Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-12-26
City's Entire Department Is Called
OuttoFight an EarIv Morning Fire
in North AmbOV-- Several Alarms.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $4,000
Thrilling Rescue Marks Destruction
Of Saloon, Dance Hall and Other
Buildings Hard to Reachby Hose.

A fire which rendered nine fami-
lies destitute and homeless and
caused a loss estimated at $4,000,
necessitating calling out the entire
fire department, occurred in North
Amboy early this morning.
The damaged buildings at 657.
659 and 661 State street were own
ed by Joseph Laskowski, of 1877 New
Brunswick avenue. Nos. 657 and
659 is a two-story brick building.
occupied by Mrs. S. Koltunoff as a
clothing store and Adam Laskowski,
a brother of Joseph Laskowski, as a
saloon. Mrs. Koltunoff lived over
her store and the saloonkeeper and
his wife occupied apartments over
the saloon.
In the rear of the store and saloon
was a long one-story frame building,
formerly a dance hall. This build
ing, which was occupied by four
families, was total loss, but the
first floor of the brick building was
only slightly damaged by fire. The
second floor, however, was gutted
and the water ran through to the
first floor and flooded the clothing
store and saloon.
At 661 State street was a three
story frame tenement house occu-
pied by three families. In the rear
of this was a long frame dance hall
one story high. Both the new dance
hall and the old dance hall extended
from the rear of the saloon to the
Pennsylvania tracks. Both were
burned to the ground and the three
story frame building, although still
standing, is gutted.
None of the nine families saved
any of their furniture and most OF
them escaped in their night robes
Mr.. and Mrs. Laskowski, the former
being the saloonkeeper, went to New
York yesterday and his brother said
this morning that they had not as
yet returned. The bartender closed
the saloon at IL o'clock last night
and, at that time, everything was all
right.
Discovered In Alleyway.
At 3:15 o'clock this morning
Joseph Herbus, one of the tenants,
smelled smoke and on going outside
discovered a blaze in the alleyway
between the brick and frame build
ings His son, Joseph Herbus, Jr.,
sent in an alarm from Box 81, at
State and Wayne streets, while the
father, and Patrolmen Kozusko and
Gutowski ran through the buildings,
arousing the tenants. The fire spread
rapidly and the smoke grew thick IN
the rooms.
Patrolman Kozusko, while on the
second floor of the brick building,
stumbled over Mrs. Koltunoff, who
had been overcome by the smoke. In
a semi-conscious state the policeman
carried her to the street, where, af-
ter being revived, she was turned
over to kindly neighbors across the
street.
Mcclellan Engine Company, Pro-
lection Hook & Ladder Company
and Lincoln Engine Company ar
rived in the meantime and were soon
battling with the flames. Chief
Mead sent in a call for the Lincolns'
steamer and it quickly responded.
Realizing how quickly the fire was
spreading the chief ordered a call
sent in for Washington Hose &
Chemical Company, but they did not
respond until a second call was
sounded.
The chief then ordered call sent
In for Eagle Hose & Chemical Com
pany. A second call failed to bring
them so Peter Kroeger, member Of
that company, went to the house In