Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-02-04
F|REMEN PREVENT BLAZE
FROM SPREADING IN
SMITH Street BLOCK
Damage in Fire That Originated From Unknown Source in
Jacobsen's Store Does $4,000 Damage; Building
is Owned by Reynolds; Three Other Stores Report
Damage, But Fremen Did Excellent Work

2 o'clock until after o'clock this
morning. prevented other buildings
in this thickly populated business
section Of the city from being set
on fire.
Patrolman James Nolan was on
his way 70 make his 1:4e o'clock
ring when he discovered smoke
coming from the grocery store of s.
Martin Jacobsen C Company. The
officer called to Frank Burke. who
was standing at the corner OF Smith
of fire. The alarm was turned in
from box No. 81. at the corner of
State and Smith streets. and the Lin
soln Engine. Protection Hook &
Ladder. Mcclellan Engine and the
Washington Hose e. Chemical COM
panies were soon on the scene.
When Chief George Nixon arrived
on the scene he found that the de-
partment was up against a stubborn
fire. inasmuch as the real blaze
seemed 10 be in the cellar under the
center of the store. When 1t was
found that the blaze was gaining
headway calls. were sent in for the
Eagle Hose & Chemical Company
and the Garfield Engine Company
about 2:30 o'clock. The firemen were
I
front and rear on account of the
empty lot in the rear of the build
ing. and a hydrant in front of the
Ernst house on New Brunswick
avenue.
The firemen put all Of their ef-
forts into preventing the spread o.
the fire from the Jacobsen store fo
/ the shoe store adjoining or to the
lodge rooms of the Jr. o. u A. NJ
above. After a fight Of severHj
hours, the fire laddies were succoG6s
ful in placing the. IRE undsf ccutre.
about I o'clock this moru1hex and
the out taps were given af fz2T
o'clock The firemen prevented fh<
spread of the blaze on one side Just
| as II was reaching the shoe store OF
| II. Brody & Son, Inc, and on the
other side as it was spreading mp
the stairs into the Junior Order
lodge rooms.
Although the firemen were forced
/ to fight the fire on shaky flooring.
on account of the floor in Jacobsen's
store weakening after the fire lad
dies had worked on the blaze :
short time, only two men were IN
jured at this fire. both slightly.
Charles StinSon, a member of the
/ Washington Hose & Chemical Com
| pany, was bruised about the body as
the result of falling down a stairway
and William O'Hara of the Lincoin
Engine Company received a sprain-
I ed ankle as the result of a fall.
The origin of the blaze has not
been definitely learned, the only FIRE,
in the building at the time the fire
started was the furnace, furnishing
heat TO the lodge rooms. but there
was no sign of fire around this Sec
IL
] is believed that the fire started in
the center of the cellar under Jac-
obsen's store, and inasmuch as the
cellar is well packed with stock. the.
firemen were handicapped in gaining
headway in reaching the center OF
the blaze.
The main section of the first foor
of this. building is occupied by the
grocery store of S. Martin Jacobsen
& Company. In the same with JAG
obsen is the meat department owned
by Sol Schloss. and the fruit depart
ment owned by Abra ham Epstein.
No estimate of the damage to the
meat or fruit departments could be
be learned this morning. but the
approximate damage to the grocery
department ranges between SIS, 600
and $4,000. considering stock and
fixtures.
The other section of the first floor
of this building is occupied by the
shoe store of II. Brody & Son, Inc,
and the store of Jacob Smerling. The
shoe store was damaged by fire and
water, and an estimate of $4,000
damage was made by one of the
members OF the company. Smeri-
ing's place was damaged by water
To the extent of $4,000. The latter
deals in musical instruments, jewell
~ and other articles.
The second floor of the building
is the lodge rooms OF the Jr. O. U.
A. NJ. This section of the building
was damaged by water. the firemen
checking the blaze at the head OF
the stairs leading TO the room. No
estimate of the water damage was
given. George +. Reynolds. who
owns the building. stated this morn
ing that the damage TO the building
would be between s22.000 and $25.-
geo.
The shoe store was said this
morning to be partly covered by in
surance. Smerling has his stock
covered by insurance, and Jacobsen
also has Insurance.. The building
is covered by insurance. the owner
announced this morning.
There was dance in Junior hall
last night, formerly known as Pal
ace hall. but the dance which was
Continued on page Sd