New-York tribune., 1921-11-04
Spectacular Blaze Burns
Piers, Lighters an d
Freight Cars; Damage
Estimated $4,000, 600
Two Firemen are
Reported Missing
Thousands ON Both Sides
OF River Watch Flames
Flare Several Hours

Fire that started on Pier C, Of the
Erie Railroad Docks in Weehawken
late last night practically destroyed
three or four hundred-foot piers and
consumed large number of freight
cars and lighters, causing damage to
Standard Oil and other properties in
the vicinity estimated at $4,000, 900.
Fire apparatus from New Jersey
towns within radius of ten miles were
summoned to aid in controlling the con-
nsgration. Several New York compa-
nies were ardered in readiness to leave
after a general alarm was received,
Three New York freboats aided in
fighting the blaze which was one of the
most stubborn encountered in many
months.
Several fremen were said to have
been injured in the collapse of Pier C,
the roof falling while half company
Of iremen worked under its walls. 1t
vas said that two firemen were missing.
Verification was unobtainable owing to
the large number of men engaged. At
2 am. the fire was said to be under con-
troll
The freboat Willett, of Manhattan.
vas first to cast off and was quickly
followed by two more fire fighting
craft. In addition to dock property in
volved it was said fifty freight cars,
half of them loaded. and large num-
Der of barges were burning. Many
lighters loaded with freight were lying
at the docks. Tugs pulled ten of them
into midstream, but othere could not
be reached owing to the heat. These
soon caught fire and appeared to be
doomed
The fire started at 11:40. A watch
man on Dock c Of the Erie Railway,
foot of Baldwin Avenue, Weehawken,
tslephoned the first alarm to yard
headquarters and apparatus was sum-
rnoned from Union Hill. Before the
first companies arrived flames were
jumping hundred feet from Pier C to
Piers B and d, on either side. Pier A,
the last of the row of docks, was also
blazing at one end.
Four 200foot piers at Weehawken
were filed with merchandise, and eff
forts to remove freight were hampered
BY dense smoke as we'll as intense heat.
Immediate precautions were taken to
prevent spread of the flames to the
city of Weehawken proper. 1t was be-
lieved the fire could be confined to rail-
bo TO ~ ho%
wide yard intervenes between these
and the residence section.
The confagration was the most spec
tacular of recent occurrence. Hundreds
Of automobile parties converged on the
affected locality from surrounding
towns in New Jersey, and within an
hour thronged all streets. Fire appa-
ratus arriving from outside points was
hampered in its movements by the
crowds. Special police endeavored to
keep curiosity seekers moving, but
8 with poor success.
Makes Striking Spectacle
From Manhattan the scene was one
of remarkable beauty. The jersey
shore and its myriad craft appeared in
minute detail picked out by soaring
sheets of fame. Showers of sparks
rose in constantly increasing volume
and appeared to thousands watching
from the west shore to be falling in
Weehawken.
Water from two fireboats was got in
play after some delay owing to the
crowded condition of the waterfront.
The Willett was first in action. She
! threw huge jets from her several
nozzles directly into the heart Of the
flames and for short time appeared
to have mastered the situation, but as
fast as one part of the fire was mas
tered another grew into menacing pro-
portions.
The scene of the outbreak was mid
way between the Fourteenth Street
and Forty-second Street ferries. Both
ferries were far enough removed from
the outbreak to be fred from danger.
They were packed with passengers
from New York Ell route to the fire
within half an hour of it's discovery.
Soon after 1880 sparks ignited Pier
A, and within fifteen minutes enveloped
II. Five minutes later the Standard Oil
Company docks adjoining Pier A were
also ablaze. The Standard Oil premises
alled with barreled oil threatened to
cause additional destruction. 1t was
said at / a. m. that 1900 barrels of oil
(Continued on page eIsht)