The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-12-07
An Farlv Morninc Fire
The following from the Burlington En-

. The following from the Burlington En-
, terprise looks very nice on paper:
THAT our firemen are ever willing t,
render prompt and efficient aid in tim,
| Of need to outlying sections was amply
demonstrated early Friday morning
when call was received from farmer
residing near Mount Holly, for imme
diately upon receiving notice chief en-
gineer Clawges ordered the Endeavol
lautO apparatus to proceed to the scene oil
the blaze, and SO quickly was the order
carried into effect that the Endeavor
tiremen were on the scene before the
Mount Holly fremen, who had only a
comparatively short distance to traverse
when compared with that travelled over
| by our local fremen. The best of iG all
is that they arrived in time to subdue
the flames before the building was con-
sumed. Our firemen are not compelled
to render service outside of this city's
boundaries, but nevertheless when an
appeal for assistance is made from out
quick response, no matter at what hour
1t may be received
The fire referred to was on the Harbert
farm, near Newbold's corner. The trnth
of the affair, entirely different from the
above statement, is as follows: At
twenty minutes of FIVE o'clock Thursday
morning still alarm was sent to
Mount Holly and was received by S.
Earl Assay and Howard Taylor, of the
America company. They at once got
out and aroused Rudie Kumpf, and ten
minutes later were on their way to the
fire with the America chemical engine.
During the excitement attending the
burning of the wooden portion of the
house, the tenant, Joseph l.. Haines,
got it into his head that more fire appar-
atus was needed so he asked the Mount
Holly telephone operator to summon aid
from Burlington. In response to this
call the Endeavor engine started for
Mount Holly. There are several stories
about its getting lost on the way, but
they are hard to believe, as the road be-
tween the two towns is very straight
Be that as it may the statement that
the Burlington firemen got to the fire
before the Mount Holly men is absolute
ly without foundation. The next state
ment is, ''The best of it is they arrived
in time to subdue the flames, etc." This
is equally untrue. America company
had been on the scene long enough to
empty seven tanks of chemicals, Union
company had emptied at least one tank,
and the only apparatus the Burlington
firemen passed was Relief steamer,
which was being drawn to the fire by
horses, and was responding to general
alarm sounded one hour after the fire
broke out. When the engine arrived
the suction pipe was put in stream
running through the place, and good
stream was soon working, and did the
finishing touches to the fine work that
the Mount Holly chemicals had done
There is no intention to reflect on the
efforts Of the Burlington firemen, or
their prompt response to a call for relief,
but when there is statement that they
did it all it is time to call halt.
Now as to the fire. Attached to the
roughcast house on the farm was frame
building, which bad two kitchens and
bedroom over one of them. Mr.. Haines
heard a noise, and on looking for the
cause he found the frame building in
flames. He fred his gun to arouse the
neighbors, and then sent in an alarm to
Mount Holly. The frame part of the
house was entirely destroyed with its
contents, consisting Of bedroom furni-
ture, kitchen furniture, large amount
of eatables, and all the years preserves
and canned goods. All the furniture ia
the main part Of the house was safely
carried out, and it looked for some time
as if that part of the house was doomed.
The acknowledgement also in great dam
ger, and Mr.. Haines says If it had not.
been for the good work done by the
Mount Holly firemen they would now
be lot of ruins. He says he cannot ex-
press his thanks to them. Mrs. George
F. Harbert, who owns the farm, also
feels deeply indebted to the Mount Holly
firemen for the great work they did.
The origin Of the fire is not known,
but it possibly came from defective
fue. The loss has not been estimated,
but it is covered by insurance.