which they Kept dfeHcned with water.
The church which destroyed the largest in the
town. lt built about tHTiy years ago, but bad
been remodecd and enlarged twice since, TIL It's actual
cost had reached $2l 900 Wthl few months II had
been newly furnished ana painted, and had received
organ the cost Of these improvements was S24OO.
The building 5urmOunted by tall steepe concern
ing which there was great rear lest III
falling il should destroy property not yet touched
by the Dire Fortunately the supporting tmbers burned
throw the structure to tine south instead OF the
east and II fell upon Already burning bank building,
If II Thought that the trustees viii rebuild as soon as
possible though 1t Is doubtful II they Will again occupy
their former site, which they can dispose OF with prOI
for business purposes Meanwhile the congregation VIII
The fire he most disastrous that Red Bauk mas ever
know H. aad Is fourth Within three years II has
stirred the people profOsnd md broughOut vigorous
| and general denunciatOn OF the Town Commissioners
for fliing provide the waterworki which were de-
cided to spensable years The plan was long
ago adopted and contract with water company call
ing Tor The completion TIE system by November Of
this signed. the first steps remain 10 DE lakeil
The and insu ances By the re are as follows: J
H. PEERS Co.. loss 100000 buildings contents:
$4,000; Insurance. 50 500. Joseph Chids bakery loss
$1,000 buildings ana stock; Insurance., T4OOO Hen
~ Child 10 stock and household goods, $1,000 ln
surance, Sl,S00 First National Bank, loss $4,000 on
| building; rully insured. H. ii. Curtis, hatter loss
$4,000; insurance $1,000; Alalre,s market 9l,ooO;
insurance, $1,000. Richard Harrison tailor loss on
stock, $500 no in William Mcmahon, loss Oh
buildings and stock. $1,000
several small buillngs occupied by cOlOred faEllles
were also burned but the losses are not known. war
ells loss is ~ 200: Insurance. $1,000; Thomas DaYiss
loss $1,000; insured for 80 600; Joseph SABBATH. loss
$1,000; Insurance. $1,000; Mrs Wess, loss, $1,000;
insurance $1,000; J K Bergen, loss on Dultllnga ana
stock SO 6OO insurance same amount; JW Chanders
Central Express Company, loss fixtures $50 j. Edgar
| First Methodist Church. loss $4,000; insurance,
SO 800; Dunoar x IhrOckmoron, loss, 500; FULLY IN
sured f. T. Chadwick, loss. $500; insurance, S4oOG
5. b.. Vandeghft, loss bul ding aud stock, $1,000
| insurance, ~ 300; Henry f. Schroeder CO.. loss
5000; insurance, $780, NJ. X. Stuart, loss, 5000;
partially lnsured Theodore sces stock $4,000
insurance, $1,000 and FOrman Morrls's loss on Dnilu
| in ~ 800; Thomas f. Eustace, leighton Hall Billiard
ParOr, loss on furniture, $1,000 insurance, Slooo