Introduction
Engine Company 9 was originally organized as Hose Company 1 on March 1, 1900 at the then-new firehouse at North 27th & Federal Street in East Camden, and was reorganized in 1914 as Hose & Chemical Company 1. On January 1, 1922 the unit was again reorganized as Engine Company 9. Engine Company 9 has remained in service continuously at North 27th & Federal Street in the same building it has occupied since 1900, during which time it has shared quarters with Ladder Company 3.
Among those who have served with Engine Company 9 over the years was second-generation fire fighter Howard Gick, who served as Captain of the unit in the early 1940s.
Engine Company 9
Hook & Ladder Company 3, Hose & Chemical Company 1 & Engine Company 9 — 1924
Hook & Ladder Company 3: Captain Joseph B. Ayres, FF Dave Humphries, Al Dukes, J.A. Mulligan, Bill Mountney, Bill Hopkins.
Hose & Chemical Company 1: Captain Charles H. Robinson, FF William E. “Pud” Jaeckel, George Townsend, Ken Naylor, Howard Gick.
Engine Company 9: Captain John H. Vickers, FF Irv Lederman, Newton Ash, Joe Gentlesk, Al Palmer
Engine Company 9
Ladder Company 3 & Engine Company 9 — Circa 1946
John Mulligan passed away in July, 1947.
Front Row: Clarence Madden, Newton Ash, Howard “Waxie” Harrington, Dave Humphries, Howard Gick
Back Row: John Mulligan, unknown, Tim Shanahan, Acting District Chief Henry Zook, Harry Allebach
E9: Tim Shanahan, Howard “Waxie” Harrington, Howard Gick, unknown, Newton Ash
L3: Johnny Mulligan, Dave Humphries, Clarence Madden, Harry Allebach, unknown, Henry Zook
Apparatus
1924–1990s
1924 — Hook & Ladder Company 3, Hose & Chemical Company 1, Engine Company 9
1930 American LaFrance 750 GPM pumper, Engine Company 9.
June 15, 1952 — 1930 American LaFrance — 750 GPM Pumper — #3894
About 1952 — 1950 Plymouth Coupe used by District Chief (photo taken after July 1, 1951, probably June 15, 1952)
1954 Dodge Hose Wagon
1955 American LaFrance — Pumper — 1000 GPM
May 1960 view: on Marlton Avenue facing southwest. Crown Cleaners at 155 Marlton Avenue and Bernie’s Tire Service, 145 Marlton Avenue, are visible behind the apparatus.
1956 — 2 alarm fire in the 2400 block of Federal Street.
1960 — 1954 Dodge hose wagon and 1955 American LaFrance 1000 GPM pumper.
1967 American LaFrance Pumper
February 6, 1972 — 2 alarm fire at 2029 Federal Street.
1970s — Murphy Sales & Service Appliance Store, 2508 Federal Street.
September 15, 1978 — fire at 3420 and 3422 Westfield Avenue.
April 16, 1979 — 25th & Federal Street
February 9, 1991 — Fire Fighter Joel Bain on Mount Ephraim Avenue
1992 American LaFrance 1500 GPM pumper.
About 1993
1994 — Kevin Young, Mark Harper, Joe Ante, & George Szychulski
1990s — Engine Company 9, Ladder Company 3, Battalion 2
Battalion Chief Robert Ziemiuk at the East Camden Firehouse
Man and Wife Saved by Passing Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Watchman Meets Engines Returning From Another Blaze; 4 Sunday Fires
Trapped in their home over a blazing butcher shop on Kaighn avenue, a man and wife were carried down a ladder by firemen who were returning from one of four serious fires which called out every piece of apparatus in Camden yesterday.
Total damage in the four fires was estimated at $23,000.
Furniture and stationery were ruined, and several automobiles were damaged by flames which gutted the warehouse of Bleakly Brothers, stationers, at 405 Mickle street.
Five trucks were destroyed in a blaze in the rear of the Terminal Garage, Ferry and Atlantic avenues.
The butcher shop of Samuel Yentis, and the building owned by M. D. Cornish at 741 Kaighn avenue were wrecked by fire.
Fire burned through the roof of the home of Dominic Sgariglio, 1271 Kaighn avenue; flames and water destroyed the entire contents of the house.
