Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-11
100000 FIRE LOSS
IN PERKAS|E BLOCK
Twelve Companies Summoned
to Check Blaze Which Men.
aced Business Section
one FIREMAN IS INJURED

Fire which threatened the entire
central business section Of Pcrkasie
carly this morning swept through two
stores. garage and n stable occupying
half block. causing damage estimated
ut between $50 900 and 5000. 900. and
destroying one of the largest buildings
in the Town.
The fire started at I ~ o'clock and
fire companies from eight surrounding
towns responded to the seven alarms
which were sounded. The flames were
not under control until 8 o'clock.
Besides the stores and garage, which
occupied the first floor of the three.
story brick +. 8. Gresham building.
the paraphernalin OF dozen fraternnl
organizations, who used the third floor
as n meeting plnce and that of n cnr.
nival being sta9ed by tile Harmonic
Band of Perkasie on the second floor,
were destroyed.
One man was hurt in fighting the
blaze. Frank IIaring. thirty years old,
a member Of the Perkasic fire DEPART.
mcnt. He was struck in the face when
the nozzle of n high pressure hose
SllpItus Az WIS Dy u upuEDN
physician. This was the second large
lire in Perkasic within n week. Inst
week the Crescent Ice Cream plant was
destroyed.
The fire, which was of undetermined
the furniture store of II. X. Mussel-
and Arch streets. Members of the Per-
kasie fire company located across the
street, responded ut once.
The flames spread to the hardware
store Of William II. I.nil". adjoining
the furniture store on Seventh street,
and then to the garage and stable of
Alvin Roth md Lawrence George. Seven
horses and ten motor cars were saved
from the garage and stable.
Realizing they were unable to check
the advance of the flames, alarms were
sent by telephone to nearby towns.
town, I.ansdale. Dublin, blooming
Glen, Sellersville. South Perkasie,
! Silverlalc and TclfOrd.
The neighhoring frcmen made record
runs In getting to the fire. the Lans-
dale company, twelve miles away,
making the run in eighteen minutes.
The firemen kept twenty five streams
on the blaze and devoted part of their
efforts to check the spread Of nearby
! buildings. Had there been any wind,
tiremcn said. the whole central bust {.
ness section would have been wiped out
There WIS no gasoline in the ga
rage. but the flames were fcd BY large
quantity Of hay stored above the stable,
while mattresses and furniture In one
| Of the stores were rapidly consumed.
The home Of II. I. Meyer. Il two
story frame building. which Is next ia
the building on Arch street. was thrent
! to the street while frcmen removed
their belongings from the house.
Thousands of persons. residents OF
crowded the streets about the burnin,.
building. The light Of the blaze could
be seen for miles.
Only one wall Of the building re.
mains standing, and leans in at y dam
gerous angle. so that police will allow
no one to go near the ruins.
The third floor contained property
and valuable records of the Eastcrr
/ Star Lodge. the Odd Fellows. Knights
of Pythias. Knights of Malta. Order
Of United American Men. Knights OF
the Golden Eagle and various otheI
frnternal organizations.
Tp. Harmonic Band. which ha,
! leased the second floor for n week fOl
its dnnnal carnival. estimated its loss
The furniture store of MusSelman 4
Metzgar Ind just received large ship
mcnt OF Christmas goods NO'hing wa!
saved from either of tine stores.