The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-23
Alphonse Bailey, His Son
Employees and Firemen
Show Wonderful Courage
at a Blaze in Greenville
DYEING HOUSE AFIRE
ONLY THE PROMPT ACTION OF
THOSE MENTIONED PREVENT
ED GREAT DAMAGE FROM Elk
PLoMoNs.

a nre tnaI threatened TO 40 inucl uuni-
age broke out in the dyeing andcleaning
establishment of Alphonse Bailey in the
rear of his house, No. 2Q7 Pearsall av-
enue. at 2 p. NJ. yesterday. While
the flames did not do great amount of
damage the fire was the scene Of such
heroic conduct on the part of the the
proprietor, his SON, two employees and
several fremen as is seldom witnessed at
fire. This was not altogether due to
the efforts to save life. but to prevent
the spread of flames to row of frame
houses. The snow also had much to do
with preventing a catastrophe, PROBABLY
including less of life.
The fire started by tank of benzine
taking FIRE. There were but two work
men in the building at the time. These
were Charles Devine, tweRty three years
old, of Richmond road. West Brighton,
Staten Island. and Frederick Krause.
The flames spread quickly. The proprie-
tor and his son, Jules, were just ccming
out of their home and saw the blaze.
Both knew that four barrels of naptha
were stored in the building and that if
these caught fire the explosions would
send the flames flying in every direction.
The two workmen knew this, too, and
when the two Baileys rushed into the
building they found the two worknlen
trying to roll one of the barrels of naptha
out, even though the flames surrounded
them. A burning beam fell upon Deyine
ond pinned him to the floor.
Just about this time Henry Strauss,
Of No. 143 Old Bergen Road, while pas
sing in an automobile saw the blaze and
turned in fire alarm. Then he rushed
to the assistance Of those who were try
ing to extricate the unfortunate Deyine
from his perilous position. Devine's
clothing was already on fire. Strauss,
Kraus and the two Baileys succeeded in
getting out another barrel of naptha,
the wood of which was already on fire.
By this time the flames were roaring
with apparatus arrived upon the scene.
Captain Aumach and Firemen John Hin
shey and Charles Rose succeeded in get
ting out another of the barrels, the wood
work. of which was burning. Desperate
efforts were being made to prevent the
fire from eating through to the naptha
by rolling the barrels through the snow.
By thi slime the flames were roaring
through the interior of the establishment.
There was still another barrel Of naptha
inside Patrolman William Stevens, tying
a handkerchief over his mouth darted in
side. A crowd had by this time gath
cred and all present seemed to the hold
ing their breath in suspense. Seconds
seemed like minutes and it was feared
that Stevens had lost his life, but he
was seen some minutes later emerging
from the burning building rolling the
fourth barrel in front Of him. His hair
was singed and his gloves were burning,
bnt otherwise he was unharmed- The
FIRE had eaten nearly through the bar
rel, but was put csf in TING 70 prevent
an explosion. No. s Engine Company
and No. 16 Chemical A'ngine Company
had also responded, The two former
companies devoted their energies to pro
tecting surrounding property and the
Chemical Engine Company fought the
blaze in the dyeing establishment. IN
half an hour the fire was under con-
troll, but the dyeing establishment was
completely destroyed.
pevine, who was imprisoned under the
burning beam, was attended by DR.. f.
E. Lambert and sent to the City Hos
pital 1t is said his recovery is doubtful.