Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-07-31
AT
MORNING BLAZE
Fire Causes $500 Damage
in Building at Hall Ave.
and jacques St.
MANY NARROW ESCAPES
Projections Truck Is DitChed
Dog Fight Follows Barge
Afire on Dry Dock.

Thrilling escapes from a three and
half story building, the ditching of
Protection Hook and Ladder Com
pany's big truck and a fierce dog
fight caused wild excitement in the
vicinity of Hall avenue and jacques
street, shortly before o'clock yes
terday morning. Hungarian and Po-
lish families with several boarders,
occupied the big frame building and
there was wild commotion as the oc-
cupants scrambled wildly in their
night clothes to the street, while a
fire ragged in the attic causing more
than 81, 500 damage. On the way to
the fire the Protection truck with
horses was run into big sewer exca-
vation at Johnstone and Jeffreys
streets. The ladders had to be car
ried block to the fire.
Origin Is Unknown.
The blaze started from an IN
known origin on the fourth floor in
the attic of the big structure. Di-
rectly below lived Joseph Tomschuck
with his family, John Toskie and
other boarders. Frank Kolator, who
owned the house, lived on the second
nOOi, anu a l1uA6 ltAll l1A4AlAy Ill
several boarders occupied the first
floor The building, which is To-
Gated at 361 Hall avenue, at the
southwest corner of Jacques street
and Hall avenue, was so high and be-
ing located on Arnold's hill, was In
such a position as to make fire-fght-
ling extremely hard. The Lincoln
steamer had to be set going full force
,tr hn utr
and therefore it required some loss
of time before water was effectively
Iplayed on the blazing peaks.
AS the roof burned the occupants
stood in a field opposite and wrung
their hands. Some cried for their
belongings, some for clothes and 9TH
ers for sums of money that had been
left in odd places through the house.
John Toskie begged fremen to get
1920 that was under a pillow in his
bedroom in the top of the house. Will
liam P. O'Hara braved the flames and
secured the money. Other occupants
of the burning house, Including wo-
men and children, took temporary
Iquarters in a field at the southeast
corner Of Jacques street mad Hall av-
enue They were provided with
coats and shawls for temporary re-
j lief from the early morning cold md
Idampness.
Start For Wrong Box.
The fire alarm was sounded at
1910 o'clock from box "a, at John
stone and Neville streets. AS that
box was formerly located at MauTer,
in place of No. SO, now there, all ap-
paratus with the exception Of Pro
lection Hook and Ladder truck, was
sent in that direction. The Lincoln
Engine Company's steamer was head
ed off by fremen on State street and
directed over the right course. The
Garfelds responded and would have
gone to Maurer had members of the
company not espied smoke In the top
of the building at 361 Hall avenue
The flames were hard to fight and
the water had little effect until a
stream was sent from hose wagon
by heavy steamer pressure Volumes
of water were poured through the
house because the flames were in the
top. The damage may greatly exceed
the amount estimated by police and
firemen. Two of the families car
ried no insurance.
Narrow Escape On Truck.
Because of an improperly lighted
sewer excavation in Jeffreys street,
the Protection Hook and Ladder
truck with firemen and NEWS rep
resentative aboard, was wrecked at
Johnstone and Jeffreys streets,
within a block of the fire. The sew
er excavation was three feet wide
and about seven feet deep and ex-
tended from Penn street westward to
a point about half way across John
stone street. But a single white
kerosene lamp was there to guard
the excavation. 1t was near the mid
die of Johnstone street, little to
the westward AS William Petty, in
charge of the Protection team, was
driving northward to Hall avenue.
he accepted the widest side of the
lstreet, going to the right OF the lamp.
There was no other light in sight and
the excavation was not seen until
both horses plunged into II and the
apparatus stopped suddenly.
Those aboard were quick to rescue
the horses, which appear to be untn-
Ijured. The truck is not believed to
be damaged to any great extent. At
ter the fire it was pried out of the
excavation and the Lincoln Com
pany's team assisted in pulling it
out. Charles Larsen was steering
1.-The tiller in the rear at the time of
the accident.
Barge Ablaze Inside.
Firemen experienced difficulty in
fighting a small blaze on board the
Bee Line barge Beaver. at the Perth
Amboy Dry Docks at 11:25 o'clock
Saturday night The necessity of
laying extra long lengths of hose
from the street hydrants to the barge
on one of the Gry docks caused some
ldelay.
The fire started in the cabin of the
vessel from unknown cause and did
about $500 damage. An alarm was
turned In by William Perry, of 409
Front street, from box As. at Front
and Commerce streets.