The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-11-13
FLEE BLOOMFIELD
HOMES WHEN FIRE
RAzES FACTORY
National Label Press Plant Is
Burned and Roofs Catch
Blaze.
VOLUNTEERS GOOD FIGHT
SEEN BY THOUSANDS
Assistance Comes from East Or
ange When Flying Embers
Spread Terror.

Bloomfield had its biggest and most
exciting fire in years today when the
big plant of the National Label Press
Qncorporated), was destroyed Several
adjoining houses caught fire and were
badly damaged, an aged woman was
rescued from her endangered home and
firemen many times narrowly escaped
| serious injury.
The loss was estimated at between
s50,0o0 and $4,000. The plant was To-
Gated In Myrtle street, in the Watses-
sing section OF Bloomfield. The main
Offices of the company are at % Clin-
ton street, this city.
For several hours the whole town was
excited. the great volume of dense
smoke being visible for many miles
The blaze was started by electricity
on a varnish blanket, and was dis
covered by William Spinning, jr., an
! employee, who was operating press.
! Spinning shouted to Edward Fay and
| William Cryon, and an attempt was
made to extinguish the flames, with
pals OF water and sand.
| The flames, however, gained much
| headway and Spinning ran to box SO,
located near the Lackawanna railroad
station, and turned in an alarm. The
fire department did effective work. al
! though the men were hampered by lack
of water pressure.
! Fire Chief Bernard F. Higgins tried
to turn in second alarm, but for
some reason the box refused to work.
Word was telephoned to the Spragus
| trfa a n6 a
/ alarm was sounded on the big whistle
summoning all the companies in the
/ town. The firemen fought against a
high wind. Several thousand persons
witnessed the firemen's splendid fight
| and saw them have several narrow
1 escapes from injury.
Aha from East Orange.
/ Chief Markwith, OF East Orange, ac-
cornpanied by chemical engine and
Hose Company No. 8, went to the fire
4 and rendered valuable assistance to the
4 Bloomfield volunteers. On the west
side of the burning building are a row
of three frame houses occupied by Pat
ricl, Conroy, 46 Myrtle street; Mrs.
Clara Wahldren, As Myrtle street. and
William Sigelen, so Myrtle street They
are owned by Mrs. Mary ellison.
The roofs of Nos. 46 and As were
burned off and the tenants were COM
PEELED to get out hurriedly.
The firemen and the persons living
| in the vicinity assisted them in getting
their furniture into the street.
The most of it was saved but it was
water -drenched.
The side of the house occupied by
! Conroy was scorched and blistered, and
the interior OF all three houses were
| damaged by water. Mrs. Gilsons loss
was S1500; covered by insurance.
Mrs. Alice Taylor, S4 years old, and
an invalid, lives on the east side or the
press plant, and she was assisted out
of her home and taken to the house OF
friend. Her place, however, escaped
| damage.
| Flames Lay Building in Waste.
The factory building burned like tin
der and In a short time was a mass OF
ruins. Valuable machinery lay about
twisted and ruined beyond repair. Chief
Higgins kept several streams playing
on it for a long time after back taps
were sounded, which was at $3.50,
/ Samuel Wilde, of East Orange, is
president of the company which con-
trolled the plant. 1t was built about
twelve years ago and had been closed
down for some time, but started up
about three weeks ago and was doing
work for the Nevins- Church Company,
of Glen Ridge, and other concerns,
/ About $500 worth of goods owned by the
| former concern were destroyed.
| At one time more than sixty men
were employed in the razed plant, but
4 lately but twenty men and boys had
! been given work, some of whom lost
their clothing. 1t was expected that a
full force would have been given en-
ployment. as many orders We're coming
In.
The wind carried pieces of flaming
wood on top of the roofs and set the
latter on fire, and householders on the
opposite side of the street were kept
busy with pals OF water and garden
/ hose.
Women Faint, Firemen Brave Danger.
Several women tainted during the ex-
citement, but no ono was hurt
| The destroyed building occupied a
space of $4,000 feet and was one-story
! high. The loss. estimated by Mr. Wilde
at between $50,000 and $4,000, was
partly covered by insurance.
| The contents of the building were of
an infiammable nature and burned
hfiercely.
/ The smoke was sitting and some Of
the volunteer firemen were almost over
come by iH They were drenched by
water and suffered considerably from
the cold. as many of them had left
their homes in their eagerness to get
on the job without donning proper
! wearing apparel. Women In the neigh
borhood furnished them with hot coffee
All five of the Bloomfield companies re-
mained on duty for several hours
MIR. Wilde was unable to say today
If the plant would be rebuilt. but it is
probable that substantial brick
structure will be erected on the ruins.