The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1912-04-16
FIRE DEMON HAS
BUSY week END
COnfIagratiOns at atMOrris Plains
and BernaTdsviIIe.

MOTIFS Rams flremen proved them
selves able fire fighters Sunday night
when they kept fire that started
in ]. G. Layers barn confined to that
structure, though the burning build
ing was surrounded with other frame
structures. The fire broke out Just
before ten o'clock and the barn to-
gether with two horses, sleds, hay,
straw and harness were destroyed.
Mr.. Layer places his loss at $4,000
with 5000 insurance on the building.
Miss Murphy discovered the fire
and ran to Mr. Layers home and
told Joseph Layer. Young Layer went
to the barn and succeeded in leading
out one horse. He returned after an
other and had started out with it
when the animal fell down. Layer
with his coat afire had to run to save
his own life. The rescued horse was
shot Monday morning on account of
its burns.
The Morris Plains fire department,
under Chief Totten mad Chief Parker,
worked hard and the fire was kept
from spreading to Merchants barns
on one side and carpenter shop on
the other Mr.. Merchant became
alarmed, however, and telephoned to
Morristown for aid and members of
Independent Hose, Humane Engine
and Washington Engine companies,
with Chief Madigan in command, went
up on the automobile chemical engine
and aided the Morris Plains depart
menlt.
William Oxley's handsome new
house on Franklin street, Morris
Plains, was damaged by fire Sunday
afternoon. Mr.. Oxley is not yet liv-
ing in the house though it has just
been completed. With a party of
friends he had been making tour of
inspection of the building early in the
afternoon.
Mrs. Harry Smith. living across the
street, about six o'clock saw smoke
issuing from the house and her hus-
band, securing a fire extinguisher
from the fire house nearby, burst in
the door and put out the blaze which
was in one of the upper rooms. Mr..
Oxley has no idea what started the
| fire though he says he and others
i'll the party that visited the house
during the afternoon were smoking.
The damage amounted to $50 covered
Dy insurance.
| The Morristown firemen had close
call from being called from their beds
at two o'clock Monday morning. A
resident of Clinton place noticed what
he thought was smoke surrounding
Benjamin Sire's stable in the rear of
Early street. Police headquarters
was telephoned to and Roundsman
Holly was just about to turn in a gen.
eral alarm when he thought he would
first telephone to Mr.. Sire to get the
horses out.
Mr.. Sire went to the barn and
searched through the building but
found no fire. He telephoned Rounds
man Holly that the only thing that
looked like smoke in his neighbor-
hood was fog.
For the third time in about five
years, fire Friday afternoon razed
barns on the Richard v. Lindabury
farm at Bernardsvi1le. The loss en-
tailed was 100000. All the horses.
cows and vehicles escaped. Beside
the buildings, large quantity of
farming machinery and implements
We're destroyed.
Just how the fire started is not
known. 1t was discovered in the food
supply barn and spread rapidly. When
the Bernardsville department realized
the dimensions of the blaze, it called
The Far Hills and Peapack firemen.
Hard work by the combined depart
lments saved the garage and coach
barn.