Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-07-26
9 FIRES CAUSE
$500 DAMAGE
Within an Hour Yesterday
Woman Is Burned.

Two fires causing damage aggre-
eating upwards of 500 occurred
yesterday afternoon within an hour
of each other. About four O'Clock
a fire was discovered in the cellar of
48 Smith street, which caused an es-
timated damage of $500. About a
half hour later the fire department
was called to stop a brisk blaze in
the two story frame dwelling house
at 369 Oak street, owned by John
Rehman. Damage to the extent of
about s1,150 was incurred, despite
the fact that the firemen did good
work The latter fire started from
an exploding oil stove and the orig
in of the former Is not known, al
though it Is believed it started from
either a match or a candle.
Woman Slightly Burned.
Mrs. John Raymond was slight
ly burned when the oil stove explod-
ed in the kitchen of the lower floor
of 500 Oak street. Her hands were
blistered and her hair was singed.
She occupied the first floor and while
in the act Of frying fish, flames from
the oil stove shot up and set fire to
the woodwork about 1t. She scream
ed and neighbors rushed in to as
sist her. The flaming stove was
hurled out of a back door and a
bucket brigade was formed in the
back yard. In the meanwhile the
flames gained considerable headway.
Charles Keeles turned In an alarm
from box 60. The entire rear por-
ton of the building was enveloped
in flames when the fire companies
responded.
Chief Rocks was among the first
on the scene and sent out a COM
mand for water" There was some
little delay in getting the first stream
on the fire and when 1t was started
the nozzle fell off the hose. After
the water was poured on the blaz-
ing structure the fire was under i'm
mediate control and the remainder
Of the loss was caused by water.
Nels O. Nelson, wh0 occupied the
upper floor, saved what wearing ap-
parel he could. Chief Rocks assert
ed the damage to the building at
$1,000 and the damage to the kitch-
en- utensils at $3.50. 1t was covered
by insurance.
Fire in Rear of Cellar.
The first fire started in the rear
of cellar at 48 Smith street, which
Is occupied as a storage place for
fruits and vegetables by John Pico
and his brother, Ernest. Both were
In the cellar at the time the fire
started. Joseph l.. Klein, who oc-
cupies the ground floor as meat
market and grocery store, was
startled to hear that There was fire
in the cellar. John Pico rushed from
the cellar and informed Klein's clerk
that the cellar was afire. A call was
sent in for Washington Hose and
Chemical Company, and Charles
Dietzman turned in an alarm from
box So at Smith and High streets,
Oil Tank is Saved.
Strenuous efforts were made to
keep the fire from an oil tank In the
extreme rear portion of the cellar,
containing about 150 gallons Of
kerosene belonging to J. l.. Klein.
The fire was in some paper and
scrap and caused little damage be-
yond creating scare by the volumes
o. smoke it caused. The largest
portion of the loss was caused by
water and chemicals. The Pico
brothers estimate their loss to fruits
and vegetables at over $500. They
carried no insurance.
In rushing from the cellar to give
the alarm John Pico struck his head
against a floor beam and received a
scalp wound.