Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-05-20
LINCOLN HOSE WAGON
AND STEAMER NEARLY
HIT BY AN EXPRESS
Close Call at the
Market Street
CROSSING.
FIGHT 2 FIRES

Firemen riding on the apparatus
of Lincoln Engine Company had
hair breadth escape from death Sat
urday afternoon when the Atlantic
City express narrowly missed hit
ting them on the Market street cross
ing at SO o'clock Both the steam
er and hose wagon were on their
way to the call from box "a at Mar
ket and Sheridan streets. When
the railroad crossing was reached
the gates were down and a train
standing at the station. The gate
man then raised them and the appa-
ratus of Protection Hook and Lad
der Company passed safely over.
just Missed Apparatus.
The drivers of apparatus of Lincoln
company were beckoned to cross and
started to do so. The hose wagon
was in the lead. Anthony Hanrat-
tie was driving and William Hinkle,
foreman of the company, was riding
behind. Just as the wagon cleared
the track the Atlantic City express
came laundering along and stopped
within six inches of the rear of the
wagon. The steamer on which
Louis H. Van Horn, Frank Rhodes
and George Mead were riding were
about seven feet from the hose
wagon. Van Horn, who saw the
train, pulled up his horses and by
applying the brakes brought them to
a stop within FOOT of the express.
Those who saw the train rushing
toward the apparatus shuddered and
turned away from what they expect
ed to a CHASTITY sight.
Fire In StorehOuSe.
The hremen were on thier way to
fight the flames in the storehouse Of
Alexander Balint in 435 Smith street
When they arrived the place was in
mass of flames and at one time 1t
seemed that the adjoining houses
were sure to go. After fighting the
blaze for an hour it was suhdued.
About $4,000 damage was caused.
Mr., Balint has $4,000 insurance. 1t
is thought that rats eating at a sup
ply of matches in the place ignited
the building.
Patrick Rocks, chief Of the depart
ment, says that at Saturday after
moons fire the need Of more hose
was again practically demonstrated
The Lincoln Company gave members
of the Eagle Hose and Chemical
Company seven lengths of their hose
and then when told to make another
connection to play water on adjoin-
ing buildings, hose was lacking to
comply with the orders of the chief
The alarm for the Balint fire was
the second within two hours.
Box 63 at New Brunswick avenue
and Elm street, was the scene of the
first alarm. The firemen responded
In quick time and subdued a blaze
in a rubbish pile of Perth Amboy
Waste Metals Company at the north
west corner of Oak and Fayette
streets. 1t Is thought that children
playing with matches set the boxes
and paper on fire.
When this alarm came in the ap-
paratus of Lincoln Company was on
Market street, near the G. r. R.
crossing The wind was blowing in
the opposite direction and the driv-
ers of the machines were unaware
that their services were needed. un-
til told by passing autoist. This,
the fremen say, will happen often
If they are compelled to go on the
streets and work.
A t the Balint fire the moving pic
ture men who have been In the city
securing scenes ayailed themselves ,
of the opportunity Of catching the
fremen in action. The heads of the
various companies aver that the men
never worked so hard in their lives
as they did when the crank of the
camera was Startad