Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-21
BUCKET BRIGADE
SAVES jersey Town
National Park Threatened BY
Early Morning Blaze and
Ten Houses Go Down
FIGHT FROM HousE1ops

1eu houses were ueStrOye0 ana Sev.
sfal others damaged in a fire at
o'clock this morning which threatened
70 wipe out the town Of National Park,
N. j.. on the Delaware River opposite
the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
The town was saved by u.en and
women who stood on the roofs Of their
homes with water buckets and pre-.
vented the shower oil sparks that fell
from igniting them. Many persons
were IN their night clothes and bravc,,
the cold ,ir for several hours until the
danger was over.
Occupants Of the neighborhood were
Arst awakened by a woman who ran
up and down Columbia boulevard
screaming murder" Peering out their
windows, they saw flames lenping from
the boathouse Of John Haley. A few
minutes later their own homes were
A tusbcat from the Navy Yard, man.
ned BY marines. and fire companies
from Woodbury.. Westville, Thorofnre,
verga. Washington Park and Brook.
lawn fought valiantly, but the fire had
gained such headway. when they ar
rived that little could be done except
try to prevent its spread.
Fire equipment Of all types, ranging
from hand pumps to modern engines,
was pressed into use. A second appeal
TO the Navy Yard by Harry Weldon.
chief of the National Park fire company,
brought an additional several hundred
feet Of hose, through which river wnter
was played upon the fire by means Of
hand pumps.
Heat Balks F'iremen
Houses on both sides Of Columbia
boulevard were ablaze. Heat iE the
street was no intense in places that
firemen were compelled to work at the
rear end Of burning houses. none daring
to enter between the walls of fame.
Haley. in whose boathouse the fire
originated. was wakened by smoke.
After turning In an alarm he. with his
sons john and James Haley. tried to
extinguish the blaze themselves and
fought until smoke and heat compelled
them to abandon the place.
In attempting to escape. James lost
his footing and fell into flames that
burned him badly about head and BODY.
The elder Haley was also severely
burned while rescuing his son and both
were taken to the Woodbury. Hospital.
In quick succession the homes Of
Harry Bradley, George Hart. Edward
Rex and Mrs. Lottie Du Bosq. on the
south side Of Columbia boulevard. were
enEulfed by the flames.
A sudden change in the direction Of
the wind then sent the blaze leaping
across the boulevard. where It ignited
the the home y & Of Daniel % Sullivan. from
Mary Hubbard. Three other houses
on the west side of the street were also
burned. They were owned by Albert
Leisaie. Mrs. Ray Ralph and Mrs.
Minnie McAtee.
Mrs. Du Bosq. her sons. Albert and
Joseph, and many other occupants Of
burned homes ran out in their night
clothing. with coats thrown about their
shoulders. All their other clothing was
destroyed with the homes.
Garden Hose Saves Home
DR.. Edward Cottrill. a dentist. saved
his home by playing continual stream
on Its roof with a garden hose. Ue
stood on the roof for four hours. clad
in night clothes.
Four expensive motorboats, beacbed
on the waterfront near Haley's boat
house. were destroyed.
Last nights fire was the third TO
occur In the same neighborhood in az
many years. Three years ago seven
houses were burned. including the
boathouse owned by Haley.
In September Of last year five houses
were burned. Virtually all the build.
ings in National Park are frame struc-
lures.
The fire was preceded by a few hours
BY blaze that Threatened TO DESTROY
$50 buildings Of the United States Rag
Loading Plant at Washington Park,
near National Park. Tall dead grass
near the buildings was set on fire hy
guards and a strong breeze famed the
flames unit! the entire plant was en-
dangered. 1t required several hours
work by fremen from three towns 70
prevent the fire from reaching the
magazines, where quantities of powder
were stored. although the plant has nor
been In operation for a year.