New-York tribune., 1910-05-11
JERSEY FIRE LIGHTS
UP RIVER FOR MILES
Thousands Here Line Banks OF
the Hudson as SchuetZen
Park Burns.
GUARDSMEN PUT TO R0UT
Stand Not Upon the Order OF
Their Going as Flames Break
In on Drill-Damage More
Than 100000.

While thousands in Manhattan and
The Bronx lined the eastern shores OF
the Hudson River last night. gathered
there to watch the spectacular sight. a
fire which ragged in Schutzen Park
Union Hill, N j., destroyed the inn
mense dancing pavilion and did more
than 100000 damage to other property.
The fire started in the kitchen at
tached to the pavilion. probably from an
overheated stove. sand rapidly ate its
way through the dry wooden structure,
soon gaining headway that put 1T prac-
ticalIy beyond the control Of the fire.
men, In spite of the fact that the fire
almost completely destroyed a majority
of the buildings in the park. there was
no loss of life and no one was badly
hurt
Because of it's location atop of the
lofty crags of the Palisades cliffs. which
rise to a height of more than two hum
dred feet at this point, the flames could
be seen more than ten miles away The
glare lighted up the darkness of tho
river and created a weird effect. and II
was not long before great crowds OF
people, from as far south as Brooklyn
and as far to the north as the city limits
in The Bronx, were gathered on the river
bank to witness the spectacle.
Soldiers in a Hurry.
The fire started just before O'Clock
and at the time of it's discovery the
dance hall was being used for drill pur-
Of he drh RpOT-
ment N c.. y. J. According to stories
told last night the valiant guardsmen did
not wait to discover the extent or cause
of the fire but made quick dash for the
nearest exits. They apparently did not
welcome a baptism Of fire any sooner
than might prove to be necessary for the
defence of their native land
Men living near the park were the
first to come to the aid OF the employees
They managed to connect several lengths
of hose and started in to deluge the
flames with we'll directed streams OF
water. but their efforts in this direction
were not of much use. for the water
pressure was anything but robust and
scarcely enough to extend a garden hose
Shouting orders in loud voice. Henry
Andes Chief of Police of North Bergen,
, 1T the head of twenty cOnstables, was the
first official to arrive on the scene. Under
his direction his men arranged them
selves throughout the park and attempt
ed to stay the advance OF the fire., While
they were doing yeomen service with
what instruments they, had they were
cheered by the sound of fire engine bells.
and soon the companies of half dozen
different townships were piling into the
glaring breach.
With two exceptions these engine COM
panies are volunteer organizations and
are equipped with fire fighting apparatus
that was seen in small country towns
many years ago These engines were not
drawn by horses. but were propelled by
man power and consisted principally Of
many lengths Of hose wound about a
rack with long handles on either side. on
which the amateur fire eaters leaned
their weight. thus pumping the water
through the pipes.
Volunteers Do Good Work.
In spite of this handicap and the big
start which the fire had gained. the fire
men did effective work in stopping the
spread of the flames. and when il was
realized that the dancing pavilion was
doomed they turned their attention TO
saving other property near by. Many
private houses outside the confines er
the park We're beginning TO burn. owing
TO sparks which had ignited the wood
work, and these would nave gone up
also had II not been for the fire fighters
OF North Bergen. Union Hill. West Ho-
About four hundred feet from the parl
is the Fritz Reuter- AItenhefm. retrea.
for aged Germans. and the high winl
which was blowing soon carried sparks
to the roof of the building The inmates
were badly frightened. and for time il
was feared that Il panic might result
but under the orders OF the half dozen
chiefs OF police quiet was restored Sew
eraI of the most feeble of the inmates
were carried TO a roadhOuse near by,
where they were kept until all dange-
was over
While the fire was at its height and
the undivided attention of the firemsn
ana pOilCC Was peiil, gwen ~ luc tOtN
of extinSuishment. some unkindly per
sons seized the opportunity to visit the
chicken coops in the rear of the burning
buildings and disturb the rural birds on
their roosts A dozen of the choicest
specimens OF the pOultryman's art were
removed
At II o'clock it was seen that the hre
would spread no further, and IL was de-
c;ded 10 let it burn itself ont IL was
still glowing at midnight and it was
thought that il would continue 10 burn
all day to-day. The only injury report
ed was an accident TO Charles HOFFMAN
of the Overlook Hose Company. who re-
ceived a fractured arm when he was
thrown from his seat on the engine.
Schiitzen Park was built about twelve
wears ago, and is owned by the various
German societies of this city
About six blocks from the park there
was a lot OF excitement among the
neighbors of the. gas tanks situated
there Sparks flew around the tanks.
and the dweIlers in nearby houses made
a hasty exit.