New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-20
NEW JERSEY NEWS.
SEVENTYFA MILIESHOMELESS
AN EARLY MORNING FIRE IN JERSEY
CITY DESTROYS MANY BUILDINGS
THE FLAMES. STARTING IN FURNITURE STONE
SPREAD TO FRAME DWELLINGS AND TENE~
WAREHOUSES;. WHICH BURN RAPIDLY
HEROIC RESCUES BY THE POLICE
AND F1REMEN PREVENT


HEROIC REscUEs BY THE POLICE
AND FIREMEN PREVENT
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.
Seventy families were rendered homeless by IRE IN
Jersey City yesterday morning The flames started
In the double store of Frederick w. Payne NOS zf'
and 2i7 Newark-ave The building was Oh DITCH
One part of the store extended to F1rst-s'' INC
other adJoned four-story frame building that was
used a workshop and storeroom. The building
heavily stocked with furniture and the In
flo mable materials burned rapidly.
II was 30 o'clock when Policeman Lervey dis
covered that the place was on fire. Smoke was
then issuing from every window Of the storehouse
He sounded the alarm from Engine House NO T.
only two doors to the west. The Fire Department
responded promptly. but before the apparatus ar
rived the flames had eaten into every part Of the
furniture warerooms and had forced their way
through every window Chief Conway saw Ii was TO
be herce fight. as the surrounding buildings were
chiefly frame tcnement-houses. and third alarm
sent out, bringing all the appaTa us except the
companies protecting the extreme limits OF the CITY
old Hudson City on the north and Greenfie on the
south
The flames extended to the four-story frame
building. with brick front No S22 First west OF
houses facing Newark ave: and east OF the iurni-
ture store Despite the efforts OF the fremen the
st.-No. 80, four-story building; No. 3os three
siSrs s sRed 20 N M Sydns 80 a.
a three-story and basement building; No. 49, a
four-stoTy building caught fire These tenement
houses were occupied by poor families. eight fam
es IN eic and h s ana
aged. row OF three three-story frame fathouses
Nos eos 80 and 81 Frs.snNas also almost Sx
the names Paynes three buildings destroyed
walls In all three business buildings three dwell
nss and the fsthouses we're consumed and eight
Payne's brick buildings and the hathouses were
rev buildings The Others were old and dry, ,. ana
were finder boxes The flames spread so rapidly
that the tenants saved nothing Of their household
effects, and the eight families in No. S22 First-st.
were forced TO flee for their lives. one OF the
families named Lynch They had a five
year-old boy dying with brain fever. Mr., Lynch
had time only to put his trousers and shirt be-
fore he was compelled to rush from the building
carrying the child on a pillow.
At No 3l5 First-st. wake was in progress over
the body Of John Ronnelly and Sergeant Cody and
house. Dougherty. with two citizens. saved the
saving an invalid woman who had rooms the
top floor of the f1athouse He carried her down.
pe e Collector joseph Farmer saved the chill
dren at No 1922 First-st. by dragging them from
The police forced a number OF tenants to leave
e ad By e ahe
were cared for by neghbors who opened the doors
of their humble homes to receive them -,
morning. giving relief to the sufferers. He has
made an appeal for money. wearing apparel an, and
ing proclamation:
Whereas. during the past night this city was
visited by q disastrous confagration. which has
caused much suffering and misery and rendered
many poor families homeless; therefore,
II. Mayor of Jersey City, deem It my duty IN the
name of humanity, to appeal to the citizens OF this
city for aid on behalf of the afflicted. respectfully
request the citizens who feel willing 10 contribute
aid in any way to confer with me in the Mayors
office. City Hail. at o'clock, Thursday afternoon
so that citizens committee may be formed to
devise ways and means Of aiding the needy"
Mr.. Payne, owner of the furniture store, was IN,
formed of the fire. and reaching the blaze at 8
o'clock in the morning and seeing that his prop
erty had been swept away he swooned and was
taken home in police patrol wagon. His conii-
ton serious last evening. The origin of the
fire is mystery. There were no lights or fires In
Payne's buildings.
The losses are estimated as follows: F. ". Payne e
on building and stock $4,000; insured for al COO
No. 81 First-st.. owned by j. Fitzgerald, 5000
tenants loss. about $500: No 3ls Tirst.st. owned
by Patrick j. OHara loss about 81 COO tenants loss
about $500 John Foley who eonstrusted t the fat
St, owned by Dr. Smith 5000; tenants loss. about
500. No. 315 Frst-st: owned BY J. Kennedy; $500
tenants loss about $500. No. 3O First-st.. Thomas
j. Degnan. agent loss $500: tenants loss. 500; No
500 First-st. George Vernon, owner loss, 500: ten
ants loss $500 No 3D. Daniel Sherry. owner; loss
$500: tenants loss. $500. Nos. @S. 80 and BIZ owned
by James Scott $1,000 tenants loss, $3.50.