At 3.25 a. m. firemen who had extinguished the garage blaze were returning to their station at Twenty-seventh and Federal streets. Driving east on Kaighn avenue, near Seventh street, they were attracted by a man who suddenly ran into the middle of the street, shouting “Fire, Fire!” He pointed to the blazing butcher shop at 741 Kaighn avenue.
The man was George Whitehead, 55 years old, a watchman for the Congoleum Nairn Inc., Seventh street and Kaighn avenue. He had discovered the fire as he sat in his watchman’s shack across the street. He ran to the store, pounded on the door until Yentis came to the window of his bedroom.
Telling Yentis, who is 35 years old, and his wife, Anna, 33 years old, to dress, Whitehead said he would call firemen. He was on his way to the Sixth street and Kaighn avenue fire station when he met the apparatus returning from the garage fire.
Allen Palmer and Clarence Pursglove, both of Engine Company No. 9, carried Yentis and his wife down the ladder. The fire had burned through a wall to the stairway leading to the living quarters of the Yentis family, cutting off escape. Neighbors cared for the butcher and his wife as the firemen extinguished the blaze.
Damage was estimated at $1,500 by Cornish, who owns the building, and who lives at 739 Kaighn avenue.
The first of the series of Sunday fires sent six engine companies dashing to the Bleakly Brothers warehouse after three alarms had been sounded. Spontaneous combustion was blamed for this, the most serious of the day’s fires.
Flames shooting from second-floor windows attracted a passerby who turned in the first alarm at 1.30 a. m. Firemen found that the blaze had spread beyond their control and another crew was summoned. Twelve minutes later, a third alarm brought additional men and apparatus.
Lack of space, caused by furniture and stationery being piled high on warehouse floors, hampered firemen who fought the flames more than two hours before they were under control.
Fred Hutchinson, secretary of the firm, whose store is at 532 Federal street, said today that the company would not be able to estimate the damage until after a check-up of the storehouse inventory had been made.
Water Damages Autos.
The first floor of the warehouse is occupied by the Plaza Garage, operated by H. R. Dixon, 733 Spruce street. Several automobiles parked there were damaged by water. The two story building is owned by Louis Tarter, Camden real estate man.
The Terminal Garage fire was discovered at 2.45 a. m. by Nathan Benson, manager. Three engine companies answered two alarms.
Firemen said that an explosion preceded the fire which destroyed five trucks at a loss estimated by Benson at approximately $8,000. J. L. Weiner of 6000 Carpenter street, Philadelphia, owner of the building, estimated his loss at $3,500.
Despite the efforts of two men who fought the flames with extinguishers until firemen arrived, the two-story summer home of Charles A. Dilliam, Philadelphia real estate broker, located on White Horse pike, Laurel Springs, was gutted yesterday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Dilliam had gone to the house for the weekend and had built a fire in the fireplace. Smoke was noticed creeping through the clapboards by C. R. Miller, an attendant at a gas filling station across the street. Calling firemen, Miller, assisted by Edward C. Vanderbilt, 1137 Lawrence street, Camden, who was driving by, held the flames in check until Laurel Springs Fire Companies No. 1 and 2, under Chief Edward L. Condon, arrived.
Firemen said the blaze caught in the rear of the fireplace.
Silver Lake Home Burns
A frame home at Silver Lake, near the Casino Inn, was destroyed by fire Saturday. The house formerly was occupied by John B. Weber, proprietor of Silver Lake Inn.
Slight damage was done by a chimney fire in the home of Frank Dalton, Gloucester, last night. Firemen put out the flames soon after they arrived. Smoke from the Dalton dwelling seeped into the adjoining home of Mrs. John McGonigle. Mrs. McGonigle carried her cat to safety and waited until firemen extinguished the flames before re-entering her house.
Fred Bushall, of Woodbury, barely had time to hurry his two small children from his automobile when it burst into flames on Delaware street near Starr Ditch.
Faulty ignition was blamed as the cause of the fire. Firemen arrived too late to save it from the flames.
