Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-19
TOO MOTORS SAVED
IN STUBBORN FIRE
Nixon Opera House Threatened
by Blaze at Carlisle Street
and Montgomery Avenue
SEVEN PERSONS INJURED

Seven persons were injurcd during a
spectacular early incrni.:g iirc in a
four story brick building on the south =
east corner of Carlisle street and Mont
gomery avenue. formerly stable used
by the Department of Public Works.
The fire. discovered at 2 40 q. m. by
n passerby. who later was rescued from
| possible death when he was knocked
into the burning building while aiding
tremen, threatened for time to spread
to Ntxon's Grand Opera House and to
Clark's garage, adjoining it on the
| north. The blaze was not extinguished
until three hours later.
The injured are:
Battalion Chief Jacob Young. cuts
of the scalp
Frederick Knox. ladderman. Truck
No. II, decorations and bruises.
George Zey. hoseman Truck No. IL,
laceration and fractured shoulder.
John Shugrue. 170S North Thir-
tcenth street. cuts and bruises.
Charles Ayres. 1928 Columbia ave.
nue.. cuts and bruises.
Clyde Smith. 1911 North Sixteenth
street, cuts and bruises.
Charles Scharzac. dislocated shoulder.
All the victims were treated at St.
.Ioscph's Hospital with the exception of
Chief Young, who refused hospital
treatment.
Six Alarms Turned In
Less than twenty minutes after the
FIRE was discovered by Shugrue, who
noticed smoke pouring from the build
ing while standing at Broad and Mont
gomery avenue, six alarms were sounded.
Fire apparatus thronged the streets
in the vicinity as occupants fled from
their homes menaced by the flames.
Electric wires fell to the ground and
street lights fickered intermittently.
Occupants of houses along Montgom.
cry avenue above Broad street started
to move household belongings into the
street when bridge of flames shot from
the burning stable across the street.
Quick action on the part of tiremen
prevented the sudden burst of fire from
igniting trees and roofs.
The rear of the opera house abuts on
the stable Flames leaped up the wall
which threatened for time to collapse.
More than 100 automobiles were res
cued from the garage as the fire en-
veloped it. Three of the machines
were reported missing after the fire.
Sparks flew over house tops for a
block around and fell on the roofs Of
dwellings facing Broad street, Fifteenth
street and Montgomery avenue. Fire
men ran ladders to the roofs Of those
buildings and played streams of water
on them to prevent them from becoming
ignited.
Fire Chief Overcome
Chief Young one of the nrst to ar.
rive on the scene was overcome shortly |
after his arrival as he attempted TO
enter the burning building. Falling
debris struck him and he was rescued |
by several tiremen. After having his |
wounds dressed he returned to the scene
of action. Knox and Zey. the fremen,
were injured when part of wall COL
lapsed. They were struck by flying
bricks.
Shugrue, who first summoned fire
apparatus and then returned to the
building and freed four horses impris-
oned within was found by fremen lying
close TO the flames after he had been
knocked down by hose line.
According TO Shugrue he was stand
ing on the corner when he detected
smoke coming from Carlisle street. He
ran TO Broad street and
Columbia avenue and pulled the box,
Then he returned and after breaking
down a door led the four frightened
animals to safety.
Before engines arrived he broke into
C!ark's Garage and drove fourteen
automobiles TO the street Then he re.
turned to the scene and assisted FIRE.
men run the hose to the building.
Ayres, Smith and Scharze we're in
jured bv falling debris when they ot.
tempted to enter the building. They
are members of the Second Aiarmers. =
an organization formed to assist fire.
men when they are overcome and TO
render first aid treatment.
Rush From Their Homes
Ambulances and patrol wagons by
the dozen were at the scene shortly |
after the third alarm had been turned
in. For a short time before police had |
arrived in sufficient numbers to pre-.
serve order occupants Of houses on the |
north side Of Montgomery avenue |
crowded Euclid avenue, a small thor. |
oughfare running from Broad to Fiji |
teenth street and hampered tiremen in |
their efforts to save their endangered |
homes.
n n -