Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-26
RAPID WORK SAVES
BLOCK IN SUMMIT
Prompt Response of Fire De-
partment Confines Blaze to
One Building.

! SUMMIT, Nov. 26-Exceptionally
prompt work by the fire department
last night prevented the destruction
of block Of frame tenement houses
in Chestnut avenue. The blaze was
discovered by Michael Dooley as he
stepped into the yard of IS Chestnut
avenue and saw smoke pouring from
an attic window. He turned In an
alarm from box No. 81.
Before the alarm had ceased sound
Ing the Chemical Companys auto
apparatus swung into Chestnut ave.
nue. with Hook and Ladder Company
No. close behind and Union Hose
Company following.
No Water.
Connecting g. line of hose with the
hydrant at Park and Chestnut ave-
nues, the members OF Union Hose
Company discovered they could get
no water pressure, but in the mean
time the Chemical Company had its
stream of chemical pouring on the
blazing structure and succeeded in
preventing the spread OF the flames
until four. streams were turned on
from hydrant directly across the
street from the burning building.
Within half hour the fire, which
Of the dwellings and Quilted the attic
where 1t originated, was extinguished.
The damage to the buildings, which
are owned by Miss Mary Pendergrast,
OF Morris avenue, is estimated at
$500. The fire is believed to have
started from a defective chimney.
The first floor of the structure in
which the fire broke out Is occupied
by William H. DePaur, who con-
ducts a tailoring establishment and
employment agency. DePaur with
his wife and boarders occupied the
apartment on the second floor, above
which Is the attic in which the fire
started. In the adjoining apartment
Joseph Adams and his wife and child
live. While these families got some
of their household effects into the
street, furniture and clothing were
ruined by the chemicals and water
poured into the building. The apart
ment over that occupied by Dooley
is unoccupied, 1t having only been
rented yesterday to a family who was
to have taken possession today.
Auto Engine Stalled.
While responding to the alarm the
Hose Company No. auto apparatus
became stalled in Park avenue,
short distance from their headquar-
ters. The company was delayed about
fifteen minutes before the auto en-
CINE was made to operate.
Since the installation of the auto
hose wagon which was formerly used
by the chemical company, but was
rebuilt for Hose Company No. 2 there
has been friction between the company
and Common Council. On several oc-
casions the machine has become
stalled on the run to q fire and the
hose company members have threat
ened to disband because they claim
the machine is inadequate to their
needs. Fire Chief Timothy J. Scott
declared last night that new mag
neto is all that is required for the
apparatus but 1t is likely that last
nights trouble with the machine will
cause further dissension between the
hose company members and Common
Council. /
An investigation by Chief Scott of
the hydrant at Chestnut and Park
avenue disclosed that the valve was
broken. Chief Scott stated that he
had made inspections of the MIGRANTS
throughout the city and had made
recommended ons to council but found
that nothing Can ne done by the city
to compel the Water and Light Com
pany to provide better protection in
the way of workable MIGRANTS and
larger water mains until the execu-
ton of the new contract between the
city and the corporation which will
not be made until July l, 1914.