Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1909-12-25
BIG WATER PUMPS
SILENCED BY FLAMES
Mystery Surrounds the Cause Of Explosion
Which Started the Flames Going on
Their Destructive Course
NOT One LIFE WAS LOST AT THE FIRE

What caused the explosion at the At
lantic City pumping station at the up
: per end of this borough about 3 o'clock
on Thursday morning, was the topic OF
conversation at a dinner partaken of by
superintendent Van Glider and the
w ater Commissioners at the home of
Mr. Fred Boice No conclusion was
Preached and the men turned their atten-
lion to heroic measures to resuscitate
he wrecked buildings and machinery, and
o get the latter started at the earliest
possible moment, to relieve any danger
t water famine in Atlantic City.
i The explosion, it is believed, however,
ok place underneath the boilers and
his makes ground for a theory that an
kplosive material was in the coal for
Eing tt
This was the first job for Marcus
kritsch as head of the local fire company.
Mat he and his assistants acquitted
iemselves most gloriously goes without
hying. and Chief Black, of the Atlantic
u
t the Pleasantville men promptly re
onded the new engine and pump would
W be mass of tangled scrap iron. II
after o'clock when one engine and
Eew from Atlantic City reached the
Es, of destruction-too late to do any
flg more than pump water on the hot
hs.
ater pressure was low at the Dor
his nearest hydrant to the fire, which
it be known, was the only hydrant
1t hose line could be attached. The
rk's hydrants were all inside build
IS and of course could not be reached.
First to Aid
flx- Chief Reinar was probably the first
rson to hear the alarm sounded by
am whistles at the pumping station
nd at the local electric light plant. He
once knew the noises meant fire and
fepared to run to the engine house. Be
8ore he reached the place the bell on the
bwer was pealing out an alarm. A
hone message had reached Zentmayer'> |
bles and aroused Randolph, the host |
who Immediately got a team ready |
a run.
.aSfew minutes Chief Fritsch and |
hgh men were on hand to man the I
wagon. The chemical engine was
behind as the phone call stipulated
need of hose but when the chief ar
d at the station he sent orders to |
the engine on the scene at once.
hother Zentmayer team, driven by !
kamin Green was started and it is
that the new chemical arrived or |
ktic City would todav be unable To |
ater through Che working of the
Ier new pump which was repaired |
tarted on Thursday afternoon.
City's Firemen Sleep
When woman sent a message to
Chief Black over the phone the reply |
came back. The firemen over here are |
all asleep" The lady was made iratc
and she responded III that's the way /
they do let them sleep forever" hut the !
chief did arrive and when he did he told |
Chief Fritsch that the latter's services |
were no longer needed. Mr.. Fritsch re /
membered the experience and lessons of |
the Lake & Risley fire. when the Allan
tic City papers ridiculed the local fire
men and gave credit for the work done |
to Chief Black and his men. Mr.. Fritsch |
refused to leave the ground until the |
fire was completely drowned.
Endorsement for Concrete
The stability OF concrete over other
building material was shown, all the |
work of this nature stands blackened |
and grim as evidence. The heavy brick |
walls of the newest building remain in
hut ,,,,,oh of thp phiuarv pNppnt |