The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1914-11-24
.FIREMEN PREVENT
MENACED DISASTER
Flames Destroy One Building
ard Threat.n Others.

Morristown's fire department won
another battle with the flames, early
Sunday morning having a stubborn
blaze, famed by stiff wind, to con-
tend with. The frame storage and
garage building of w. T. Enslee in
the rear of No. 20 Elm street, was
destroyed and the flames threatened
to spread to several other wooden
buildings in close proximity and also
to the brick business buildings of VIII.
liam Smart and Mrs. Richard Demp-
sey. The flames did gain foot-hold
upon the j. w. Simmins produce
building but were driven back before
i serious damage was done the build
ing A small Office building In front
of the Enslee structure was damaged.
| Smoke was noticed by people arriv-
ing in town on the twelve twenty-five
train. Several men partaking of 3
late repast in restaurant near the
station were told and general hunt
OF the neighborhood instituted. 1t
was twelve-forty when the alarm was
sounded. the blaze having been locat-
ed in the rear of the Enslee building.
AS the apparatus turned out of quar-
ters the flames were shooting heaven
ward and 1t looked like conf1agra-
tion.
The automobile chemical engine
had two streams on the fire but
though piuckily worked the blaze
was beyond the use of chemicals.
Washington's steamer took position
at a hydrant corner of Morris street
and King street. The First Wards
laid line into the fire and the HUI
names attempted to attach their
pumping engine to the hydrant in
front of the Welsh building. But the
threads on the hydrant would not fit
the apparatus suction pipe and the
machine was moved to another hyd-
rant near the railroad bridge with
similar result. Finally the engine
connected with tne hydrant corner of
Elm and Hill streets but could not use
the engine supply connection, connect
ing up with the hose or small outlet
Of the hydrant.
| Residents of the Dempsey and
smart buildings, occupying apart
ments over the stores, fled from their
homes with their belongings but the
names did not damage the buildings.
Residents OF the easterly side of King
street, too, were frightened and many
b 3XlL
ln necessary. Sparks were swept
across Morris and Elm streets to the
washington hotel, the Reeve & Burr
planning mill and the G. w. Ennis lum-
Der yards but the vigilance of the fire.
men prevented fire from breaking out.
inaependent Hose company did good
work here. keeping the sparks from
igniting the buildings with the aid OF
the chemical streams while Resolute
Hook and Ladder company's men
worked hand extinguishers to good
advantage.
Thel flames spread to the ]. w. Sim.
mons building, setting the roof afire.
Inc Enslee building was built against
the S1mmins building. The firemen
mad TO turn a stream of water into the
Slmmins building making quick work
OF the blaze but drenching the pro-
duce. The building was damaged to
the extent, probably of $4,000 with as
much more on the stock.
W. T. Epslee valued his building at
$4,000 and it is total loss. Stored
IN the structure were fifteen van-loads
Oh furniture. worth about $4,000, and
all OF which was burned. He had
been to Belleville with his automo-
load. Returning through Newark the
auto Droke down in Roseville and Mr..
Ensiee left 1T there, returning to Nor.
ristown by train. Ii it had NOT been
LOT tnls mlshap the auto van would
nave DeeD IN the burned building and
would have been consumed.
The flames threatened to snread
10 the barn OF the c. w. Ennis COM
pany nearby and eight horses were
turned out of that building by Patrol
man cnas. y. Jennings and others. A
nlghtwatchman broke open the win
dow OF the J. W. Simniins company's
Darn and Sidney Grove crawled
.nrough the aparture and opened the
door SO that five horses could be led
10 saiety. But the firemen saved this
Duiidlng though 1t was in close prox-
imlty to the Enslee structure. The
McGoldrick brothers took every auto
mopiie out OF their King street gar
age, ieallng spark might set the
building ablaze. '0
About three o'clock, after several of
the companies had been ordered back
to quarters by Chief Day, the Smart
oulld'ngs was found to be af:re. A
spark had lodged in an aperture in the
tin roof aEd, famed by the wind, had
SET the roof timbers afire. A ladder
was raised and stream from the
automobile chemical engine, which
pad been summoned by telephone
soon extinguished the incipient blaze.
Lewis workman, night driver of
the auto chemical, and Patrick Geary.
OF Washington Engine company. have
peen ordered by Foreman William
Leek, OF the board of fire wardens. to
appear In police court Wednesday and
answer to charges of driving an
paratus over fire hose. Workman is
charged with taking the auto chemical
over hose while returning to quarters
Sunday morning.
Geary must answer to a similar
charge. In Geary's case, however.
justification is claimed. The en-.
gineer of Washington steamer after
whistling vainly for the supply wagon.
complained to Assistant Chief Snud.
den that the coal supply was short.
Chlef Snudden ordered Geary. who Is
substitute driver for the washes"
to take the auto hose wagon to the
companys quarters on Market street
ior supply of coal. AS the only way
10 get to Market street from the fire
without running over the fire hose was
Dy way OF Washington avenue and
Sneeden's crossing. Geary drove over
the hose. Foreman Leek saw him
and preferred charges.
Boy Scouts Rally.