The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-02
TWO HUNDRED
HOMELESS.
Nearly Fifty Households
Broken Up By a Bay
onne Conflagration.
THE PEOPLE NEARLY DESTITUTE.
Four Families Burned Out on
the Heights Also-Wild
Flight for Life.
Disasters Caused by the Deadly
Frame Tenement House
P. Z. Il. Blaze.
TIE PEOPLE NEARLY DESTITUTE

B2lIoon ROW, on EasG lWeuIy-s0"
ond street in the Constable Hook section
of Bayonne was the scene of disassrt as
fire early this morning. Seven of the
great three and four-srory tinder box
tenements were burned, and at least fifty
families of poor Hungarian and Hebrew
laborers and tradesmen were rendered
homeless. The loss is estimated at S50.-
600, of which about $4,000 is covered by
insurance.
The fire started soon after two O'Clock.
and it ragged fiercely for more than hve
hours, Four three-stery stores and tene-
Eents and one one-story one were burned
10 the ground; two four-story buildings
were thoroughly Quilted.
It is supposed that the fire was due TO
an explosion of gas in the three story
structure, No. 199 ownei by William
Coin and occupied by him as liquor
saloon, variety theatre and dwelling.
Conn and his wife know absolutely moth
ing about its origin. They were almost
suffccatei by the dense volume of smoke
which filled their apartments when the
shouts and cries of their neighbors who
had escaped in the street awakened them
from sleep.
FLEEING FOR LIFE.
Mrs. Cohn grabbed one OF her little
clothes Nellie McGibney, her servant,
tucked two other little ones under her
arms and followed her mistress. She was
also In Der night clothes. Cohn donned a
pair of trousers and coat and ran after
his wife, carrying his shoes in his hands.
When he reached the street he remem-
bered that another of his children was
still In the house. He rushed back, and,
snatehing up the child, ran from the
house Just as the stairway fell through.
Meantime the tenants of the neighbor-
ing houses we're rumbling out
of their homes, almost insane with
terror and excitement Many grabbed
MP their clothing and never stopped to
dress until they Were on the hill top
across the street. Then they became
calm enough TO return to their apart
ments and try to save q portion OF
the household effects. Some families
were more fortunate than others in this
respect and managed to get almost every
.hing thev possessed safely across the
street. Others only saved trunk or
two aud little clothing.
From No. 199 the flames spread to No.
201 and No. 1877. three-story structures.
Half a dozen families had apartments in
zach. In No. 201 were the stores of Sol
omon Neumanu, the owner, dry goods
dealer, and Michael Sturmo, baker.
Isaac Gleichenstein, a barber, and Joseph
Beidler, a grocsr. occupied stores az No.
l97, which building was owned by Chief
Engineer. elect William h. Waters of
the Bayo ne Volunteer Fire Department.
In these { -ores nothing was saved.
FIREMEN's TROUBLES.
The flremen only reached the blaze
after long runs over rough roads. the
strain of hauling their heavy apparatus
almost exhausting them. They worked
under many disadvantages. The hydrant
nearest the burning building was frozen
solid and entirely useless. The pressure
~, oil fnf n I'm
single stream as high as the second story
windows. When the steamers got TO
work, the wind raised and the hose froze
fast TO the roadway. Numerous lengths
of hose also burst, while the spray from
the streams became an icy sheath when
it fell upon the hands and clothing of the
men.
The fire was fed by twelve barrels of
whiskey in Cohn's cellar and several
barrels of kerosene oil in other stores.
Despite he efforts of the firemen, the
blaze spread to No. 203 and No. 1876. In No.
butchers and grocers. The store in No.
195 was occupied by Iguace Glelch, a shoe-
maker. Assistant Chief Engineer Wat
ters owned this building, and Henry
Schmidt owned No. 203. Both were de-
stroyed, the firemen partly pulling them
down to prevent the blaze from spread
ing.
SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
From No. 1876 the mesScommunicated
to Nos, 1913 aud 1911, two other four story
buildings owned by Mr.. Waters. The
stores in these structures were not occu-
pied By concentrating their streams
upon these houses the firetnen checked
the confederation, although both build
ings were Quilted. A two story frame
house at No. 205, occupied by the families
of Dennis County and Patrick Qninn,
was also threatened, but the f1remen
saved it, just how many families occu-
pied any CT the tenements is hard to as
certain The majority were sent to Her.
gets Hall, a few rods distant, for shelter.
There is much destltution among them.
All of the houses were insured, Mr..
Waters having $4,000 ON his four. He
also holds policy for So, 500 on Cohn's
house. Cohu estimates his loss outside
of this policy at $1,000. Few if auy of the
tradesmen and laborers had their prop
erty insured The former fire in "Bal-
loon Row" occurred IN January, 1891, and
eiaht houses were burned, the numbers
being from 1873 to 1877. The loss by that
fire was estimated at S50.000 It started
in the evening and was ascribed to incen-
diarism.
At noon today the debris of the fire was
still. smouldering.
FIRE In AN OLD OIL SHED.
Prompt Work Prevents a Big Bsaze Near