Firemen Prepare Toys for Poor Children
Camden Evening Courier —
Firemen Prepare Toys for Poor Children
—Courier-Post Photos
If there is to be a cheerless and toyless Christmas anywhere among the poor, it will not be in the easterly section of the city. That is, not if the firemen of East Camden’s two firehouses and business men know anything about it. For many weeks now, the smoke-eaters from the fire stations at Twenty-seventh and Federal streets and Twenty-seventh street and Hayes avenue, in co-operation with the store-keepers, have been collecting toys, which have been tossed aside by more fortunate children, and have been reconditioning them, so that those who gave them up as “junk” could not now tell them from new playthings. In the two photos above it can easily be seen that the fire-fighting Santas are determined to make many children happy on Christmas Day. In the upper picture, Firemen William Foehl (holding sled) and Charles Schultz are shown at work on some of the broken toys. In the lower photo, Firemen Newton Ash, left, and Irvin Leaderman, have just finished piling up a part of the completed gifts. The toys will be distributed the day before Christmas to children who write to “Santa Claus” at his headquarters at the Federal street firehouse.
William Foehl — Charles Schultz — Newton Ash — Irvin K. Lederman — Engine Company 11 — Ladder Company 3 — Hayes Avenue
Veteran Fire Captain Honored At Retirement Ceremonies
Camden Courier-Post —
Eli Hunt Bids Farewell to Fellow Members of City Force
Officials Laud Term of Service
Quits Chasing Fires
Capt. Eli Hunt
The sound of a fire alarm means nothing except fond memories to Junior Capt. Eli Hunt, now, as he sits in his chair at home and lives over the many experiences he has gone through while a fireman with Engine Company No. 3, 1813 Broadway.
Captain Hunt took formal leave Saturday from his comrades, the smoke-eaters of one of the busiest fire houses in the city. The 55-year-old veteran was retired March 1 for disability, and the lads he led in many a fierce battle with flames, decided to show their old skipper that their hearts were with him now that he would respond to no more alarms.
Captain Hunt, his face seamed and lined with years of activity as a fire-fighter, sat silent while Battalion Chief Charles Erickson [sic] told the old smoke-eater that he was only retired, but that in spirit he was still a member of the Camden fire department.
The captain smiled with satisfaction as Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, told Captain Hunt that he was a gallant old fire-fighter, and had fought along the traditions that had made the Camden department one of the best.
Flowers Presented
Satisfaction and smiles still rode the captain’s face as Acting Capt. Edward MacDowell presented him with a bouquet of flowers. He was still grinning in glee when Acting Captain Rich gave him another gift. He still retained that smiling face as Commissioner Kobus presented him with a beautiful smoking set, the gift of his old comrades.
Then, as he sat silently in his chair, the fact that he was no longer a fire-fighter of Camden save in memory and spirit, rolled down upon him and the pent emotion gave way, it could not longer be dammed.
Tears ran like rivulets down the grizzled face of the retired captain, and he didn’t attempt to stop them either, as one handkerchief against that torrent of weeping would have been as effective as trying to stop a hole in a levee with a toothpick.
Standing in formation, too, were his old boys, and everyone of them had a suspicious moisture in his eye, as they gazed upon the old skipper, now ready to retire to a merited if not entirely welcome retirement.
It was 8 a. m. when the ceremonies started down in the ancient camp of the firefighters on Broadway. Battalion Chief Erickson [sic] made a neat and effective speech.
Remains In Spirit
“You are not retiring from the department,” he said, “you are still a member though no longer active. Don’t figure that you are done as a fireman because you are not.
“You’ve earned your rest and you can feel assured now that you have retired that you owe the city of Camden nothing, you have given her the best that was in you, the finest ability you commanded and the loyalty which you know.
“Your boys are sorry to see you depart, but when you go they know that you go to a rest you have merited and an ease that rightfully belongs to you.”
Commissioner Kobus followed in like strain, expressing her delight as being able to have a part in the ceremonies.
“We have to hurry this up,” said the commissioner laughingly, “for I never come down to this firehouse that an alarm does not sound.”
“You are not retiring from the department,” said the director, “you have come up from the ranks and will remain an inspiration to these young firemen, even if you be away from them.
Set Good Example
“You have given them a splendid example to follow by your own loyal, splendid service to Camden. You are something of an ideal for these men to follow, and so long as they stand by the ideals of yourself and the gallant old firefighters of the department, Camden will still have the best department of any city in the United States.
“You are getting a rest period and you earned it. You don’t want to feel that you have retired, you just want to remember that the boys in the department will be with you as you take the rest that you have earned.
