Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-11-28
TWICE ON FIRE.
An Alarm Sounded at Quarter After Seven,
and Again at Half-Past Nine. The
Stock Damaged

An Alarm Sounded at Quarter After Seven,
and Again at Half-Past Nine. The
Stock Damaged.
just at fifteen minutes after seven
Tuesday night, Chief Elwellwas about
to turn in the test TIPS, when somebody
!! at the corner of Commerce and Laurel
streets beat him and turned in an alarm
from box No. 25.
Immediately there was a response by
the department and great crowd of peo-
pie gathered about the Red Store of A. M.
Rook, at the corner of Commerce and Co.
hansey streets, while smoke was pouring
from the second story windows of the
building.
volunteers hurriedly broke open the
doors and back windows and discovered
that there was bright blaze in a hack
room in the second tory. Buckets were
seized and while the rain was coming
down in torrents, the buckets were filled
from the flowing cutters, and the flames
were extinguished in this manner.
The fire department laid out a line of
nose and it was in readiness but fortu-
nately it was not damanded. A fire ex-
tlnguisher was taken in the house. but
this too was unused.
Inc smoke was very dense and it was
impossible to remain in the room anv
length of time.
AS the smske drifted away after the fire
was extinguished, and examination was
made, 1t was found that the fire had come
from the centre of the floor, between two
old counters, and a post supporting the
roof, were badly burned, together with
same of the goods which had been stored
there. A couple of glass cases were also
ruined.
A careful inspection was made and the
firemen were satisfied that every bit of
hre was out In the front of the second
story is the barber shop of Charles Weber,
While the fire was in progress there was
patron hrving his hair cut. The smoke
in the shop was dense, but the tonsorial
artist simply raised the windows and pro-
ceeded with the work.
The store of Mr.. Rook was kent omen
until shortly after nine o'clock. At nine
Chief Elwell again visited the store. but
could discover no fire of any sort. Others
made an investigation after that and the
store was closed for the night.
1t was about half past nine O'Clock
when smoke again poured from the win
dows of the second story. Passers-by
discovered it and another alarm was
turned i'll from No. 25. Again the fire de-
partment was prompt, and ladders were
| run up to the back second story windows.
| The shutters were bursted open and a
| line OF hose carried up. Flames were get
| ting good headway and it required con-
| siderable water to quench them. Again
! the smoke was dense, and the firemen
| found it very hard to work in the room.
In few moments the fire was out, and
another investigation made. This time
the fire had started in the east end of the
room, some distance from the other blaze.
and seemed to be below the floor at first
There was great pile of goods nearby
and many of them were ruined. The
water ran down lively into the store be-
low and some of the goods down there
were damaged.
! Weber came down to his barber shop
this second time and endeavored to go up
the stairway, but the smoke was so great
he could not, and he was obliged to climb
up an awning post and go in window.
After the department again retired a
watchman was placed in the store and
remained all night.
The origin of the fire seems to be a
profound mystery. There was no fire
of any kind in the second story from
which the flames could have originated.
Mr.. Rook could not say this morning
what the amount of the damage would
be, and will not be able to tell until he
makes careful inventory. There is but
slight insurance upon the stock.
The building is owned by David P.
Elmer, and was damaged but little. Had
the flames not been discovered Just as
they were the interior of the store might
have been gutted. The smoke has dam
aged things considerably.
The loss falls very heavily upon Mr..
Rook from the fact that Christmas trade
is fast approaching and he had Just re.
ceived large consignment of Christmas
goods which were in this second story
apartment, which has been used as Z
store room.
Another Death Day; for Lambert.