Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-07
FOUR-ALARM FIRE
KEEPS F|REMEN
BUSY FOR HOURS
Spectacular Early Morning
Blaze Causes an Estimated
Loss of $4,000.
HARD WORK PREVENTS
FLAMES FROM SPREADING
First Signal Sent Out Shortly
Before I O'Clock and $50
Men Quickly Respond.

a hre that caused damages roughly
estimated at $4,000. broke out in the
huge brick structure. known as the
Wilson" building, at the northwest
corner of Mechanic and Lawrence
streets shortly before 1 O'Clock this
morning, and for hours kept the
forces of the fire department, under
Chief Engineer Paul j. Moore. and
live battalion chiefs battling as they
seldom battled before to eonflne the
flames within the walls of the burn
ing building.
1t was most spectacular fire and
although occurring an hour after
midnight, Sunday, attracted great
crowds of people, whose curiosity to
witness, at close range, all that was
transporting, kept the police busy
maintaining fire lines. 1t was not
until the late call fire companies were
picking up" to return to quarters,
an indication that the fire was under
control, did the crowds begin to thin
out.
The fire was of the most threat
ening kind, menacng buildings
across either street and in the rear
toward Market and Mulberry streets,
for fully two hours. The origin of the
blaze is not definitely known. 1t
is supposed 10y some to have
started in the plant of the Standard
Mirror Company on the fourth floor
of the building and it is also thought
that it had been smouldering since
Saturday afternoon. The first jet Of
flame shot from the mirror COM
pany's plant and Immediately 1t
spread across the hallway to the
plant of the Arlington Pearl Com
pany, manufacturers of pearl but
tons.
Investigation by Captain c. Albert
Gasser, of the department of com
bustibles and fire risks. however, con.
vinced him that a lighted cigar
cigarette butt or lighted match
caused the fire. aptain Gasser is of
the opinion that workmen on the
fourth floor while descending to the
street. threw some lighted object
which caused the woodwork to blaze
on the third floor.
Spectacular Features.
With the breaking out of the blaze
from the second concern the spectacu-
lar features began. First, all ofSthe
apparatus were throwing water into
the north end of the building and
when the flames at this point were
subdued the blaze would gush from
the end windows. The firemen fought
vigorously, but owing to the infiam-
mable material on the top floor the
fire descended to the third floor, which
was occupied by the Whiting Paper
Company and the Schultz Manufac-
turing Company, makers of brass
goods.
Shooting as they did from the win
dows the huge tongues of flame soon
ignited the covering of the electric
cable in front, and with this Won
derful pyrotechic display was pro-
duced With the dropping of live
wires, the lives of the firemen We're
endangered and it was not until
Chief Moore communicated with the
Public Service Corporation and had
the current cut off that the firemen
could work with safety.
The half-inch cable dangled from
the pole burning brilliant white
light and throwing sparks across the
street. Several persons were struck
by the sparks, but no one was serious
ly injured.
With the fire going to the thrd
floor, Chief Moore sent in the fourth
alarm and with every available ap-
paratuS within the central part OF the
city on the scene, the blaze was kept
within the two upper floors, though
the stock and fixtures in the second
first and basement floors were mater
tally damaged by water.
The first floor and basement of the
building is occupied by the John N
Moorehouse Company, the Newark
Brass Plate and Engraving Company
the American Art Metal Company and
the Newark Foundry and Machine
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