“You retire with the respect of everybody in the department, and no higher honor could be paid to any member of the fire department than to merit and hold such respect.”
Captain Hunt was compelled to retire as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident on Oct. 20, 1935. He had been to National Park where he has a kennel of hounds, the captain having been an ardent hunter when physically sound.
Hurt Severely
It was his usual 24-hours off day and as he drove through Woodbury on the way to Camden his car was struck by another at Thorofare. Captain Hunt was injured so badly that he was in the hospital for two months, with concussion of the brain, his injuries leaving a lesion that has made locomotion a mite difficult, although Captain Hunt is able to stand without the aid of his cane.
“I’m going to take life easy,” he said, after he had gathered his presents and been photographed numerous times.” [sic] I have many relatives living around whom I haven’t seen for some time, so I guess I spend a good bit of leisure going around and getting acquainted with them.
“But don’t forget, retired or not, I’m still a fireman and will probably jump out of bed as usual when I hear the alarm.”
Junior Captain Hunt joined the department on August 1, 1918, as a hoseman in Engine 3, where he was honored today. He was promoted to junior captain and assigned to Engine 9, Twenty-seventh and Federal streets in April, 1928. He returned to his old company, however, as a junior captain in March, 1932, and retired on a pension last Monday.
Captain Hunt battled against some of the worst fires in Camden’s history.
For five and one-half hours he was on duty when flames attacked the plant of the Eavenson Soap Works on Delaware avenue and Penn street on Jan. 21, 1919. He worked straight through for 28 hours when Sitley & Sons’ grain and feed plant, burned at Chelten avenue and the Pennsylvania railroad.
In connection with the latter fire it started on Hunt’s day off, and he was compelled to forego his leisure, as the department had but a single platoon in those days. He was in the fight against the fire at the U. S. Naval aircraft factory in Gloucester, June 8, 1920, the Baker-Flick blaze on Dec. 21, 1921 and another fire in the Eavenson Soap Works on Oct. 20, 1922.
Early Donor in Aluminum Drive Hopes ‘Gift’ Will Be Sent to Hitler
Camden Courier-Post —
Campaign Opens Here with Distribution of Pamphlets on Details; Metal Collection Listed for Thursday at Nine City Centers
Editorial: “Pans and Patriots” appears on page eight.
Hitler’s anti-Semitic nation may receive a “gift” in the near future from a South Camden Jewish resident, but the Fuehrer will not send back a “thank you” note.
The gift may attain the form of aluminum bomber parts.
Last night the city opened its drive for old aluminum from homes for use in national defense work. Only pamphlets giving details about the canvass were distributed with the old pots, discarded pans and other outmoded aluminum utensils to be collected Thursday.
However, not to be late in handing in his donation, the South Camden Jew of German birth, who remains unidentified, walked into headquarters of Engine Company No. 8 at Sixth street and Kaighn avenue, his arms laden with old aluminum.
“Here, I want to give this aluminum to you now and not wait until Thursday,” the donor told firemen. “These pots and pans came from Germany with me many years ago, and now I want the United States to make something out of them to send back to that (several words censored) Hitler.”
Seized Cooker in Gifts
A Boy Scout’s pint-size cooking pan was taken into police headquarters by Norwood Greene, a Secret Service Agent, who said the utensil was confiscated in a counterfeit raid a short time ago at Wilmington, Del.
Greene was instructed by a superior to turn the pan over to the Camden aluminum drive. In doing so the agent had to request a receipt signed in triplicate from police headquarters since that is the required procedure in disposing of any seized articles by the Secret Service.
Beginning at 7 p. m. approximately 300 Boy Scouts, veterans and volunteers, began their systematic house-to-house canvass delivering the pamphlets explaining the drive and requesting contributions. The same workers will return Thursday to pick up whatever aluminum the householders care to give.
Anyone may take his contributed articles to any one of the collection centers. From the nine centers the aluminum will be taken to Fifth and Arch streets where a large wire enclosed bin has been constructed.
Mayor Heads Group
Mayor George E. Brunner heads the campaign as honorary chairman and William C. Schriver is general chairman. Heading a group of World War veterans engaged in the effort is Edward J. Quinlan. The veterans laid out the nine districts of the city for the collections. The Scouts are directed in the drive by Scout Commissioner Thomas Norris.
