Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-12-21
Fire Of Unknown
Origin Causes
Excitement.
NEARBY HOUSES
EN- DAN CERED

Fire from an unknown cause
shortly before l o'clock today de-
stroyed the ice house on Second
street, owned by E. ]. Dorsey & Sons
and although the firemen work ed hard
they could do nothing toward saving
the building, as it had too much
of start before the alarm was
sounded. The loss is mt known, but
one of the members of the firm said
that 5000 will not rebuild the place.
The insurance amounted to $2,S00.
About 12:45 o'clock while George
Smith, driver for the Feigenspan
Brewing Company, whose stable. is
near the Dorsey Ice house, was hitch
ing up his team, he saw burst of
flame shoot out from the south side
OF the big structure, and he rushed
to Dorsey's Office only few feet from
the ice house, and telephoned to
Frank Dorsey that the building was
on fire.
Alfred Johnson turned in the alarm
from box rs, at Market and South
First strets.
The firemen responded quickly. but
the flames had gained too much head
way, and, in few minutes after
their arrival, the entire building was
in flames.
Nearby Houses are Ignitcd.
A stiff breeze was blowing at the
time and particles of flaming wood
were borne clear across the street,
where the roofs of two houses owned
by Herman Ellis, and occupied by
j.. Goldman and an Italian family
were set on fire. The firemen soon
had stream of water playing on the
burning dwellings and the flames
were soon under control, but the
structure burned briskly. Famed by
stiff breeze, the fire consumed the
building like so much paper, and.
portions of it fell from time to time
with a deafenlng roar.
superintendent Burns of the water
department said that the register at
his house on Kearny avenue showed
water pressure of thirty-five pounds
while the fire was under way
When Lincoln Engine Company ar
rived the fire in the steamer had gone
out and it took some time before it
could be started again.
One Fireman Hurt.
While climbing up ladder to get
a stream on one of the Ellis houses,
]. J. Flynn, of Protection Hook and
Ladder Company lost his footing and
fell. He tore his trousers and cut
deep cash in his right knee. Other
firemen met with minor accidents.
Frank Dorsey said he could not tell
how the fire started, but that it might
have been caused by a spark from a
locomotive, which seemed most prob
able, or by spontaneous combustion,
Or by tramp striking match.
Mr.. Dorsey could not say what the
loss would be. but figured that $4,000
would not rebuild the place. No ice
was in the building, and men had
Just finished the task of cleaning it
up for storage in a month or so. The
ice house was 26 feet high, 156 feet
long and so feet wide. 1t was built
number of years ago. by John Lar
kin. The insurance carried by the
Dorsey firm was $2,S00. 1t was with
the London & Liverpool Insurance
Company, represented here by the
Pratt-BrOwn Company. The damage
to the Ellis houses was slight.
The fire was productive of many
sensational incidents. The thick
clouds of black smoke attracted hun
dreds to the scene, and the crowds
were in imminent danger of being
struck by falling walls or by fire
horses, as well as the danger incur
red by those who swarmed on the
Central railroad tracks to the west
OF the blaze, as engines passed back
and Font h