Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-09-09

from the works up to Hall avenue
removed their household goods to
the street and other places of prob
ably safety fearing hal the entire
section might be wiped out. Many
of the residents clad only In night
clothes, who did not take time to
dress, arose hurriedly and worked
like beavers to carry their belongings
from their homes.
The flames were confined within
the premises of the terra Gotta COM
pany and damaged nothing outside
of its yard. When the flames spread
and live embers rose skyward it was
feared other buildings in the vicinity
might become ignited, The wind,
however, carried the embers south
ward over q field and railroad
tracks.
| alderman Dalton Praises Firemen.
Alderman Dalton when interview
ed on the scene Of the fire declared
himself of the opinion that the fire
men did good work and had suffi-
cient apparatus with which to work.
He said there was lots of hose, but
some of the companies had to make
a double trip for that held for aux
Hilary use. He declared what the
firemen wanted was additional hose
to hang in their towers in reserve.
The alderman said the companies
wanted a double change. Acting
Mayor Garretson made a personal in
vestigation of the fire and spoke on
corning it as did Mr.. Dalton.
Officials Make Investigation.
Following an investigation today
by officials of the New Jersey Terra
Gotta Company, and a most rigid in
spection yesterday, they declare
they cannot learn the origin Of the
fire. Superintendent Griswold says
the officials have their opinions con-
corning the cause, but do not known
the actual origin. Mr.. Griswold dis
missed the incendiary theory ad-
vanced by some. When informed by
a reporter that some persons at the
fire had stated 1t was probably
caused by some disgruntled person
company, he smiled and said he did
not believe that could be true as the
concern had had no difficulty with
any of its employees since the labor
troubles back in May of 1907. He
advanced the theory of probably ORR
gin through spontaneous combus-
ton by means of matches in wet
clothes hanging about the pressing
rooms.
Fire at Plant 8 Years Ago.
I The last big fire at the New Jer-
sey Terra Gotta Works when the city
fire department was called out oc-
Cured about eight years ago when
the fitting department structure was
consumed. The other larger fire at
the plant was more than twice that
number of years ago. The plant was
put in operation in 1888, from which
time it has grown from a small affair
| with one or two buildings and a kiln
fto a factory of proportions that rival
other works in this section. 1t COW
ers the entire s~outherly half Of the
blocks extending from Hall avenue
to the old lumber field and formed
by Catherine and Cortlandt streets,
and it extends some distance south
ward from the ends of those streets.
Karl Mathiasen, of Keyport, presi-
dent of the company, had planned to
go to Europ this month. 1t is be-
lieved by other officials of the COM
pany that the fire will not upset his
plans.
Flag Pole Taken Down.
The fire was a source of enjoyment
as we'll as work to some of the fire.
men. Is is customary to drench emit
rants In the department and several
were duly initiated, among whom
were Jay B. FRANKIE, Edward Walker
and Joseph Hornsby. of the Protec-
ton Hook and Ladder Company, and
Michael ]. Donovan of Mcclellan
Engine Company. One Of the last
things the fremen did before leaving
the scene of the fre was to remove
a partly burned flag staff from the
new two-story building. 1t was
pushed down by Protection men. but
Eagle members secured thb -s1ldsd
ball from the top OF It and Ire hold
Ing IT ~ a souvenir.