Schriver reported last night when the workers called at many homes the housewives had already collected the old utensils and had them ready for collection piled in boxes. The workers told the residents, however, the donations would not be collected until Thursday.
The nationwide appeal for gifts of aluminum will end July 29. Similar drive plans have been made in every community in the county. In many municipalities, property owners have donated the use of vacant buildings as collection centers.
The Camden city districts, and those in charge of collection, are:
First district, firehouse, Fourth and Pine streets, Leo G. Stephans.
Second district, fire headquarters, Fifth and Arch, Sgt. Ray Smith and Fred Vogel.
Third district, Engine Company No. 3, 1800 Broadway, Eugene Conlin.
Fourth district, Engine Company No. 6, Front and Linden, Samuel Shapiro.
Fifth district, Engine Company No. 7, 1115 Kaighn, James H. O’Brien.
Sixth district, Engine Company No. 8, Sixth and Kaighn, Albert C. Becker.
Seventh district, Engine Company No. 9, Twenty-seventh and Federal, Roy C. Adams.
Eighth district, Engine Company No. 10, Ninth and Morgan, Burnell S. Hartman.
Ninth district, Engine Company No. 11, Twenty-seventh and Hayes, Michael Mungioli.
Mrs. Carrie R. Bean, past department president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary, and Mrs. Anne D. Spooner, president-elect of the Camden County American Legion auxiliaries, have appealed to members of all county auxiliary posts of both organizations to assist in collections.
4 Firemen Suspended By Melleby
Camden Courier-Post —
Four veteran members of the Camden Fire Department have been suspended by Harold Melleby, public safety director, on charges stemming from a fight July 21 at Engine Company 9, 27th and Federal Streets.
John Kolessar, an acting captain who was involved in the fight with fireman Peter Carbone, has been suspended for 15 days. He is currently on a three-month leave of absence without pay.
Kolessar pleaded guilty during a departmental disciplinary hearing to charges of conduct unbecoming a public employe, disorderly conduct and assault. No charges were lodged against Carbone.
Deputy Chief Frank Deal, who was acting in the position of Chief Edward V. Michalak who was on vacation when the incident occurred, was suspended for four days, beginning tomorrow. He was cited for neglect of duty, failure to report the fight to Melleby and failure to suspend one or both of the men involved.
Battalion Chief John Giuliano, who was acting deputy chief the day of the fight, and Capt. Robert Briggs, who was acting battalion chief, each received one-day suspensions which end at midnight tonight. They were disciplined for failure to enforce the rules, regulations and orders of the department.
Former Mayor Alfred R. Pierce, counsel for Deal, Giuliano and Briggs, said they have 20 days to file an appeal through Civil Service.
Busy 24 Hours in Camden NJ
620 Sycamore Street —
Camden Firefighters had a busy 24 hour tour starting on June 16th and ending on June 17th with four all hands fires and two second alarms all in the South Camden section of the city. The first job was a working fire in a row of two story dwellings in the 1200 block Morton Street. Later that day they had a working fire in the middle of a row of two story dwellings in the 700 block of Spruce Street, a few hours later in the am hours they were called to the 700 block of Cherry Street. First in companies found heavy fire showing in a large 3 story brick dwelling that put all companies to work within minutes; part of the structure collapsed and Battalion 1 called for a second alarm. A few minutes later while the fire was going another alarm came in for a working fire at 908 Haddon Avenue, about 6 blocks away.
As the companies were coming in they found another blaze a block away from the first job, in a row of 2 story dwellings at 903 Haddon Avenue. Fire Radio put in a Special call to Camden County Fire Units to respond into the City. Fire Companies from Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Westmont, Collingswood, Pennsauken Township were put to work fighting these blazes. By 4:30 AM all the fires were placed under control.
A few hours later firefighters were dispatched to 620 Sycamore Street for an explosion and fire with reports of people trapped. Engine 8 was first in with Captain Dan Baker. He reported he had the end of a row brick 2 story dwelling that had exploded and had numerous people injured and one victim still trapped on the collapsed second floor and he requested the Second Alarm to be transmitted. Rescue 1 was arriving with Captain Frank Sandrock and Battalion 1 Chief Daryl Lewison along with Squad 7 and Engine 1 and Ladder Companies 2 and 1 and Battalion Chief 2 Mike Dipascale on the second alarm with Engine Companies 6 and Engine 9, Ladder 3 and Special Operations Rescue unit and Car 3 with Deputy Chief Mike Harper and Chief of Department Joseph Marini in Car 1.
