Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1894-12-06
Big FIRE AT CEDARVILLE,
BAFEMAN'S BLOCK A MASS OF
CHARRED Ruins.
Awakened by q reprf.
Hc Explosion ana the People
Find AN Awfui Fire Raging.
Rridges1n's Fire Department
Gives Assistance.

| ""o JuSe y H. ILL., wednesday
when every man, woman and
child in Cedarville were awakened
by terrific explosion. Houses were
shaken beds rocked, and frightened
people hurriedly dressed. A mo-
ment later bright blaze Illuminated
the village, and the people for mo
ment thought the whole town on
fire.
Immediately everybody was tumb-
ling out Of their homes, and it was
soon found that the big frame build
ing known as Bateman's block. was
on fire.
Those who arrived there first
found flames pouring from the drug
store on the corner belonging to Ell
bridge & Briggs, and the fire seemed
to go both ways
There was little use to attempt to
save anything from the building, for
it seemed as if the fire was already
devouring every part of the place.
There was no apparatus with which
to fight fire and of course the build
ing was doomed
The fire was most disastrous. So
hot was it that the people could not
get near the building, and great
tongues of fire leaped across the
street blistering the buildings upon
the other side, breaking the windows
with tie heat and even setting fire to
the wooden curbing along the
gutter.
People who lived in the vicinity
feared the loss of their homes and
every preparation was made to move
out and save the household goods.
Many of the household effects were
carried out in the street.
AS the people gathered there was
great anxiety. Fortunately there
was no breeze at the time, but as the
morning dawned, it was feared the
wind would spring up and the entire
town would be doomed, A little
consultation, and the frightened peo-
pie resolved to appeal to the Bridge
ton fire department, and messen-
ger was dispatched to this city at
half past three Life the wind he
drove to this city, awakened Chief
Elwell and appealed for help. The
Chief sought Councilman Johnson,
one of the fire committee, and it was
resolved to do something for the
town. The Silsby engine was run
out, four horses secured from John
son & Evans and about five o'clock
the engine left this city, with Jim
Neal on the drivers seat and engin-
eer Meyers on the fire box. Fire
man Charles Barth took down load
of hose, and Geo Evans took another
load. Councilman Johnson took
the Chief down, The engine ar
rived there shortly before seven
o'clock and suction pipe was put
over in the big pond, and the water
turned on
In the meantime the fire was rag
ing, and about seven o'clock the
ruins fell in, A little building west
of Bateman's block was also fred
and soon destroyed. The engine
prevented further trouble, throwing
water upon the ruins for couple
of hours extinguishing all the sparks.
A PIONEER reporter arrived at
Cedarville shortly after seven o'clock,
and found big crowd of people
gathered about the smoking ruins
They were discussing the fire, the
probable cause and the results.
There were all sorts of wild rumors
floating about. Some declared their
belief that the explosion was caused
by robbers blowing open the post
Office safe, 1t is said that when
Postmaster James Demaris arrived
on the scene, the post office doors
were open. Others thought the ex-
plosion due from small jar of pow
der in the drug store. Still others
believed it due from can of gaso-