Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-17
NEWARK F|REMEN
HELP AT $4,000
FIRE IN HARRISON
Blaze in Oil Works Occurs Soon
After Break in Water Main
Is Fixed.


Efforts are being made today to
learn the cause of the fire which par
TALLY destroyed the plant of the Ma
tional Oil Products Company, Essex
street Harrison, last night, entailing
a, loss of about $4,000. Arthur phil
lips, president of the company, thinks
a defective electric wire caused the
blaze.
The fire broke out in a compare
lively short time after the water sup
ply in the town had been >turned on.
The supply had been off for twenty
four hours following Il Waterman
break on North Fourth street The
! firemen of the town were congratu
! lating themselves that no fire had
/ broken out during the period the
town was without water when the
alarm was sounded for the oil works
| fire.
When the local firemen arrived they
| found the private fire departments of
Headley- Farmer Company and the
Otis Elevator Company at work on
| the fire. Chief johnson, of the Har-
rison department, saw the blaze was
serious one and he consented to call
upon this city for aid.
| The blaze was discovered shortly
| D o
works in the shipping room. Realizing
that much lubricating oil was dis
| tributed about the premises which
would be food for the flames, Rogers
Went through the plant shouting a
warning and all of the employees
| rushed out.
The hremen had a hard fight to
conquer the flames and were amp
cred by choking fumes from burning
oil. Great clouds of smoke enveloped
| them and for a long time afterwards
an immense pail of smoke hung over
! that section of West Hudson By
energetic work two dwellings, on Es-
sex street were saved.
| While the fire was in progress two
| freight cars, loaded with lubricating
/ oil, were standing on a siding and
! IN danger of ignition. A railroad
engineer piloted his engine through
the dense smoke and started to pull
the cars out of the yard. but the first
| Of them went off the track and he
! was obliged to abandon both. Streams
of water were then kept on the cars
until the danger was past.
| Newark Sends Assistance.
| The first call for assistance from
the Newark department was received
| by Chief Engineer Paul j. Moore
| over the telephone from Albert o.
Headley, of the firm of Headley &
Farmer. Mr.. Headley told of the
| fire, stated that his FIRMS property
and the property of other concerns
were in danger. He requested that
help be sent from this city
Il can't sent fire apparatus TO Har-
rison unless on request of Fire Chief
johnson, of Harrison explained
| Chief Moore. Get to him. He will
know whether or not he can handle
the fire with his own forces.
1--WE cannot go into another terri
| tory on fire business without the con-
| sent of the chief of the department
| of the place affected. Might be told
| to 90 home, attend to our own busl-
ness and wait until we were sent for.
That is the unwritten rule. When
we get to foreign territory where
fire is in progress 1t must place
| our men at the disposal of the local
| chief
But, my dear man, ] am a resi-
dent of Newark and a taxpayer
here" returned Mr.. Headley- ''And
can you tell me where | can find
| Chief Johnson"
I'VE will take good care of your
Newark property. Mr.. Headley, re-
piled Chief Moore. ''As to Chief
johnson. you will probably find him
at the fire. Go to him.
L.
him." for Chief Johnson had Chief
Moore on the wire in a surprisingly
short space of time.
Harrison Chief Makes Request.
Send me an engine company and
tender, if you can spare them, was
Chief Johnson's request. I'll get
along with that force. | know you
have troubles of your own in New
ark"
Chief Moore promptly ordered En-
gine Company No. 4, with steamer
and hose wagon, to repair to Harri-
son at once and place themselves at
Chief John j. Towey was sent along
to take charge of the Newark fire.
men In all twelve trained flremen
made up the Newark squad-Chief
Towey, Captain Corey, Lieutenant
Dargin and nine of the rank and file.
That news of the coming of the
Newark firemen had spread, was
plain as there was crowd to meet
and cheer them as the horses gall
loped swiftly through snow and drift
into the town. The Newark COM
pany lost no time in getting to work,
and two strong streams were soon
playing upon the blazing buildings.
About 6 o'clock Chief Moore was
again called to the telephone in New
ark headquarters. Mr.. Headley was
at the other end of the phone.
Praises Newarker's Work.
This Chief Moore?" asked Mr..
Headley
Yes" 1t was Chief Moore.
Il want to say chief. that / hope
you won't think me curt and abrupt
because of the va | spoke to you |
short time ago." said Mr.. Headley. |
"You were absolutely right in your
attitude. System is system, and Har- |
rison isn't Newark I didn't under |
stand the system you know. Your |
boys are doing great work over
here"
That's all right MIR. Headley,' was
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