The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-04-07
$4,000 BLAZE.
Foye Place Totally De-
stroyed By Fire This
Morning.
GENERAL ALARM GIVEN
All the Engines In the City
at the Conflagra-
ton.
NO LIVES WERE LOST
Gasoline Used for an Automo-
bile Said to Have Been the
Cause--Mr. Foye Says
1t Was a Flue.

One of the biggest and most destructive
fires that has visited this city since the
burning of the Pennsylvania Railroad
waiting room occurred shortly after noon
today, when the block of buildings on
Foye place, between Bergen avenue and
Montgomery street, was entirely wiped
out. Not stick of the block of buildings
remains standing. In fact the fire RACED
so fiercely that the timber was entirely
consumed before the firemen extinguished
the burning buildings. AS THE News"
goes to press there are a few shoulder
ing timbers, but the blaze has been ex-
tinguished. The loss is estimated at $40,-
COO by Frank NJ. Foye, the owner, He has
$4,000 Insurance on the buildings. A
dozen men were driven out of business
by the destructive blaze Their stocks of
goods were burned up. not vestige re-
naming.
1t is stated on reliable information that
the explosion of some gasoline caused the
blaze. Carl Bergman, an automobile
patentee, has a place in the cellar of
No. l Foye place. in which building T. NJ.
Foye has his real estate office. Shortly
after noon an explosion was heard and
there Immediately followed huge volumes
of smoke.
P. J. sewell. who is employed in F, M.
koss's fish market across the way, saw
the smoke and sent in an alarm from the
box on the corner. This was followed by
second, and ten minutes later third
a'arni. Chief Conway arrived on the
scene at half-past twelve and ordered a
general alarm sent in. Every engine and
truck in the city, save the chemical ap-
paratuses, arrived on the scene.
The entire block was then mass of
flames The heat was intense. Crowds
of people gathered, but they were kept
a block from the scene by reserves sent
from all the stations. Inspector. Archi-
bald was in command until Chief Murphy
arrived. The crowds were handled well
and there was no confusion.
The firemen went about their work in
business-like way. Hoses were directed
against the adjoining buildings, which
saved them from destruction. At one
time the surrounding block was in dam
ger of being gutted
Prompt work saved several frame
houses on Tuers avenue, although the
sheds were consumed. Twelve families
hustled their belongings out in the street
and were in constant fear of having their
homes destroyed. About fifteen streams
We're playing on the burning and sur
rounding buildings at one O'Clock. Foye
block was then thing of the past.
The flames shot across the street and
began to eat away the saloon situated on
the triangular piece of property owned by
Patrick Corrigan, and occupied by George
Coyne. The damage to this place was
about $500 The plate glass windows were
cracked and the glasses behind the bar
were smashed by the force of the streams
of water.
Phillips Hall, four story brick build
ing which is situated on Bergen avenue,
extending through to Tuers avenue, es-
capped with but little damage. The roof
was burned and the interior badly
smoked.
The firemen worked like beavers. They
were scattered on the adjoining buildings
heading off the flames and in this manner
saved the frame houses on Tuers avenue
AT quarter to two, the fire was extin-
guished, having been under control since
a Quarter after one.
Foye Hail. the scene of countless re-
ceptions, entertainments and political
meetings went up in smoke along with all
the stores.
NO. L fONe place was Occupied ny Il RAIN
M. Foye as a real estate office. Next
door f. Kelaher had a hardware store;
Nos. and were unoccupied; Louis Sac
bel kept tailor shop in No and No. s.
was occupied jointly by Nicholos Burns,
who keput cigar store and William Har-
ris, who ran a paint shop.
Mr.. Foye denied that the explosion of
gasoline caused the blaze, but said he
thought it was due to a defective f1ue. He
said he left the building few minutes
before the blaze started after giving in
structions to the janitor to loog after the
boiler This is all he would say on the
subject.
Every one else about the premises who
was questioned, stated that the gasoline
caused the fire. Carl Bergman, the
automobile manufacturer, could not be
found about the scene of the conflagra-
tion.
James Bradley who owned the frame
houses adjoinig the ruined buildings, lost
one small building. which he used as
restaurant. Fl is loss is about $500. The
hall and stores will be rebuilt