The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-24

FIRE CAUSES DEATH
AnOld Woman Dies From
Shock Received at the
Hoboken Fire.
WALLS FALL WITH A CRASH
Thousands Of Sunday Visitors
Viewed the Ruins
Yesterday.
WALLS FALL WITH A CRASH

The scene of the big fire which occurred
in Hoboken on Thursday, was visited by
a large number of persons yesterday. All
during the day people walked around the
block and gazad upon the ruins. About
one O'clock in the afternoon three of the
party walls which separate the tene-
ments fell with a loud crash, which was
heard some distance away. TIL walls
were those at Nos. 1927, 1918 and 1921
Washington street.
This morning Chief Applegate Of the
Fire Department, assisted by a number
of fremen, resumed the work of tearing
down the remaining walls, which are in
danger of falling in the street. Several
of the highest portions of the walls of the
factory on Twelfth were pulled down
Saturday afternoon. The big brick CHM
rey still stands, and is apparently in no
danger of tumpling. The police have
been instructed to prevent all persons
from going near the outside walls which
appear to be shifting slowly towards the
street. The walls of the factory LAY
cracked in a number of places, and are
likely to fall at any moment Building
Inspector Frederick Steigleitter has noti-
fed the Hoboken Land and improvement
Company that all the walls will have to
be torn down as soon as possible, ana
expense. The officials of the company
said that they would probably put a
force of men at work on the ruins this
week.
While a number of spectators We're loi-
tering about the scene yesterday morn
ing a woman came along Washington
street carrying a bundle. Just as she
reached the block Of rnins she stopped.
and after gazing on the scene for awhile.
began to inquire as to when the IRE had
taken place. A byStander rehearsed the
details of the fire to her and she APP
peared greatly surprised. The woman,
Whsse s nsm lived e9u Id No not 1,a b Washingtoa
street, which is one of the buildings de-
stroyed.
! town on a visit and had not heard any
thing about the fire. All of her belongings
were burned. The front walls and door
ways of the tenements still remain stand
ing. The woman entered the hall of No.
1923 and took two letters from one of the
letter boxes. She then went away and
was not seen again.
Poormaster Harry L. Barck and the
committee appointed by the Common
Council have secured rooms for nearly all
ture and food has also been provided. A
large quantity of furniture which was
saved from the fire is stored in No. 8
engine house awaiting distribution among
the families. Many persons called at the
place and asked to be allowed to pick out
their furniture, but We're refused. Poor
would pick out goods which did not be-
long to them, so he instructed all callers
to make out lists describing their prop
erty. In this way the furniture will be
sorted out and distributed.
The big fire has caused one death. Mrs.
Esther Won Denburgh, seventy-three
| years old, who lived on one of the canal
boats which was destroyed the night of
the fire, died on Saturday at the home of
relatives on Park avenue. The canal boat
on which Mrs. Won Denburgh and her
husband lived was anchored in the Wee
hawken cove. A spark from the Wash
ington street fire set the craft on fire.
Mr. Won DonhJlvOh hGna mo praafJua av-l
cited and had to be carried off the boat.
She had beensill for the past few weeks
and it is believed the shock FASTENED her
death. Her body will be shipped to
Albany for interment.
Poormaster Barck's office in the City
Hall was besieged this morning with fire
sufferers who had called to receive or
ders for food, clothing and furniture.
Some of the, women carried babies and as
losses they wept bitterly.
one woman with three small children.
al that l ever had is gone
Poormaster Barck gave each applicant
an order for supplies. The committee of
the Common ouncil went around among
them were provided for. A few of the
women were not satisfied with the apart
ments secured for them, but they were
told to be contented until more suitable
In distributing the furniture which was
saved from the houses, some of the fami-
lies received the wrong goods and Poor
master Barck is kept busy irving to
~straighten out the difficulty.
Tn estimated losses on the fire, as
published in the Journal of Commerce.
are as follows:-Damage to the flat
houses, $175,00O; insurance, $14O, 600; the 1O6
families burned out. estimated loss, $780,
coo; the factory building owned by the
Hoboken Land and Improvement CO..
$4,000; on machinery. $4,000; insurance Of
$780, cog; Nathan Straus & Co. $3.50 900 to
10000; Benton. Health & Co., 10000.
The insurance on the DrODertv Of tho
firms was as follows:-Ward-Leonard
FL oan. CO. on machinery and stock.
$3.50; Nathan Straus & CO., On stock of
Co. on stock of wallpaper and machinery.
$sl go The factory building was insured
by the Hoboken Land Improvement Com
pany We're insured for $4,000 each, or a
total Of s140, 900.