Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-12-26
Bystanders in Smith Street
Watch Flames Spread Be-
fore Sending Alarm
FIRE IN TWO STORES
Other Blaze Was at Barber
Plant Where 8 Shop
Buildings Burn

Two early morning fires did great
damage in this city yesterday morn
ing. the loss in one instance being
due. it Is said TO fire fighting condi-
tions at the plant where the blaze
occurred. and in the second case to
the action of bystanders iu watching
on while the flames ate their way
through two Smith street stores be-
fore an alarm was sounded.
Oil Plant
At 2:35 o'clock yesterday morning,
John Phillips. Jr.. sounded an alarm
from box 225 at Maurer for a fire in
the oil works of the Barber Asphalt
COMPANY. Shortage of salt water in
connection with the plant fire fight
ing system is blamed for the high
damage in this instance. Three
shops were destroyed. the black
smith. pipe and carpenter shop. and
no estimate of the loss could be OBJ
taineG this morning 1t Is not known
how the fire started. Sergeant John
Larson s1ade the report at head
quarters in connection with this con-
fgration ---s--l4
Smith Streer Stores
Fire starting in the beauty shop
of the Bon Ton barber shop owned
by William Pollino at 100 Smith
street. guted the two story building
owned by A. Kramer. of State street.
in which the barber shop, Kings hat
stoA and the law Offices of Earkus
and Karkus are situated. the latter
on the second floor.
Chief William Langan made
known this morning that there Is
report around town to the effect
thai q 0rnud ~ rano1la
watched the fire spread through the
barber shop and into the hat store
before an alarm was sounded. Char
les Michaels happened along ana
when he spied the blaze. went across
the street to box Al at Smith street
and Madison avenuS and turned in
the alarm. This was at 1921 yester-
DAY morning.
When the frefighters arrived al
the scene, the fire had gained great
headway and the flames lea ping
high in the air. attracted big
crowd to the scene. The barber
shop. It is said. was damaged TO the
extent of $4,000. the hat store.
$4,000. Karkus & Karkus. $4,000.
and the building $1,000.
The firemen did excellent work in
preventing the spread Of the blaze
and worked for several hours on
same. Chief Langan is thankful TO
the Salvation Army for the coffee
and sandwiches furnished during
the cold hours OF the morning.
An investigation is being made of
the report that some men broke into
the barber shop before the alarm
was sounded and looted the cash
drawer, and CHIEF Langan will CO.
operate with the police in this probe.
Employees of the Public Service
company were called out to look af
ter their wires in connection with
the Smith street fire after Sergeant
John Larson had called police head
quarters and informer Lieutenant
Andrew Jensen of conditions.
karlIus Praises Firemen
Jacob S. karkus. senior member
Of the law firm OF Karkus & Karkus.
was high in his praise this morning
Of the work of the firefighters under
the direction of Chief Langan. Ths
Karkus law offices win be located IL
the Raritan building until the Snith
street structi.r re is repaired.
Patrolman Frank Tonghini naads
tbs report on the Smith street FIRE.
He reports that the two stores on the
main floor were gutted by fire and
II law Office were dana ged by fire
and water.