Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-04-02
.F|REMEN FIGHT EACH
OTHER; HOUSE BURNS
Eagle House and Lincoln Engine
Companies Mix It at Ia Blaze
Last Night.
LEAPS FROM WINDOW.
One Of the Tenants Fearing All
Escape Cut OFF Jumps Fire
men Think Blaze InCendiary.

fought among themselves flames were
gaining headway in the building at
374 Smith street occupied as gro
Gerry store by Mrs. Emelie Reich and
as living apartments by Michael Ur-
ban and Joseph Larchaner. Mrs. Ur-
ban leaped from second story win
dow and was badly hurt. Citizens
rushed in the burning building and
rescued the children of the tenants
who lived upstairs. The firemen be-
lieve the fire to be of incendiary ori-
gin.
About 1:10 o'clock this morning
Erick Anderson, the night starter in
the local car barns, heard the crack
ling of glass and, looking outside, he
found that the building few doors
below on the opposite side was in
flames. He rushed to box Ga at Smith
street 'andAWatson avenue, where he
turned inyan alarm.
When the firemen responded they
found that'the building was the same
one that is believed to have been
set on fire some months ago in five
different places. 1t was owned at
that time by John Lebeda, but since
has been sold to Mrs. Reich.
Firemen Get Wet.
Wilde the water was being put on
the blaze the hose in the hands of two
of the members of Lincoln Engine
Company slipped and in a second 9TH
er firemen, who happened to be men,
bers of Eagle Hose Company, were
soaking wet From those who wit
messed the affair it is said that 1t was
purely an accident. In second the
members of the Eagle Company drop
ped the hose and started for the other
firemen They assaulted, it is alleg-
ed, Walter Martin, the veteran fire
man, and George Mead, knocking
them down and kicking them in the
face and about the body.
:. Other firemen dropped the hose
and stopped fighting the fire to help
fight the battle of friends. In the
meantime the fire ragged. How long
known, for someone called attention
to the fact that the building was con-
sumed and only by a desperate fight
could the nearby building be saved.
The firemen again turned to fight
ing the fire and after hard struggle
succeeded in saving the other struc-
lures. The building where the fire
started was completely gutted. The
damage was in the neighborhood of
$2,S00.i 1t is understood that Mrs.
Reich carried insurance on the build
ing and stock through the agency of
Platt-Brown Company
!. Leai,ed to the Ground.
When the blaze was discovered,
Mrs: Urban, wife of Michael Urban,
who lived upstairs, became frighten-
ed, and thinking that escape from
. the burning building was impossible,
asshe Jumped from the second story
window. She was badly injured, but
mo bones were broken. At first it
was thought that she had been killed
I: and hurry call was sent for DR..
james Stafford, of State street. The
doctor found that besides an injured
back, Mrs. Urban was suffering from
the shock and internal injuries. She
is now being cared for at the home of
q friend.
Children in Danger.
While the building was burning it
was discovered that the children of
the tenants upstairs were yet in the
burning house. When this was made
known a number of men rushed up
stairs and brought the little ones
safely below.
The fire started in the corner of
the grocery story, but what caused it
no one seems to know. Chief Burke
and Detective Sergeant Huff went TO
the scene of the fire this morning and
they are making thorough examina-
tion.'.7t
49, Lincoln Special Meeting.
1 ". B. Moore, president of Lincoln
/. Engine Company, has called a spe-
cial meeting for tonight TO see what
s7they can take in regard to the fight
z at the fire. Mr.. Moore alleges that
j the trouble was started by the Eagle
men and it is expected that the mat
ter will be brought to the attention
+ of the acting mayor. 1t is said that
the late Mayor Brace was investigat-
ing a similar matter, but had not re-
ported before his death.
A meeting of Eagle Hose and
Chemical Company has been called
for tonight. 1t is not known whe-
ther any action will be taken in re-
gard to the trouble between the fire.
men at the Smith street fire last night
or not. >s'
NOTICE TO CARPENTERS.