Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-15
TOTTER|NG WALLS
At SCENE OF FIRE
THAT HURT FOUR
Police Guard Pedestrians from
Danger That Follows Spring.
field Avenue Blaze.
VICTIMS OF BREAKING
LADDER SAVED BY SNOW
Another Near Death When BIaz-
ing Floor COllapses and Hurls
Him Into Flames.

Due to breaking ladders and flooring
which sagged under the fierce flames
which swept the four-story brick build
ing 196-19s Springfield avenue, four fire.
men today are under the care of doc
tors, several destitute families are be-
ing cared for by neighbors who are
almost as poor as themselves, and only
the bare walls of the building are
standing. The wall facing Springfield
avenue threatens to fall out in the
street. The loss was $25000
While the cause of the fire is not
clearly established it is believed that
| II was due to an explosion of gas. Pa
trolman Samuel Brodsky recalled today
that about month ago he saw flames
shooting from the top floor of the
building and when he ran through the
house he found that the flames were
due to a big gas leak.
Turn in Second Alarm.
Henry Eekelstein, of 6S Nelson place,
discovered the fire at S:25 o'clock last
night and turned in an alarm. When
Battalion Chief McDermitt got to the
fire he turned in a second alarm, and
Deputy Chief Sloan. who go there
shortly afterward, sent in a special
call for Engine No, 49, With all this
force fighting the fire it was two
hours before it was under control, and
the firemen had several thrilling ex-
perienees. While William Garland, of
No. 3 Truck, and Captain Herman
| Schweikhardt, of Engine Company No.
6, steadied ladder Edward A. Null
vaney climbed it with line of hose.
! Mulvaney had reached the top and his
] two companions were at the centre
when the ladder snapped like twig.
/ and the three men were flung to the
| street. THAI they were not fatally
! hurt is due to the fact that they landed
| iii a snow bank. AS it was Garland
| got bad scalp wound and was taken
| to st, Barnnbas's Hospital in the
/ Fourth Precinct ambulance. Schweik-
hardt and Mulvaney. although. badly
shaken up, remained at their post of
duty.
The firemen then went right at the
heart of the fire. William Buckbee, of
Engine Company No. %, did not hear
or heed a warning cry of his COM
panions as the second floor on which
he was at work, cracked orninously,
and few seconds later it went
through carrying Buckbee to tho
ground floor, which luckily was not
ablaze, the fire having started on the
second floor and was working it's way
upwards Flremen r. J. Kutcher and
Harry Shipman with axes chopped
their way to Buckbee, who was un-
conscious When he got in the brac-
ing air he revived, and although his
companions protested, he continued at
work.
Many Tenants in Building.
On the first floor of the building was
the five and ten-cent store of Finkle-
stein Brothers, whose main offices are
at 1854 Broadway New York. The sec
ond floor was occupied by Horwitz
Brothers, who conduct a cloak and
suit establishment; the third floor by
Max Fruchtman, owner of a printing
establishment, and John Green, a rain
coat and rubber goods manufacturer,
occupied the fourth floor. In a rear
addition lived Mr.. and Mrs Jacob
Schwartz and their four children. Rose,
70: Nellie. 10; Harry, 7. and Lille. 2,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Maurice Geiger and
five children, Nathan, Joseph, Henry
Harold and Adolph.
The condition of the Schwartz fam
lily was pitiable today. For long time
the family has been destitute and one
by one some household article found
its way to the pawnshop. Neighbors
had been caring for them before the
fire and now the fire has left them en-
tirely destitute. The family was cared
for over night by Mrs. Samuel Rosen,
of 80 Rankin street. Today they are
without food or shelter, except that
provided by charitable neighbors. The
Cieiger family was cared for over night
by ldrs. Rosie Axt, who lives at 50
Rankin street
Girl Saves Firms Books.
Miss Jennis Kraffzhopf, booklzeeper
for Greenfield & Seid, of 200 Springfield
avenue. slammed all the books of the
firm in the safe, but this firm suffered
no damage other than that from
smo' ,.
Pc...e arrived on the scene early to-
day and warned persons of the danger
Gus wall facing Springfield avenue The
building is owner by Samuel Spingarn,
of Court place.
Captain c. Albert Gasser, chief of
the bureau of combustibles and fire
risks, stated today that he is positive
there was no explosion at the fire. "I
visited the building before the holidays
and am satisfied that. there were no
materials of a combustiblc nature
therein. At the fire last night" he
continued, IT spoke to several men
who have business stores across the
street and none heard a report. except
for the breaking glass. One man in
passing down the street saw ref1ec-
tion between the second and third
floors. and before he could cross over
the flames were leaping through the
} windows.
"The story that several of the occu-
p pants gave concerning the loud reports
were made by excited persons. and this
was due to the bursting windows"
NAMED vANcOUvER'S ARCHBISHOP.