The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-17
TWO BIC BLAzES
Standard Ore Reduction
Company's Building To-
tally Destroyed.
EXPLOSION IN SALOON
Oiled Woodwork Helped the
Flames-Children Carried
Out in Night Clothes.

Firemen had two big fires on their
hands this morning. Three alarms were
sent out for the first, on Ninth street
The second broke out suddenly just as
the men were returning from the first
blaze. 1t was caused by a gas explosion.
The fremen and police distinguished
themselves by their GOODNESS in rescuing
the people who lived on the floors above
the saloon.
The building occupied by the Stanoaru
Ore Reduction Company. located at Nos.
III and le Ninth street, was totally de-
stroyed by fire shortly before four O'Clock
this morning. About 3:45 o'clock Police
man Harris, of the Second precinct
patrolling his post along Henderson street.
saw smoke issuing from the windows OF
sbs brick structure. The officer rushed
10 fire box No. "a, located at the corner
NJ Henderson and Ninth streets, and sent
in an alarm which brought out the de-
partment.
Truck Company No. 2, located on Ninth
street. was the first on the scene. The
men broke open the iron doors, forced
their way through the smoke and located
the flames in the boiler room. Engine
4r0mndnV NO.. u " Lis lAA1(
in the house. Several other engines from
the lower section of the city then got to
work.
Chief Conway arrived on the scene
shortly after the fire broke put
Seeing that the apparatus on Inc
ground could not cope with the names
he sent in a second alarm, which was
followed shortly after by a third alarm
After the fire had eaten its way through
the front of the building the men went 10
work in the rear. Efforts were made 10
protect the big flats on Pavonia avenue.
While the men were at work on the rear
of the structure many of them climbed
upon a shed in order that a stream might
be thrown on the blaze in the upper stof-
des. The roof of the shed on which the
men were standing gave way Tn hre
men fell through to the floor, escaping IN
jury. however.
After about two hours of hard work the
flames were gotten under control. They
were not e~xtinguished until about 4;W
o'clock. Engine Company No. = ana
Truck Company No. 2 remained on the
scene until near nine O'Clock when they
left for their quarters.
The building is owned by William Wild
of Eighth street. The building was for
merly occupied as a paint factory. In
the past three years many fires have
broken out in it. The loss amounts to
about SIP, 0e0. The machinery in the build
ing was a total loss.
While the men were at work at the
Ninth street fire, another blaze broke out
in the saloon occupied by Joseph Gal
lagher at the corner of Grove and Seventh
streets. The blaze at this place was
caused by a gas explosion in the cellar.
The tenants had complained about the
odor of gas for the last four weeks. The
complaints were made to ex-Alderman
Losel, the owner of the building, but
nothing wal don to abate the nuisance.
This morning, about eight o'clock. while
Gallagher was behind the bar. he was
surprised to hear a loud report coming
from the cellar. The explosion forced up
the floor of the saloon and flames
streamed through the opening. Gallagher
rushed from behind the bar and into the
street. He a hardly time enough to
make his escape.
The sound of the explosion attracted the
attention of the Second precinct police,
who were assembling for the eight o'clock
roll call, in the house nearly opposite.
Captain Kelly had just returned from the
Ninth street fire. Running to the door
OF the house he looked out and saw the
flames coming from the saloon and ex-
tending half way across the street. Pa
trolman Dunnegan ran to the firebox and
turned In an alarm.
The engines that had stopped work at
the Ninth street fire were sent for. Be
fore their arrival the saloon was "a mass
of flames. Chief Conway put every en-
CINE available to work, but not in time
to save the saloon. The men confined
their attention to the upper floors, which
were but little damaged, with the excep-
ton of the corner windows. The upper
door was not touched by the flames.
While the fremen were getting to work
the police, under Captain Kelly, who
took charge, went through the house
arousing the sleeping tenants. Those who
were awakened ran about the house as
though mad. Some attempted to throw
their effects out of the window. The
police and fremen succeeded in stopping
them and in sending them quietly to the
street.
Policemen Maxwell. D~unnegan, Davins
and Feehan, and Detective Bumsted, car
ried many children, clad only in their
night clothes, to places Of safety. Mrs.
Colesy, who acts as janitor of the build
ing, and who is in a very sickly condition,
was assisted down stairs by Patrolman
Walter Daily. She was removed to the
home of friends in the neighberhood.
Mrs. Govern, the widow of the late x
Director of the Board of Freeholders,
who occupied the floor above the saloon,
suffered the most loss. Her parlor furni-
ture was damaged by water and flames
Mrs. Kelly, on the third floor, and Mrs
Frank Meade, of the top floor, suffered
but little.
The Roadway gained by the fire was
caused by the highly polished wood worn
In the saloon, which was soaked with oil.
The plate glass windows were smashed to
Eieces. The loss amounts to about $5,000.
TRACK WALKER KILLED,