Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-12-19
Fifth Fire In 3
DavS--Rig Total
Of $4,000.
AN EXPLOSION

The fifth fire in three days, the
total damage of all amounting to
nearly $4,000, routed four families
from their homes and partially de-
stroyed the stock of lsenberg Broth
ers' drygoods store, and badly dam
aged the interior of the same build
irg, at 25S Smith street, belonging to
Nathan Robinson, of Keasbey, at II
O'Clock last night. The damage of
the blaze is probably about $4,000,
that being a conservative estimate.
The fire is thought to have originate
ed from the explosion of an oil stove
in the rear of the store used for heat
ing the place.
William Jackson, colored, who
lives on the second floor with his
wife and children, was about to re-
tire when he heard some one shout
fire and saw smoke ascending from
the store beneath. He ran to the
beds of his wife and children and
soon had them outside of the build
ing, escaping through back stair
case. Daniel SHELTON, also colored,
who lives on the third floor with his
little girl, was not awakened until
after Jackson had repeatedly called
to him. Shelton, finding his apart
, ments filled with smoke, grabbed his
child, in her night clothes, out Of bed
| and in bare feet made his exit by the
back way. Frank Beatty, bartend-
er for Christian Larson in Elm
street, standing nearby, seeing the
children of Jackson and SHELTON shiv-
ering in the night air, helped their
parents to convey them to Mr.. Lar
sons. In going to the house they
had to pass through the dense smoke
surrounding the burning building.
and were nearly suffocated before
reaching their haven
The quick arrival of the fremen,
and their active work under Chief
Frank C. Comings and First Assist
ant Chief w. p. O'Hara. kept TIE
flames to the store in which the Ere
originated. The fated store is at the
corner of Elm and Smith streets and
the building, which is three stories
high, connects with a block of stores
extending to the Central railroad
tracks. If the fire had not been con-
trolled a little headway would have
destroyed several business places.
Next to the building in Elm street,
divided by an alley, was shoemak-
er's shop, which was threatened but
not ignited and only damaged by
water.
A confectionery, cigar, ETC., store,
operated by Isadore Thaler, was dam-
aged in the rear by water to the
amount Of several hundred dollars.
The candy store Is only one story,
but connects with three-story struc-
ture in which M. Greenberg keeps a
L cfo
damaged. Mr.. and Mrs. Isenberg
and family, including Jacob Isenberg,
the manager of the burned store,
from the second floor, and Mr. and
Mrs. Finan and family, from the
third floor, left the building in fear,
: but no damage was done in any part
of the structure. Nathan Robinson
is the owner of all the above men
toned buildings.
: James Doyle, who lives next to the
: boot shop in Elm street, turned In
the alarm near the Central station
but because of broken spring the
= apparatus only sounded the rs twice
2 instead of four times, as it should
= have rung. Assistant Chief o Hara
tried to send in an all-over two alarm
about an hour afterWard, and the
= erratic apparatus rang four times
City Electrician FRANKIE is now re-
: pairing it, but because he has to senc
away for the broken part it will be
= out of commission for a week.
1 Jacob Isenberg says he left the
+. store at 1915 and thought he had
3 turned the oil stove out, but mus
I have been mistaken, as that undoubt
+, edly caused the fire. He estimated
the loss of the brothers at $4,000
2 They also own a store at Wood
l bridge. Nathan Robinson estimates
y the damage to his building at be
tween $500 and $500. Both partle'
carried insurance.
About six years ago fire destroy
e ed building located where what il
: now Thaler's candy store.