Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-30
HASTY WORK SAVED
MADISON CENTRE
Local and Morristown Depart
ments Confined Blaze TO
One Building.
FAMILIES LEFT HOMELESS;
DAMAGE ESTIMATE, SIS, 900
Flames Fail TO Stop Wedding,
Although Brides rousseau
$50 Was Destroyed.


MADISON, April 30.--It is generally
conceded that only the phenomenal
work of the combined fire depart
naents of Madison and Morristown
saved the south side of Waverly
Square from destruction by fire yes
terday. when a blaze followed a gaso-
line explosion in the tailoring estab-
Iishment of Anthony Rillo in the
building owned by Mrs. Mary Elan
agan. The Flanagan building, which
is a relic OF half a century ago, was
of the lightest shell construction. It
was condemned successfully and un-
failingly by every fireman for the past
TWENTY-FIVE years. This same build
ing has long been looked on as fire.
trap. Madisonians are thankful that
the blaze started on a MINDLESS day.
The structures on both sides of this
building were of frame construction,
but neither was seriously burned.
Loss Estimated ut $4,000.
The total loss is estimated at $4,000.
This is a much lower figure than it
was at 5rst supposed that the dam
age would amount to. The entire
building was worth hardly more than
$1,000. the amount for which it was
insured David Cohen, who had
barber shop on the ground floor, car
ried insurance sufficient to cover his
loss. E. S. Waugh and Rillo carried
no insurance. The apartment of
William II. Larson, next door, was
damaged to some extent by water.
The smoke began to pour through his
windows and Immediately a stream
was turned on. The fire had COM
menced to eat through the partition,
4. ,f1ly nyfinO11iShpH and the
building was not again threatened.
Rillo was cleaning Clothes with gas
oline when the fire started. The fumes
were ignited from his stove. He
yelled fire and began running
around and tearing at his hair. I'm
ruined" was all he could say. James
c. Belliugham, who runs the Amerl-
can House, two doors away, and j.
NJ. Clarke were only a short distance
off. Mr.. Clarke tried TO calm the
tailor. and had a hard time to keep
him out OF the burning structure.
Mmy Make Investigation.
RHlo has been here four years.
When he first came the council
granted him permission to store gaso-
line there. provided that he did not
have more than one gallon at one
time and that that be kept in fire.
proof receptacle. 1t was evident from
the explosion firemen say, that there
was more than that quantity in his
shop. 1t lis not known yet whether
not an investigation will be made.
Miss Alice Kelley, who is secre-
tart for Charles a. Benjamin, next
door turned in an alarm of fire. In
three minutes the fire department
arrived, and in six minutes there
were six streams on the structure.
While they seemed to have it under
way. it was thought best to have
more help, and the Morristown de-
partment was called. 1t responded
promptly, and soon three more lines
of hose were turned on the building.
Firemen We're on the roofs of the De
Hart and Anserson buildings, on
both sides of the flaming hall, and
from there they fought the flames
with telling effect.
With the first line of hose out,
Madison firemen started into the
tailor shop. No sooner had they
passed than there was another eX-
plosion. Frank Clarke, one of the
men. was thrown out into the gut
ter
The building was surrounded with
nine streams, so that it was impos-
sib1e for the fire to spread very far,
ii was seen shortly after noon that
the fire would be confined to the one
building. This, however, they knew
would be totally lost. and the men
were told to unite their efforts to
coufine it and nothing else. During
the five hours that the men worked
there was hardly bit of dame TO
be seen. 1t kept on the inside, and
Il heavy Stag roof kept it from
going through the roof.
The fire started at 11:20, and two
hours afterward the heavy roof caved