The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-22
HOBOKEN FIRE Victims
The Mayor and Common Council
Providing Homes for the
Houseless.

The work of caring for the houseless
families who were driven from their
homes by the disastrous fire in Hoboken
on Thursday night was carried ON all
yesterday and today by the authorities
with as much haste as possible Through
the efforts of Poormaster Harry Barek
and 7. c. Dunn, who is the agent of the
Hoboken Land and Improvement Com
pany, the unfortunant tenants have all
been furnished with temporary quarters.
Some of the apartments in the burned
houses, it is said, were untenanted, leav-
ing only no families instead of 12S, as was
first reported. Mayor Fagan and Com
missioner Bruning were on the scene of
the fire until early yesterday morning,
and everything possible was done for
the protection of the families and their
property. The majority of the families
secured sleeping apartments in tine houses
OF friends and neighbors. Those who
had no place to go were put in rooms
provided by the pocrmaster.
The clothing and furniture which was
piled on the street, was all removed by
yesterday afternoon. Poormaster Barck
engaged wagons and had the stuff taken
to the rooms where the families are liv-
ing. A large number of the unfortunate
persons have been left entirely destitute,
having lost all the property they pos
sessed. In a great many instances the
families were not al home when the fire
broke out, and, therefore, could not save
any of their belongings. Dozens of men,
women and children called at the City
Hall yesterday for aid
Mayor Pagan called special meeting of
the Common Council at three o'clock yes
terday afternoon to take immediate ac-
ton on the caring of the victims The
Council met in the Mayors private office
While the session was in progress one
woman and three men called and appealed
for assistance, saying that they were to-
tally destitute They were turned over
in the charge of the Poormaster Upon
the suggestion of Councilman Weinthal
it was decided to appoint two commit
tees, one of which will provide homes and
the other furniture and food for the FAM
lilies. The committee appointed on
homes included Councilmen Bewig, Weber
CapilH. McGovern and Steils.
The members who will look after the
purchasing of furniture, food and other
things are Chairman Weinthal and
Messrs. Londrigan, Snyder and Stuer-
wald.
1t is expected that all the families will
be in comfortable circumstances by NO.
night. The two committees will act in
conjunction with the Poormaster and
the money to be expended will be taken
from the poor fund.
The families who have no friends to
take care of them will be looked after
first, and then homes will be provided
for those now living with the neigh
bors.
Crowds of curiosity seekers visited the
scene OF the fire yesterday and today.
Chief Applegate of the Fire Department
aha- a. squad of police and fremen re-
manned at the ruins to keep inquisitive
persons from going too near to the tot
tering walls which are in danger of
Twelfth street end of the factory has
fallen out several inches and looks as
though it would fall at the slightest
touch. Nothing was left of the fine row
of fourteen brick houses on Washington
street except the front walls and these
are, SO badly. burned that they will have
The exact loss caused by the fire can
not be accurately estimated owing to
the refusal of the manufacturing firms
News" reporter visited Benton, Heath
& Co. and Ward Leonard & Co. last
night, but both firms declined to state
in the factory. It is said, however, thai
the entire amount of property destroyed
will reach considerably over half a mil
Hoit uOiidrS. Inc fourteen hats which
were owned by the Hoboken Land and
Improvement Company were valued at
$175,000. They were insured as follows
n New ooo York Board of Fire Underwriters,
Aetna Insurance Co., $4,000; Liverpool,
London & Globe Insurance Co., $4,000;
Citizens INSURANCE Co, $4,000, and Royal
Insurance Co; s14,09a The e. total inssur-
tory. building is valued at $4,000, but the
machinery and stock it contained will be
much larger figure.
The entire five floors in the factory
were all occupied and were stored with
manufactured articles and machinery 1t
is not known how many of the families
had their household goods insured If
there were any at all, the number is
very few, as it is known that the major
ity of them had no. insurance whatever
on their effects.
The Kismet Comedy Company, which
| is connected with the Catholic Club of
this city, offered it's services to Poor
| master Barck of Hoboken today to help
the victims of the big fire of Thursday.
The members of the company have vol
unteered to give entertainment for the
benefit of the families, providing that
the city will secure a hall Poormaster
Barck did not say whether he would ac-
apr,ff he off