Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-01-28

Even after his companion, An
thony Hanratti had been dragged
from his side, James A Anderson,
OF the Lincoln Engine Company,
half strangled by the black smoke
aid in a semi-conscious condition,
continued to hold the nozzle of his
hose alone on the first floor of the
New York Five, Ten and Twenty
five Cent store, after all means of
ventilation had been cut off by the
accidental closing of the front doors
at the fire which consumed S14, 900
worth of stock, rendered twelve peo-
pie homeless and partially de-
stroyed the interior of the building
of Jacob p. Goldsmith at 329 State
street, yesterday afternoon.
Anthony Hanratti. of the Lin
coins, had been removed from the
smoke charged atmosphere by Har-
ry Neal, of the same company. Neal
getting his burden to the pavement,
rapidly made his way back for An
derson. whom he pulled from the
burning building Just in time to pre-
vent the suffocation of the fire
fighter. Anderson lay on the pave
ment until revived by the fresh air
and until smoke had been pumped
from his lungs by his companions
pressing on his stomach. He was
then removed to nearby house.
where he slowly recovered. In get
ting Hanratti from the room the
wedges keeping open the front doors
had been knocked away, and Ander-
son apparently left to be strangled
in the dense smoke.
Lawrence Mcmahon, of the Eagle
Hose and Chemical Company, while
working inside the store was hit by
falling counter on his right fore
arm, and that member was severely
bruised Mcmahon was unable to
continue his work and had to re-
ceive attention from physician to
reduce the swelling from the wound.
The ERE was characterized by
probably the blackest continuous
flow of smoke that the tiremen had
ever witnessed. The building prac-
tically the whole time was enVeloped
in a dense black veil of strong
smoke, which overcame many of
the daring fire fighters. who tried
to get near the blaze The great
amount of smoke eminating and
floating in great thick waves from
all stories OF the building gave the
impression to those at a distance
that the whole block was afire.
Stacey NJ. Coutts. OF Protection
Hook and Ladder CompaLy, was
among those whom, partially stran-
gled, had to be helped from the i'm
penetrable smoke in which they
were fighting to save the building.
In all the cases contact with the
fresh air revived the partttlly SUIT
focated.
AS told In the NEWS yesterday
the fire originated about 3 O'Clock In
the cellar of the FIVE to twenty five
cent store. Fred Kuhn, stock boy,
who says he was cleaning a paint
brush with gasolene from an open
gallon can, saws he stepped on some
matches. which ignited the oil on
his brush The gallon can was soon
afire and also the trousers of Kuhn.
Kuhn cried loudly which attracted
the attention of Dana Miller. mana
ger of the store, who was in an
other part of the cellar. Mr.. Miller
turned TO find the gallon oil can
ablaze, also the trousers Of Kuhn,
He ram to the boy and snatching OFF
his coat smothered the flames and
lead him from the store.
Mr.. Miller then started for Pro
lection II. and l.. Comnany to get a
chemical fire extinguisher, as he
thought the blaze was small and
could be easily extinguished VIII
liam Petty and Harry Farroat re-
sponded with a hand chemical apna-
ratus. On reaching the place the
store was filled with smoke and they
saw AT once that an engine would
be needed so Petty hastened to box
81 at Smith and State streets and
gave the alarm The Protection II.
and L. Companv, Lincoln En- cine
Company and the Washington Hose
and Chemical Company were soon
on the scene. About twentv min
utes later the Mcclellan Engine
Company was ordered called by
First Assistant Fire Chief O'Hara,
who saw that there were not enough
men and equipment present 10 cone
with the fire Later the Garfield
Hose COMPANY, the Eagle Hose and
Chemical Company and the Liberty
II and l.. Company were called out
separately.
The fire in the cellar which ig-
nited tank OF five gallons of gaso-
lene, which supplied the lioht of the
store. rapidly spread to the packed
stock In the basement, and the fret
floor was so quickly filed with
smoke that Barney Streiff, one OF
the partners in the store, left an ex-
pensive overcoat, Dana Miller a
handsome suit and many of the wo-
men clerks wearing aoparef Of diff
ferent varieties, so quickly did they
have to make their exit Some OF
the garments were recovered badly
dana eed hv smoke and water. One