Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-11-30
HEROIC ACTION
SAVES FAMILY.
Patrolman 6utowskI Again
Distinguishes himself at
Fire Last Night.
IN HALL AVENUE STORE
Two Families Living Over
the Place of Business
in Danger.

Heroism and quick action on the
part of Patrolman Joseph Gutowsk.
probably saved several lives in a fire
which destroyed stock of dry goods
and clothing and caused damage estl-
mated at more than $1,000 to a
three-story frame building at 1873
Hall avenue, at the corner of Eliza
beth street, about 1.30 o'clock this
morning. The officer heard a cry of
fire turned in an alarm and then
fought hard to arouse members OF
the families asleep on the two upper
floors.
The entire clothing and dry goods
stock owned by Herman Daitz was
ruined. But slight damage was caus-
ed to household goods on the upper
floors and 80 far as is known, nobody
was hurt. Mr.. Daitz says his stock
was valued at $4,000 and was COM
pletedly ruined. He conducted a
store on the ground floor and lived
with his family on the second floor.
John Glochau, owner of the building,
occupied the third floor.
A scream followed by cries of
fire. attracted the attention of Pat
rolman Gutowski as he was standing
at Hall avenue and Cortlandt street
about 1870 o'clock. He ran in the
direction of the cries and saw smoke
pouring from Daitz's store. After
sounding an alarm from box Sc at
Hall avenue and Charles street he re-
turned to the escene of the blaze and
kicked in the store door. 1t took but
an instant to realize that the fire
was beyond his control. He climbed
to the second floor and aroused Mr..
and Mrs. Daitz and their four chill
dren. Proceeding to the third floor,
| he had to break down two doors In
order to reach Mr.. and Mrs. John
Glochau and aroused them and their
four children. The tenants were
| forced to fee in their night clothes
because of the density Of the smoke
| in their apartments. Two of the
Glochau family are i'll today as re-
suit of the smoke and excitement.
Mrs. Glochau complained to Pat
| rolman Gutowski and Dunham that
she had new DlaGmTG III der fiat
which was not insured. She was pa
cited and told the furniture woulo
be saved in few minutes when the
| firemen arrived. The frefg ghters
listened to the pleas of the woman
and the suggestions of the officers
and saved the piano from damage by
water. Practically all the household
furnishings were undamaged.
The fire was a stubborn one to
fight, inasmueh as 1t was confined
to a partition, through which 1t
reached the upper floors. The origin
is declared by the f1remen and police
to be unknown, but it seems to have
started near chimney, probably as
the result of defective fue 1t
spread about between metal ceiling
in the store and the floor beams Of
the second floor and crept through
the partition to the roof. The fire.
men did excellent work in saving the
big frame structure.
While the occupants of the builo
ing stood ON the street and watched
the fire, Mrs. Daitz appealed to Pat
rolman Gutwoski to try and save
about 5000 worth of jewelry con-
tanned in bureau drawer In her
apartments. Together with Harry
Farroat, OF Protection Hook & Lad
der ompany, and Michael Fitzpatric,
OF Mcclellan Engine Company, the
officers went into the burning build
ing again and recovered the jewelry.
1t was reported that Patty Dwyer
of the Mcclellan company was ac-
cidently cut in the back with an axe
during the blaze, but efforts to con-
firm the accident proved futile.
Members of the Mcclellan company
regarded it as a Joke.
The clothing and dry goods stock
was covered by insurance furnished
by Massopust & Duschock and the
Prat-BrOWn Company.