Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-08-15
MILLIAMSTOWN

I
The first fire since the organiza-
zion of the fire company here, broke
out in the home of Tom Grimes,
|about. nine O'Clock Saturday even
ing fJ,The fire is supposed to have
started in the kitchen, where fire
had been left while the family were
away. Joseph Slice discovered the
fire first and after giving the alarm
to the rest of the family he quickly
harnessed team and drove into
town at break-neck speed after one
of the hose carts. While passing
Blue-BeH street a bicycle tcollided
with him, but no damage was done
to rider or wheel. Doran Callahan,
on hearing the alarm, which had
been phoned to the factory by Mrs.
Reeves, quickly got his auto out and
met chief Carter, Albert Tweed and
e. B. Dixon on their way to the fire
with hose cart No. 2. With the aid
of the auto they quickly went up the
hill on Clayton road and to the fire.
A few minutes later and Hose No. l
arrived, with the company, and their
instruction lessons by Chief Carter
proved to be of practical benefit as
the boys took their places and in a
very few minutes two heavy streams
were being forced onto the blaze.
The other members of the company
not actively engaged with the two
lines of hose, combined in getting
out the furniture with very little
damage No furniture was burned.
The whole rear portion OF the house
seemed ablaze when the volunteers
got to the scene, yet only the kitchen
a part of the dining room, one bed
room and a small portion of the at.
tic was burned Despite The usual
criticism and suggestions by onlook-
ers the men did rapid work with tell
ing effect The only regretable in
cident was the way in which the
alarm was given The first alarm
was one blast of the big fire whistle.
AS many of the volunteers were at
the moving pictures it was not
heard Then, nearly five minutes
later, after a second call had come
from the fire, the regular alarm was
given. Had no mistake been made
the men would have had much
larger part of the house saved to-
prove their effectiveness. On hear
4
the moving picture hall yelling fire"
AS he did not say where, everyone
thought it was in the building and
wild stampede started down the
main or rear stairways, and down
the fire escapes Mr.. Myers, the
proprietor, and several other cool
heads, stopped the rest down the
front stairway, where, if it had con-
tinued, many, would have been badly
hurt. if not killed The hall was
then cleared quickly but orderly and
the volunteers dashed to their hose
houses to help drag the carts. At
least a dozen women tainted and
were slightly bruised, but all We're
able to go home without medical
care The one real suggestion which
will be followed, is the laying out
of the town into four fire districts
which will be designated by the
number of blasts from the whistle.
This will help both fremen and
friends to get to the fire more quick
ly and render better service.
There were present in the M. D..
Primary on Sunday 2 teachers, 2
officers, Is girls, 20 boys, | visitor.
The funeral Of John Joseph was
held on Tuesday morning at 10
o'clock from his late residence on
Chestnut street. Interment in the
NJ E. Cemetery.
The ME. Sunday school took their
annual picnic to Fries Mill on We'd
nesday
Miss Wood, of Philadelphia, is
visiting Mr.. and Mrs. Geo L. Pfeiffer
Miss Wood is connected with the
Chinese Mission in Philadelphia and
gave short talk on her work there
in the Sunday school last Sunday.
The Help Little Society will
meet at Mrs. Charles Garwood's on
next Wednesday evening.