The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-01-18
TWO BIZ; FIRES
Fireman Have a Long Fight
With Stubborn
Blazes.
FIFTEEN FAMILIES AFFECTED
Small Damage at One and
$4,000 at the
Other.

Two big fires in one nlght Always means
the taxing of fire department to its
utmost capacity, and this was the case
with the local fire fighters last night
when they were called upon to answer
general alarm and a single alarm. Both
alarms would have been of general ma
ture but for the fact that one of the hres
occurred in plant that offered most IN
adequate facilities for a sufficient supply
of water. Because of this condition of
affairs more property was destroyed than
would have been the case had the ar
rangements been more complete.
The first fire broke out in the extensive
lumber yards of Woodstock 6 Company.
at West Side avenue, near the Susque-
hanna Railroad. Here was where the
department was handicapped by the lack
of water and proper means of reaching
the heart of the blaze The other fire
partially destroyed much of the property
at Ivy place and Grand street. Six dwell
ing houses were almost gutted and those
which escaped damage by fire were dam
aged by water The awful cold and in
clemency of the weather heightened the
danger of the fifteen families that were
forced to flee for their lives.
The alarm for the fire at the Wood
stock lumber yard was sent in at $3.50
o'clock, and the companies in that vicinity
responded. When the yards were reached
the first difficulty was encountered be-
cause the street leading to the entrance
was too narrow and the lumber was SO
arranged that it was almost impossible
to get near enough to reach the flames
with a stream. When the search for
water began it was found that but two
hydrants were near enough to be used and
consequently only two engines could be
operated. The inf1amable nature of the
stock gave the fire supply of fuel that
increased it's fierceness and in short time
the entire plant was in danger of total
destruction. The firemen fought CALAMITY,
but the odds against them were too great
and their efforts availed but little COM
paratively. 1t was seen that there would
be need of all the departments resources
were it possible to put them in use, but
it was not possible and a general alarm
was not sent in, because any more COM
panies than had answered the first call
would have been a further handicap as
each would interfere with the other. The
fire burned almost throughout the entire
night. It was grand spectacular blaze
tnat lit up the heavens for miles and
caused wild rumors that most of the west
ern section OF the city was ablaze.
At three o'clock this morning, when the
firemen at the Woodstock blaze were
almost exhausted by their labors. which
had most discouraging results, shiverfng
with cold and coated with ice, the still
ness of the night was broken by the
changing of fire engines on their way to
respond to an alarm sent from the juno
ton of Grand street and Ivy place. The
first engines on the scene were hardly
prepared to operat when it was seen that
the flames were belching forth from No 4,
Ivy place where theye were created, and
licking the walls of Nos. and 2. A second
alarm was sent in and another corps of
men arrived at trhe scene only to see
that more assistance would be necessary
to cope with the situation. The third
alarm followed the second closely an all
who were able responded to a general
signal: Seeing the uselessness of some
of their machines at the Woodstock fire
the men left there and hurried with all
speed OF the Ivy place confagration where
they were more successful in the dis
charge of their duties.
Some of the families. whose names
could not be learned, were rendered home
less for the time being. These are now
living with neighbors. Their household
goods were totally ruined
Looking at the outside Of the burned
houses one could scarcely tell that fire
had taken place. The buildings were
ramshackle affairs and in a decayed con-
dition. The police have not yet found
out how the blaze began.
Out of the fire there grew a deep feel
ing of gratitude for Mr.. John Roberts.
proprietor of Phoenix Hall. The hall is
on the corner directly opposite the houses
that were afire. AS soon as the proprietor
was aroused by the. excitement of his
neigh throwing their furniture from
windows and seeking safety in the cold
night air, some but scantily dressed and
all shivering, he threw open the doors
of his place and quickly had fires glow
ing and hot coffee. He invited all those
rendered homeless into the place and
made them as comfortable as possible.
The fremen were also cared for by Mr..
Roberts whenever they could be spared
from their labors. He gave them new
strength for their work by feeding them
with hot coffee and sandwiches.
TkGnIIiTfl II0EHf Ef1fl