Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-05-04

Ten fire companies from Keasbez
Hopelawn. Fords. Perth Amboy. Ne.
tuchen and Woodbridge battled with
the flames from 1915 O'Clock when
the fire was first discovered. until
4 o'clock this morning. For four
hours the fire ragged beyond the con-
troll of the flremen. leaping from one
building to the next in spite OF the
efforts of the combined departments
to check its onslaught.
At O'Clock this morning the word
was passed that the flames were
under control and practically all
companies but the Keasbey Protee-'
tion Company returned to their re-
spectiye quarters. AL A g ess1aeilA
IRE was declared extinguished buf
the keasbey company was aroused
again three hours later when
smoldering embers were tanned BY
the wind and broke out afresh. Two
more hours of work were then nee
/ essary to subdue the fire.
The great extent of the blaze is
undoubtedly due to the fact that the
water supply failed at just the point
when the keasbey company had the
original fire practically under con-
troll. The main supplying the hy-
drants at Dahl avenue and Smith
street is what is known as dead
end. The water comes from Perth
Amboy. but is one of two brane>
mains that supply keasbey and tbs
National fireproofing Company
The confagration started in the
combination home and store run by
Jacob Weisberger. Weisberger was
] In Perth Amboy at the time. il Is
said. and the establishment was shut
at O'Clock BY Mrs. Weisberger.
who then retired. AT 10.l5 how
ever. the entire building see "a to
blaze up al once. witnesses ceelare,
and Mrs. Weisberger was compelled
TO take refuge in the street. All
I furniture ana household goods. to-
( gether with jewelry and a eonsid-
cradle amount Of money, had TO b.
| left in the building ana was de-
stroyed.
( The Keasbey fire company was on
/ the scene within a few minutes and
was progressing rapidly toward es-
tinguishing the flames when the
water supply failed. In the ensuing
/ half horr without water the fire
gained such headway as TO make it
impossible to check it immediately.
The arrival of companies from
Perth Amboy and Metuchen made il
possible to extend hose lines from
the National Fireproofing Company
plant and from the Standard plant
of the same company. Relaying
the water through the combined
hose lines made it possible then to
have about six powerful streams on
\ the blaze but the advanta%e gained
/ by the fire in the interim proved
to he too great and the companies
bent their efforts toward preventing
It's spread rather than in trying to
i check the existing flames.
Ownership of the eleven buildings
I that were destroyed is believed TO
I be as follows:
Three combination general stores
/ and residences were the property OF
! Daniel Sebestein. of keasbey: one
was the property Of Isadore Klein.
/ of Keasbey: another was owned BY
! James Dalton. of Woodbridge: one
! by Andrew Pochick, who occupied
it: one by Adolph Metzendorf, Of
4 Perth Amboy; three by Joseph 10th,
I of Keasbey, and one by John Ko-
I peraash, who lived in his home The
houses were both OF brick and
4 frame construction
All were practically leveIed to the
4 ground. In some cases there was
] time 10 remove portion of the
I household goods before the leapinz'
flames reached the structures. bat IN
I most instances the occupants wers
/ forced to fee without anything bal
the scantiest clothing.
Roofs in the vicinity of the burr :
; ing homes were occupied by frantic
owners or residents who baffied vita
the showers Of sparks spread by the
! wind. Brooms were welded rapidly
| in sweeping the sparks on the roofs
and many houses adjoining the burn
| ed area were doubtless saved By fa4<
/ means.
(Continued on page four)