Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-08-16

Inc IRE was ueIected quickly BY
one of the men working in the huge
she1. In response to a fire alarm by
telephone from the company's ONCE
and followed by a regular fire alarm.
the Fords Fire Company were first
to reach the plant. As they were
busy connecting their hose with the
nearest water hydrant the Keasbey.
Hopelawn and Metuchen fire COM
panies Joined them. The fire made
quick progress, battling the fremen
at first just where 10 center their
attention to check it. The shed con-
tanned the dry wooden moulds and
patterns and they were enveloped ~
the flames like matches. The hi
then spread to the two-story dive
ing occupied by Joseph Zegre,
workman at the plant. With his wff*
and eight children, Zegre removed
their belongings to the field across
the way as the firemen attempted
to save the wooden structuf
succeeded in saving the greater part
of their furnishings.
To get easier access to the sweep
ing blaze the firemen cut the tele-
phone wires that run parallel with
on the shed. From all sides the FIRE
companies battled to check the IRE
to the shed and prevent it from
the large kilns used for
drying bricks, but in spite of the
heroic work of the men. some with
gas masks on, the flames reached
the main part Of the plant. William
Rodner, of the Fords fire company.
o1 \. a a.
with the hose on the kilns. He was
.ly after ward revived.
The Lincoln Fire Company of
Perth Amboy reached the plant as
the fire was about in hand by the
other companies. They had difficulty
in getting sufficient hose but after
dickering with the local officials were
taken care Of.
While the men were busy working
near the kllns. John Lesko, a boy
from the plant staggered from the
fire is here. help" Within a minute
water pressure was put on and the
main building saved from destruc-
.tion.
AS the fire progressed officials OF
the company ordered their Office
help TO remove the valuable records
and papers from the Office which
was done. Later the fire reached =
part of the office but burned only
the roof of the bookkeeping room.
while the other rooms were only
flooded with water.
A dense smoke encircled the In
terror of the main plant which is Of
wooden construction, but not much
damage was done at that point.
William Schultz. superintendent of
the plant, directed some Of the men
to various parts of the plant to keep
watch. Every available fire appar-
atus in the plant was used By tbs
workmen as they helped the firemen-
Following an hours fight Benla
min Jensen, Of the lords fire COM
pany, told the company's officials
that the fire was well in hand and
that it was checked at the fire kilns.
The firemen were complimented for
the good work, particularly the
Fords and Keasbey companies, who
are being credited with saving the
greater part of the plant.
The fire attracted a large crowd
which watched the firemen at work.
The tracks of the Lehigh Valley
railroad which adjoin the plant were
closed for traffic for a half hour 10
Iallow the fremen passage with their
hose to reach the fire from the op-
posite side.
The Seaboard Refraetories Com
pany was formerly the Didier-A Marsh
Company. During war times it was
taken over by the custodian of alien
property and resold to several ofilc-
lials of the company who re-organizea
it as the Seaboard company. 1t was
once owned by r. d. Valentine. of
woodbridge. Mr.. Valentine. present
at the fire, believed that the company
has lost in the fire much valuable
patterns which would be difficult g
replace.