Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-26
ORANGE fire. men
HAVE HARD FIGHT
IN C|TY'S CENTRE
Business Section Threatened by
Blaze Which Destroys Coal
Sheds and Stable.

One of the most spectacular fires in
Orange in recent years did 5000 dam
age yesterday afternon to the stables
and sheds of the Spottiswoode- Cusack
Company, in Essex ven adjoining
the Lackawanna railroad, threatened
to spread to the dangerous wooden
structures nearby, and gave several
thousand people an opportunity to see
what a fine fire-fighting department
the city maintains. The blaze, which
at first threatened to assume morB
serious proportions, was stopped In
fine fashion by the city's fire 1addies,
who took three sides OF he blazing
buildings as their fighting stations and
beat the fire down.
Just at the close of the fire a shower
of generous proportions wetted down
the big crowds of spectators and drove
them to shelter. while the police had
their hands full keeping the excited
adults and children from dashing be-
fore the trains on the railroad, which
had been held far behind their
schedules while the firemen stretched
lines of hose over the tracks. No
was hurt, however, and the crowd was
relieved when the blaze was prevented
from spreading to the business and
Cone street districts. Mayor Arthur
B. Seymour and other prominent Of
ficials were anxious witnesses OF the
fight.
Damage Amounts TO $1,000.
While the property damage was be-
lieved to nave been very great. after
a careful estimate this morning the fire
officials gave as their judgment that
the loss would approximate 5000, q
substantial reduction from the amount
which was figured by the Sppttis-
woode-Cusack firm last night. The
steady south wind sent the blaze
northward, but the stone office build
ing of the northumberland firm
and the open space of the Lackawanna
railroad tracks proved big aids to the
firemen, who worked yaliantly under
the personal direction OF Chief William
H. Matthews. Three members Of the
fire commission, Messrs. Plummer.
Brennan and Chalmers. aided in spite
of the terrific heat.
The fire. which broke out about z:25
o'clock, started in the old wooden barn
in Essex avenue. Some new hay.
heated by the torrid weather. caused
spontaneous combustion and the old.
dry wooden barn was a mass of flames
In a few minutes. Word was telephoned
to fire headquarters. and while the fire
drivers who quickly got their rigs
started for the blaze appreciated the
fire location some one turned the
transmitter to box No. IL, at Park and
Main streets. instead of the box near
the blaze. Luckily, the Washington
street company saw the heavy smoke
and went to the blaze. instead of to
Park street. SC no time vas lost by
the b1under.
Taking Cone street. instead of Essex
avenue, the fire rigs lost a few precious
minutes before getting their hose into
position. but Chief William H. Mat
thews o got his headquarters and
Washington street companies lined-up
on the Essex avenue and railroad sides
of the property. and he sent a second
alarm summoning the Valley COM
panies. The latter took a stand in
Cone street and with stiff streams OF
water flooding the burning structures
the blaze was quickly put. under cor
troll.