The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-13
SCHOOL NO.
70 CONE.
Terrible Fire in the
Midst of the Biz
zard In Green
vile,
FIREMEN PARALYZED
Engines Impeded by Drifts,
Hydrants Frozen and
Men Benumbed.
CHIEF HOGAN INJURED
Inhaled Smoke and Sustained
Frostbite While Direct
ing His Men.
WHOLE BLOCK IN DANGER
Camera Works Burned and
Frame Buildings on Fire
and Out Again.
WHOLE BLOCK IN DANGER

A fire such as has not occurred in
Jersey City since the sugar house fire,
six years ago, is raging in Greenville. 1t
seems almost impossible for the firemen
to subdue it, They have been fighting
the flames since about $3.50 this morning
but the most they have been able to do
is to save the dozens of frame buildings
in the vicinity of the burned buildings.
The fire has totally destroyed Public
School No. 20, its annex. a handsome new
houses and several wooden buildings in
the rear The school building was locat-
ed on Danforth avenue near Ocean ave-
nue.. All that now remains of it is a mass
of smouldering ruins. It is a total loss.
Had the f1remen been able to work on the
fire when first they were summoned the
great loss that has been sustained might
have been averted, but they could not get
the first stream of water on the burning
building until one hour after the first
tongue of flame was discovered. TEe
snow drifts delayed the engines and when
they did arrive it was only for the firemen
to find the water hydrants frozen. These
had to be thawed out before anything
could be done The fire was attended by
ualties resulted.
Battalion Fire Chief John Hogan was
overcome by the smoke and frozen. He
is in a serious condition. He has had
several severe accidents in the last year.
His friends fear that this one may be
attended with fatal results. When seen
by reporter for "The News he was
in very weak condition. He complained
of a severe pain over his heart.
st was knocked out at the church fire
on Saturday. he said, "and had not
recovered from it. am all right feeb-
| ly) only 1 have such a pain near my
| heart"
| In spite of his condition his chief con-
Germ seemed to be of the fire. He kept
| on directing his men until forbidden to
do SO by the doctor
Chief Hogan was overcome in the new
portion of the school building. He was
there with several of his men. His
clothes were frozen stiff upon him. He
was weak from exhaustion, having been
working necessarily for nearly two
hours The smoke in the place where he
was was suffocating. All of a sudden he
| was missed by his men.
! Going through the room in which he
| had been directing them and aiding them,
/ two of his men stumbled over his body.
| A faint moan came from him. They lifted
| him up and carried him across the street
| to the house of his son, Joseph Hogan,
| who lives right opposite the school build
| ing, at No. Jas Danforth avenue. Joe is a
| fireman, too. He is the stoker of Engine
No. 49, He was relieved by his captain
| and went to his father. Mrs. Hogan and
| Jo ministered to him.
Hogan was placed in front of warm
| fire, his clothes were cut and broken off
of him and was thawed out. He soon re-
gained consciousness. DR.. J. Finn, Direc-
tor of Education, who lives but two doors
from Hogan's house. was called in. He
set i m to work rubbing Chief Hogan $
frozen limbs and did what he could for
him. He pronounced Hogan's condition
sepfous.
Captain Hickey of No. truck was
frozen. He was sent to the City Hospi-
tai.
Charles Young, of No. 4 Truck was over
come by exhaus tion He was cared for
in the home of Michael Schultz, Jr.
| Henry Bishoff, fireman, was taken to
the same place, suffering from burns on
his face.
A rescue was made while the fire was
at its height. Next door to the school
4 building on the Ocean avenue side Was a
large old fashioned three story and base
4 ment frame house. The two lower floors
4 were occupied by H. Martisheimer, his
wife, son and Mrs. Martisheimers sister,
Miss Ann Miller The other floors were
occupied by a family named Routh
The fire had been burning for some time
when it became evident that tn flames
would spread to the wooden dwelling
Mrs. Martisheimer was frantic Her sister
is an invalid She was unable to help
herself. All the men of the family were
away. Mrs. Martisheimer ran into the
| street. Roundsman Engels met her and
She told him about her sister. He rushed
into the house and carried the invalid out
The roof Of the house caught fire, but tbs
greater portion Of the building was saved
by the quick work of the firemen. Mrs
Martisheimr. assisted by friends. managee
to get out all the valuables. The family
was cared for in the home of Michae
Schultz Jr., treasurer Of the Hudsor
County Republican Committees who lives
. lopposite.
Mrs. snultz and other neighbofs prepar-