New-York tribune., 1901-01-28
PART OF A TOWN DESTROYED
FIRE SWEEPS AWAY BUSINESS HOUSES
OF MATAWAN, n. j.
WOMEN PRAY IN STREETS WHILE MEN.
ARMED WITH sHoTGUNs. LOOK
FOR INCENDIARIEs

Matawan. N. J.. Jan. 81 (speciaD-This viii
lage has just experienced a night of terror never
before equalled in its history. A fire OF incendi-
ary origin swept away the business portion of
the town, together with the opera house and
several dwelling houses
The flames were discovered at a. m by Mrs
Mary Mays. dressmaker. having apartments
over the harness store Of Ruff Crawford, in
Commercial Block Mrs Mays was awakened
by the smell OF smoke and a noise in the rear
OF the store. She called to Barterias Tiee
neighoor. and he came down a rear stairway
He thought that the noise in the rear Of the
building was one Of his employees trying to get
10 his bakery. Looking from a side window
ne saw smoke and flames coming from the
rear Of Crawford's store. He knew that his own
ouiidlng was doomed. and he hastened TO awaken
his family. who hurried to the street with a
few of their belongings
When the Fire Department arrived IL was
seen that 1t would be unable to cone with the
flames Word sent to Keyport and had IL
not been for the help of the department of that
village. the entire town of Matawan would have
been consumed. for when the fire was at it's
height the only steamer in the town broke down
1t was then that the discovery was made that
incendiartes were at work, and several fires
were reported at the same time Women wept
and prayed in the street, while men armed
themselves with shotguns and patrolled in front
OF their properties. declaring that they would
shoot the first hrebug that they could find.
1t a reign of terror for a time. The
streets were strewn with furniture and goods
Of all description. After consuming the harness
store OF Ruff Crawford the fire rapidly de-
voured. with their contents. the jewelry store
of j. N. Naming. the drygoods store Of r. Bedle
& Son. the laundry of Sam Lee. who. besides his
furniture. lost $3.50 in money; the town free
reading room, the dwelling of Mrs Electra
Quackenbush. the hardware store Of Charles
A. Geran. the barber shop of George Heuser
the building occupied by Benjamin E. Griggs's
grocery. and the lodge rooms of Knickerbocker
Lodge, I. o. o. F. The last building in the busi-
ness the opera house. a brick structure.
which for some time defed the flames. Below
the audience room was the grocery of d. E
Mahoney and the drug store of Frank II. Slater
The building and it's contents were consumed
There was an explosion in the drug store. and
a large iron cylinder was thrown three blocks
but fortunately did harm
Fires were next discovered in the grocery
store OF Thomas E. Shepherd and in the home
Of Charles Van Brunt. in the Bissen Block.
These fires were found in closets that had no
connection with the exterior Of the buildings
and must have been set by some one The
house OF Thomas NJ. Autisen in Broad-st. was
found to be on fire. but the flames were checked.
The last OF the fires was found in Matawans
handsomest house. that of Rens W Dayton.
in Main-st. The flames started in the interior
OF the building. The house unoccupied for
the night. and the incendiary must have known
and taken advantage Of this fact.
Dawn came with a welcome such as IT had
never before received by the people Of Matawan.
and the night OF horror was over. leaving in its
wake the smoking ruins OF many buildings and
the anxiety which accompanies the belief that
incendiaries are trying to burn the town. Mat
avian citizens will not sleep tonight for fear
of more fires.
Ten years ago incendiary of the name Of
Charles Smith succeeded in burning many
buildings here before he was apprehended He
Is now serving a term of twenty years in State
prison In 1868 fire visited the same portion
OF the town that DESTROYED last night. but
the damage done was not nearly so great.