The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-16
ALDERMAN IS
A TENEMENT
FIRE HERO
Thinly Clad Flee Flames
at Early Sunday Morn
ing Blaze.

When the Common Council holds its
final session of the year no doubt
special honors wilt be conferred on
Alderman Michael Leveen, of the Sec
ond Ward. 1t was due to his timely
discovery that at least thirty persons
were rescued from being overcome by
smoke which resulted from a fire in
the rear of the National Cloak Com
pany factory at 154 Springfield avenue
early yesterday.
Shortly after | o'clock he closed his
store at Prince and Springfield avenue,
and when he boarded d trolley a he
noticed the reflection of a blaze in he
building more than a block away.
With him at the time was Gus Haug,
THAT'S a fire, as sure as you live,
said Leveen.
II guess you are right, alderman,
was Haug's reply.
The Second Ward representative ad-
vised Haug to jump off the a at
Howard street and do what he could to
arouse the tenants. At the same time
he signaled to the motorman to break
all speed records and get to the tireboX
at West street and Springfield avenue.
When the trolley reached his point the
alderman turned in the alarm and
her hurried back to the building.
1t is a four-story brick building, and
the three upper stories are occupied by
several families. BY this time the two
discoveries were assisted in the work
of the rescue by Roundsman Henry
Seipel, of the Fourth Precinct, and the
police on the various posts in the VI
entity. Fortunately all were aroused
and escorted TO the street.
Seipel had made three visits TO the
dwelling when he was told by a young
negro that his mother was in one of
the rooms on the fourth floor. Seipel
saw tina the fremen were struggling
hard to get the fire under control and
were Handicapped by the dense smoke
which filled the building. He entered
the house and managed to reach the
room and whenehe found the door lead
ing to it locked he forced it open, and
Immediately the smoke poured out in
clouds and the oundsma dropped to
the floor.
Fortunately Lieutenant Smith and
Firemen Healy and olrkel, of Engine
Company No. 20, were making their
way to that part of the building with
a lantern an a stretch Of hose when
Oirkel stumbled over the roundsman.
The trio lifted the suffocated hero up
and hurried downstairs into the street,
where Seipel soon revived.
When seen today Selpel was somewhat
modest and preferred not to discuss the
case. Il went up TO look for a woman,
and when l pushed open the door the
smoke blinded me. and that was all | re-
membered until ] came to on the street.
When the inmates rushed TO the street
thinly clad and others without shoes,
Alderman Leveen located Max Flusser,
who conducts a furniture store next to the
building which was afre, and the latter
opened his place to allow the tenants TO
go there.
1t is believed that the fire started in the
rear of the store. but the origin is not
known. The fremen, by responding quick
ly. managed to confine it to that section of
the premises. The block consists of large
buildings, and is one of the biggest bust
ness blocks or the Hill section. The loss
will reach about 1000.
When seen today Alderman Leveen
blushed when greeted as a hero.
II only did what any ordinary citizen
would do" said he, "and that's all there
IS to IL"