Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-04-08
Fire That Burns Three and One
Half Hours Causes Big DAM
aqe and Inconvenience.

Superintendent A. L. Edgar of the
Central railroad arrived i'm this city
mt 2:45 o'clock this afternoon and
ordered sixty new ties laid on the
northbound track in order that traffic
might be resumed some time tonight
over the bridge, which was damaged
for a distance of about 200 feet
shortly before noon today. Ii VIII
he necessary TO tear up about oVo
feet of ties on the southbound track,
he said, before traffic can be re-
sumed.
Traffic on the lines of the Pennsyl-
vania and Central railroads from this
city to points south was made impos-
sible shortly after IL O'Clock TINS
moruing when fire broke out on
this end of the railroad bridge span
ming the Raritan river, and, fanned
by a strong west wind soon had gain
ed such headway that firemen were
given a hard battle to prevent the
flames spreading toward the draw
bridge. 1t is believed that the fire
started from hot Goals dropped by
locomotive in passing. The fire was
under control by 2:30 o'clock this
afternoon.
The fire was first discovered short
ly after IL o'clock when black smoke
was seen to be curling upward from
the tracks near the point where the
bridge touches the north shore. inc
fire department of the Raritan Cop
per Works was called out but the Ire
gained such headway that sun
alarm was sent in for the Protectlon
Hook & Ladder and the Lincoln En-
cine companies. Great clouds or
black smoke were rising from the
creosote covered ties and as the two
fire wagons were on their way to the
scene of the blaze an alarm OF nre
was rung in from box 81, the Eagles
and Washingtons responding.
Owing to the distance from Ihe
scene of the blaze to the nearest fre
hydrants the firemen were hampered
in laying their hose and getting
streams on the burning ties. 1t was
necessary to secure an additional sup
ply of hose In order to reach the
blaze.
About 200 feet of ties were DESTROYED
by the fire, the rails being so twisted
that some OF them will have TO De
replaced before trains can pass over
them.
The section which burned was new
IN laid. the railroad having just COM
pleted laying these new ties about
month ago after having worked
through the winter on this section.
It was learned from tho railroad
agent that trains will be unable TO
use the bridge before tomorrow
morning. Commuters from this city
will have to take the trolley cars to
South Amboy and connect with trains
at that point. The fast commuter
trains between New York. Matawan,
Red Bank. Long Branch and other
stations of the New York and Long
Branch railroad will be sent around
by the way of Monmouth Junction
over the lines of the pennsylvania
Railroad Company.
The dense smoke, as it rose into
the air, drew the attention of many
residents here and in South Amboy.
the wind making 1t q difficult matter
for the firemen at the scene of the
blaze to locate the flames through
the heavy curtain of smoke. The
fact that the wind was from the west
and not from the north was respon-
sible for the fact that not more OF
the bridge over the water was DAM
aged. No estimate of the damage
done could be learned although the
work of making repairs will be start
ed this afternoon in order TO make II
possible for the trains from New
York to the shore and points south
of this city to resume their scheduled
trips.
The trolleys and auto busses from
this city to South Amboy were DONG
a big business this afternoon with
those who normally ride on the
trains, it being possible to get trains
from South Amboy after they had
arrived in that city by going over the
vehicular bridge in either trolley or
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