Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-09-24

would have been close to the Wash
ingtOn's apparatus on the West side
and might have destroyed it. This
company was obliged to go to a hy-
drant within a few feet of the room
: where the gas is made. Danger
threatened on all sides and, at first,
the water pressure was not any too
good.
1t was not long, however, before
several streams were playing on the
buildings from all sides and the
water pressure was better.
The WashingtOns and Projections
were on the east side and the others
were on Lewis street and west of the
main gas tank.
All parties concerned are proud of
the work done by the firemen under
such adverse conditions. The fire
was under control almost at once.
At the time of the breaking out of
the fire, some of the employees had
presence of mind enough to at once
shut off the main valves at the tank
and also at the producing room so
that the gas could not work back and
feed the flames and also to .elimin-
ate the danger of further explosion.
The remaining gas that was being
generated, burned itself out last night
through the open doors into the open
air from the furnaces.
In an interview this morning, AL
bert F. Reitemeyer, superintendent,
secretary and treasurer, of the gas
company said he could not under
stand how the accident occurred and
vouched for the carefulness which
was always a part of the natures of
both men injured.
The company has been in business
for forty years and yesterdays acct
dent was the first serious mishap it
had ever had.
Mr.. Johnson, was one of the most
faithful men the company had in it's
employ and his place will be a hard
meyer took charge of affairs at the
works early this morning and now
has gang of men at work remov-
ing the debris Until this is re-
/ moved from over the purifying tank,
little can be learned as to the eX-
tent of the damage. This, he thinks,
can be repaired in three or four days.
The supply of gas in the tanks is the
Amboy works and the pressure was
insufficient this morning, but steps
were taken about o'clock to get gas
| through means from Elizabeth which
are connected with this city and
Woodbridge. Plenty of gas is in re-
serve at the works in Elizabeth un-
til the damage here can be repaired.
! This supply was turned on this morn
ing at Woodbridge.
Mayor Bollschweiler inquired care
fully into the steps taken to prevent
further trouble and offered Superin-
tendent Reitemeyer any aid possible.
Yesterday there was about 10000
cubic feet of gas in the tanks at the
Perth Amboy works, but hardly
5000 cubic feet remained this morn
ing.
The Perth Amboy Gas Light Com
pany was incorporated in 1862, with
a capital of $65,000. The officers
are: President, p Convery; vice.
, president, William H. Mccormick;
secretary, treasurer and superlntend-
ent, A. F. Reitemeyer. The company
is controlled by U. S. Senator John
Kean and his brother Hamilton F.
Kean, of Elizabeth.
The roar of the explosion brought a
feeling, of terror to many people, espec-
( tally in the southerly part of the city
| and, as soon as the fire bell told the
| location of the disaster, people began
Hooking in that direction through every
street. When the horrible news spread
| among the wondering throng, feeling
of sadness pervaded all, and there were
widespread expressions of sympathy for
the stricken family. Lloyd p. Johnson,
the victims son, and chief clerk of the
gas company, showed remarkable nerve
and GOODNESS as long as any man could
William McKenZies face was scorch-
| ed on one side during his efforts at res
cue, but his injury. though painful, was
not serious The victim of the explo-
sion lived but a stones throw from the
works and his family was not long In
| hearing of the accident, although the
exact seriousness of his injuries was
not made known to Mrs. Johnson at the
| time.
The explosion was so terrific thai
| glass several blocks away was shattered
and 1t was heard by people way in the
northerly part of town. People who
were asleep were awakened and an in.
| surance agent block or so away wa.
knocked backward over chair.
| Continued on page %
A thirty-five-cent matinee ticket t.
the Amboy theatre given free with an,
/ 20 cent n11rchasa hafwaau 10 and =