The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-07
Jersey City Policeman,
Youngest on Force,
Overcome by Smoke.
CARRIES UNCONSCIOUS
WOMAN THROUGH FIRE
Went Back to See if Any Others
We're Left in the
House.
wT'S MY DUTY" HE SAID
In ANSWER TO PROTESTS
Joined the Police Force Ten
Months Ago and Anxious
to Make Good.

JERSEY CITY, Oct. 7.--Supreme de-
votion to duty and heroism never sur
passed in police annals of this city to-
day cost Patrolman Nicholas Nestor,
of the Communipaw avenue police sta
ton. his life at c. bad blaze at S13-S15
Ocean avenue. After having wakened
four families who were sleeping sound
was lowering over them from the
smoke and flames, and carrying two of
the tenants in the burning houses who
had been overcome by the smoke, 10
the street, Nestor went back into 813,
from the windows of which flames were
leaping and smol pouring, to make
sure that there was nobody else left
in the house. He never returned.
The officer went into the furnace
despite the reruonstranoes Of those who
were fighting the flames. He was as
sured that there was no one left In the
burning buildings, but replied that he
must make sure When the fremen
were at last able to gain control of the
flames they found the policeman's body
lying across the floor of the room on
tn. third floor, from which he had res
cued an unconscious vic i'm just short
tins before.
Anxious to Make Good.
Nestor was 22 years old and was
known throughout the police force as
the kid Cop More than q year ago
he began course of study at his home
% q fo. tIn Dfx
examinations and he was among the
first to pass these, being admitted to
the force about ten months ago. This
was the young policeman's first real
test and his anxiety to prove that he
was worthy of the trust imposed in him
cost him his life.
Just about dawn today, while on his
beat, Nestor discovered flames shooting
from the cellar windows Of three
story frame building at 813 Ocean ave-
nue.. The ground floor of this building
was occupied by the grocery store of
Eckhoff & Starnhet. William Eckhoff
living with his family on the second
floor and Bernard Wittenburg and fam
lily occupied the third floor.
The store had not yet been opened,
and the families were apparently still
and began banging ON the door of the
house to awaken the sleepers. He sue
ceeded in rousing Eckhoff, who, with
his wife, hurried down into the street.
Carries Woman Out.
The smoke was pouring through the
Railways In dense clouds and the flames
were beginning to run up through the
store to the sleeping quarters OF the
building Nestor and Wittenburg
rushed up to the third floor and broke
into the Wittenburg apartments Wit
tenburg was able to get down stairs
without assistance, but Mrs. Witten-
burg was in a semi conscious condi-
tion and was carried down by Nestor.
The flames had by this time spread
to another three STORY frame building
at SIS. Nestor broke in here, and
his way through the binding
smoke, awakened all the inmates who
were still sleeping. Nestor himself,
carried little Amelia Adams, who was
asleep on the third floor, to safety.
Though the firemen had arrived and
were training their streams on Sl3,
Nestor who was very much used UP
and appeared in q dazed condition,
went back into the flaming building to
make sure that no one was left.
His body was discovered by the fire.
men under Battalion Chief Brennan
and removed to the Communipaw Ave-
nue. Police Station.