Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-03-31
AL|TTLE SMOKE
FOUND F|REMEN
HOT ON THE lob
Chief Moore's Sense of Smell
and Touch Located a
Rea! Burn.
FIRE LOCATED UNDER
FLOOR OF BIG STORE
Incident RepIete With Thrills
Had Fire Laddies chookfuI
of "Ginger."

"A tiny SITedIn OJ sHlOhes SIfedhlIlB
its way through a minute crevice at
the southeast corner of Oscar Michael
G. Company's big department store
building, at Broad and Cedar streets,
lest night turned out to be an incl
dent with an interesting sequel.
The attention of the watchmen in
the store was attracted to the small
and spitful column as 1t slowly rose
and curled, and while it was insig-
nificant in proportions and ordinarily
might not indicate fire on the prem
ises, the safety first" idea took pos
session of the men on guard and they
telephoned to fire headquarters that
there was a suspicious" smoke hang
ing around that might be worth in
vestigating. 1t was on this very site
about fourteen years ago that one Of
the most disastrous fires In Newark's
history occurred (the celebrated sny-
der fire).
The telephone call was sent in at
7:1S o'clock. Now it happens that the
operators in the FIRE alarm telegraph
Office had vivid recollections of the
Snyder fire, so they, also imbued with
the "safety first spirit, jumped to the
transmitter, and "bang!" out went
station 152, the Michaels' Company's
private fire alarm box, over all the
city's circuits.
All Went Hurry Bent.
Almost instantly all down town was
in state of orderly confusion.
''Clang! clang!" "Toot! toot!" the
sharp and heavy detonations of bells
and the shrill whistles Of steamers
heralded the oncoming of horse-drawn
fire engines, and trucks, high-pres-
sure wagons, auto pumping engines,
automobile hook and ladder trucks,
the Salvage Corps and the various
vehicles carrying fire chiefs, all hurry
bent toward Broad and Cedar streets
as IL that point was a sort OF ArTna-
geddon.
The mobi1ized fire-fighting forces,
brief as the time elapsing between
the alarm and their arrival on the
scene. found that the smoke rivulet
had developed in dense smoke clouds,
and vet there was no outward sign
Of fire.
The night employees of the big en-
porium expressed the belief that the
smoke came from the subway exca-
vations, where the men at work there
frequently started fires to keep them
selves warm, and at first glance the
firemen agreed with the employees:
There was even talk of taking up
and returning to quarters.
1t was q short-lived agreement"
however, for as soon as Chief En-
gineer Paul j. Moore arrived he
changed all ideas of beliefs and dis
beliefs.
Live Smoke" Quoth Moore.
"That's live smoke, boys" he
shouted to the firemen. Cant you
smell it? Get busy"
"Oh, there's nothing TO 1t, chief"
explained a man who seemed to be
In touch with happenings: that
smoke is coming from the tube where
the men are working. Bon-fires are
kept there all the time. There's moth
ing to it"
Unheeding this explanation, Chief
Moore sent detachment Of men to
the subway to investigate. Deputy
Chief Towey and squad entered the
basement of the store. while Chief
Moore himself worked his way
through the smoke In another direc-
ton This all happened in less time
than is taken to. tell 1t.
Suddenly thoseAon the outside heard
the following Soming from Chief
Moore:
"Come on, boys, let's clear that COR
ner of boxes"
This was done, and lots Of smoke
but no fire was to be seen. Then the
windows were examined. but only
smoke was to be found. Boys, tell
you there is a. live fire in this build
ing somewhere and we have to get
at it." continued the chief.
BY this time the men from the
tunnel reported that there was not
the slightest sign of fire or smoke In
the subway. This bore out the con-
tentions OF the chief
The Lair of the Fire.
"I believe it is in one of the large
beams" said Chief Moore. as he got
down on his hands and knees to
make a personal investigation.
At the same time directing his
men, the chief went from beam to
beam. When in the centre of the
store, his hand fell on a hot spot.
Boys, here is your fire." said the
chief. "Get to work. Rip her OPEN"
The chief was right. The fire was