The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-01-02
HUGE CONFEDERATION
MARKS CLOSE OF YEAR
Leech Building With En- ire Con-
tents Falls Prey to Flames.
Occupants Barely Escape

The closing day of 1914 witnessed
one of the most disastrous confiagra-
tons in the history Of the city, when
the Leech building, Northeast corner
Main street and Washington avenue,
was completely destroyed by fire.
A few minutes before midnight
Wednesday Officer Arthur Driscoll no.
ticed an unusual light in the prescrip-
ton department of Bricker's drug
store, which occupied the main lower
floor front of the building, and upon
investigation found that section of the
structure in flames. He Immediately
called to the sleeping tenants on the
upper floors and then sent in the
alarm to the city fire department.
George w. Leech, who occupied the
corner apartment, succeeded with
great difficulty in getting his family
from the burning building, clad in
their night clothes. Their highly
priced dogs persisted in the flames.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bertram E. Whitman,
who occupied one of the apartments,
heard the officers call and aroused
from sleep to find the house COM
pletely filled with smoke and all
means of escape cut off except over
the roof of the Campbell building,
which adjoined their sleeping room.
In their precipitate fight they were
unable to secure but scanty wearing
apparel, and called from their perch
Upon the roof to the firemen below,
who hastily erected ladders and they
reached the ground in safety. Their
loss of household goods and clothing
was complete, partly covered by in
surance
Dorsey S. LeCompte, who occupied
a front room on the third floor, caused
considerable uneasiness at first upon
his failure to appear after repeated
calls, but it was later learned that he
was attending a party on Verona ave
nue.. His loss was also complete.
Martin Kane, who also occupied a
room on the third floor, was out of
town during the day. and arrived on
the last train from Philadelphia to
find his belongings a prey for the
flames.
Mr.. Buzby, who conducted an up
holstery establishment to the rear of
the drug store on the first floor, also
suffered a total loss, though succeeded
in rescuing ONE of the work he had
in the shop for patrons.
The local firemen responded prompt
ly to the call, but found great diff
culties confronting them. The fire
was confined within tight walls and it
was impossible to successfully COM
bat it and save the building. They
Immediately realized the necessity for
calling upon Atlantic City for aid,
which was promptly and efficiently
rendered by Chief Black and his COM
pany from Engine House No. 4 at
California avenue.
The flames spread rapidly, fed by
tinder-like timbers, up through the
handsome drug store of Robert O..
Bricker and the apartments above,
then sped greedily to the warehouse
in the rear. Shortly before two o.
clock, the south walls of the struc-
ture, without a moments warning, fell
outward with a tremendous crash,
carrying with them the entire remain
ing floors and roof. By the narrowest
margin several valiant firemen escap-
ed the falling debris. This gave an
opening for the streams of water and
control was secured over the flames
before three o'clock.
1t was found that the fire had eat
EN- under the caves of the Campbell
building adjoining and that structure
was considerably damaged by water
and smoke.
Good fortune favored the city in the
fact that very little wind was blowing
and the few sparks which escaped did
no damage.
The building and household goods
owned by George w, Leech were val
ued at SIS, 900 with insurance amount
ing to $4,000. The stock and fixtures
of Brokers store had an estimated
value of $4,000, with $4,000 insur-
ance. The origin of the fire has not
been definitely determined.
The residents of Pleasantville feel
very grateful to Fire Company No. A
of Atlantic City, for it's prompt re-
spouse and the magnificent service it
rendered after making a perilous run
across the frozen meadow boulevard.
The local company was working hero
ically and doing good service, but the
nature. of the fire was such that with
out aid the consequences might have
been far worse. We doff our hats to
Chief Black and his noble crew.
Mr.. Leech has not yet made up his
mind as to what he will do in regard
to replacing the building.
DR.. Bricker stated that it is his in
tention to reopen a drug store as soon
as possible.