Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-09-20
Alarm Sent in for Perth Amboy Department and
Two Companies Responded Bucket Brigade
Did Excellent Work and Saved the Remainder
of the Block From Destruction.
LOSS $4,000.

N uinno WHiOh UILRuateu IN STORE
in Peterson avenue, Keasbey, at 2:55
this morning, destroyed tho entire
block of four houses, and did nearly
$40, 600 damage before it was finally
extinguished. At one time the entire
square of buildings was threatened.
1t was saved by bucket brigade or
ganized among the residents of tha
settlement, who prevented the flames
from sproadingsto Ithe barn of Hans
Hanson, whose grocery store adjoins
the row of houses threatened. Two
local fire companies also did excel
lent work, upon reaching the scene.
The fire started in the one-story frame
building, with half-story ON the
rear. 1t was occupied by Alexander
Cohen, who kept q general provision
store. This building burned rapidly,
and, when discovered by neighbors,
was mass of flames.
Cohen, it is declared by neighbors,
discovered the blaze. but ran ont, neg
lecting to notify the neighbors or to
make any attempt to.save his property.
A telephone call for kelp was sont
to police headquarters at $40. Ser
geant Mulligan detailed Roundsman
Morris and Patrolman Long, and an
alarm was turned in from box sd. at
State and Smith streets. Chisf ].
P. Moylan wasinotified. and, the per-
mission of Mayor Seaman having
been secured. as Keasbey is in Wood
bridge township, the truck of Protec-
tion Hook g. Ladder CON plny rud the
combination wagon of War ington
Hose company were taken ont the
members of the companies fhey
made good time in reaching Ecasbpy.
and did excellent work in checking
the spread of the flames. :
The flames quickly spread to the
two-stoIy frame house adjoining
Oohen's store on the west, owned by
Samuel Kress. HIS family lived on
the first floor, and the second floor
was occupied by the family of Andrew
liorkay. The dwelling was burned. to
the ground, everything being des-
troyed, except bicycle, saved by
one of Horkay's sons. The house was
The two. frame houses on Ethe left
hand side, the remaining two of the
block, were soon in flames. They
were owned by Lawrence J. lChristie.
of Metuchen. They were burned to
the ground, with tho exception of the
first floor of one, which was of con-
duits. The houses were together
valued at about $1,000, aud were
insured The house adjoining Cohens
store was two-story affair. It was
occupied by the families of Steve
Stock and Paul Barvel. Their furni-
ture was insured.
The other house of Mr.. Christie's,
the first in the row, was of three
stories. 1t was occupied by the fam
lilies of Benjamin WuldrinQ, Andrew
Enobler and Cabil Kaufman. Their
goods bore insurance.
The bucket brigade brought water
from nearby cisteIn and the men
worked like Trojans to prevent the
spread OF the flames Oh the other
dwellings i'll the vicinity. Their
efforts were chiefly directed towards
the blaze from reaching
the stable and barn in the rear of
Hans HaDson's grocery. If this had
become ignited, nothing short of y
miracle could have saved the entire
row near the old trolley terminus.
The families in the three story
house saved nearly all of their furni-
ture. Piles of kindling wood in Ithe
yards OF the houses were not even
scorched
John Brunski, thirty-sx years old,
Oon fin,,sd ou s,oos