Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-14
F|REMEN BUSY
IN EARLY HOURS
DURING BLIZZARD
-Four Blazes at Height of Storm
Keep Firefighter on
Jump.

The real troubles of the fire de-
partment started shortly before 8
o'clock this morning, when the snow
storm had assumed lusty proportions.
The firemen had been busy since the
beginning of the recent cold spell in
responding to alarms for fires result
ing from efforts to thaw out frozen
pipes, but in no case had any con-
siderable loss figured
They We're congratulating them
selves that matters were no worse,
when at 2:54 O'Clock there came
call from station 663 in the Vailsburg
section. 1t was for a fire in Patrick
Walshs cafe, at the corner of South
Orange and Mum avenues, q few
doors above the quarters of Engine
Company No. 2i The snow was COM
ing in drifts and swirls and with the
wind blowing a gale. 1t was biting
cold, and the blizzard force of the
storm had binding effect
Three serious fires followed each
other in rapid succession and being a
second alarm summons to the con-
gested Drift street section
Started in the Cellar.
The Walsh fire, in vailsburg, start
ed in the cellar and worked it's way
to the second floor through clap
boards and partitions. 1t was stub
born proposition. and was only con-
quered after long and sharp fighting.
The loss is estimated at about So 900
Before the men at Walsh blaze had
4. fairly stretched in their lines, box 147
, was sounded. This meant call to
the crowded Drifht street section.
where at all times more than the
usual danger Is counted upon. Chief
Engineer Paul j. Moore rushed to
this point, and had hardly reached
the scene before the need OF a second
alarm was apparent The second was
flashed in at 1922 o'clock, the first
alarm having been sounded at 3:01.
Here the fire took root on the top
floor of IA Drift street. and having a
good start, spread quickly until Nos.
u, 16, is. 20, % "a and 26 had been
reached by the flames
The buildings are all frame struc-
lures, and with the exception of No.
II, which is four stories, are three
story dwellings of the tenement va
riety. The tenants are Italians. and
the firemen say that they behaved
splendidly There was an absence of
undue excitement and hysteria, the
people taking things as easily as
possible under the circumstances, and
in no sense handicapping the fire.
men ia their work.
man Charles Newton was found on
the top floor of No. % Drift street
suffering from a dislocated shoulder,
the result of fall. He was removed
to the City Hospital
The loss through the series of fires
Is tentatively placed at $4,000.
Next in order was an alarm from
Station 259 at 5:12 o'clock. 1t was for
fire in a barn at 191 johnson ave-
ho l.. taI 1.a ~
the building and shot through the en-
tire structure, making a complete
burn out
At 1926 o'clock the department was
summoned to 296 Woo5side avenue,
the alarm coming from station 469.
The fire was in a 21a-story frame
dwelling. 1t had started in the rear
and was of serious proportions, En-
gines 8. 13 and 2S being required to
put their big lines into play before the
flames were extinguished.
At one period during the night or
early morning sixteen engine COM
panies and five truck companies were
working simultaneously at the sew
eral fires. in additionAto the forces of
deputy and battalion chiefs.
So grave was the situation from
Chief Moore's viewpoint that he IS
sued an order that the full department
off leaves and special leaves of abb
scnce being cancelled for the time
being.
The new motor driven hook and
ladder trucks behaved splendidly dur
Ing the storm. moving through the
heavy snow with seeming ease. The
Webb truck had a run from Avon
avenue and Thirteenth street to the
Walsh fire in Vailsburg, and the La
France from Mulberry street to Or
ange street and Gould avenue, Rose
vile.
The auto pumping engines at
tached to Companies Nos. 8 and %
experienced difficulty at frozen hy-
drants. This type of apparatus is of
little service under these conditions,
as they are not, as in the case of
steam engines, equipped to thaw out
frozen hydrants.