Firefighters could hear a female calling for help from the collapsed second floor. Firefighters went to work shoring up the collapsed building. Captain Sandrock of Rescue 1 was OPS Officer. About 30 minutes later firefighters were able to get to the badly injured woman. She had burns over 70 percent of her body. Rescue 1 firefighter Eli Hall was sent up the ladder to bring her down. Camden EMS removed her to Cooper Hospital Trauma.
Two other males were blown out of the second floor of the building onto the street and were taken to the hospital by Camden EMS. Two of the victims were admitted in critical condition. Car 3 Harper placed the assignment under control. The explosion is under investigation by the Camden Fire Marshal Office and Camden Police Arson Unit along with the ATF. Cherry Hill Twp Canteen Unit RIT team and Rehab Unit, and County Fire Police and Camden County Field Com units were Special called. This was a busy 24 hours with 4 all hands and 2 second alarm fires and a life saving rescue.
Story and Photo: Bob Bartosz
620 Sycamore Street — June 17, 2006
Camden NJ Working Fire Man Trapped on Roof
547 Pfeiffer Street —
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 — Camden Police 911 center and Camden County Fire Radio Center were receiving back to back calls for a dwelling fire on the 500 block of Pfeiffer Street in the East Camden section of the city, with reports of fire through the roof with a man trapped on the roof. A full box assignment was dispatched along with an extra engine company added to the box. Engine Company 9 was first in and reported they had heavy fire showing on the roof of a row of 8 two-story brick dwellings and were going in service. An 1¾” water line was taken to the roof. As it turned out, roofers were working on the roof and had set fire to it. About 25 feet was burning. The man that was reported trapped was a worker who could not get off the burning roof. Fire Fighters quickly had the fire knocked down as other Fire Fighters assisted the worker down another ladder. He was not injured. The blaze was placed under control in 15 minutes. The fire is being investigated by the Camden City Fire Marshal Office.
Story & Photos by Bob Bartosz
547 Pfeiffer Street — September 18, 2007
Photo 1: Fire Fighters from Engine 9 taking water line to roof
Photos 2 & 3: Fire Fighters from Ladder 3 putting up ladder to rescue man on roof
Photos 4 & 5: Fire Fighters helping man onto ladder
Photos 6 & 7: Man makes it safely to ground from burning roof
Engine Company 9
2010
Frank Bottalico, Ed Mendez, Bobby Eckert, Larry Buckingham, Juan Figeroa
Photo by Gabe Angemi, CFD
Credits
Many of the photographs on this website are from the limited edition book “Fire Department Camden NJ 125 Anniversary 1869–1994” and were taken by Department Photographer Bob Bartosz. Others are courtesy of Joel Bain of the Camden Fire Department.
$100,000 Fire Sweeps Store of Antrim Co.
Camden Courier-Post —
Several Firemen Hurt; Oil Plant and Homes Are Menaced
BLAZE WORST IN 18 MONTHS
Fire swept the wholesale store of Antrim Hardware Company, 1514 and 1516 Federal street last night, damaged the stock to the extent of $100,000, injured several firemen, menaced homes and the plant of the Standard Oil Company opposite. It was the first three-alarm fire in Camden since January, 1937.
One of the firemen, Ralph Bingaman, of Truck Company No. 1, was cut severely on the right hand and foot by falling glass and went to the Cooper Hospital. Another hoseman, Ray Smith, of headquarters, also was cut on the right hand but stuck to his fire fighting after his wounds were dressed.
Huge choking billows of smoke that rolled over the fighters balked them several times in their efforts to check the fire, but they remained at their posts and finally subdued the blaze after a battle of several hours.
Spread Rapidly
Chief John H. Lennox declared the fire started midway on the first floor from some unknown cause and spread so rapidly before its discovery efforts of the firemen were greatly hindered. Louis Gold, proprietor of the Federal Automobile Company, which adjoins the Antrim place, discovered the blaze and sent in an alarm at 7 p. m.
He then telephoned to Councilman E. Hulings Antrim, of Merchantville, treasurer of the concern, who raced to the fire, together with his mother, Mrs. Elwood Antrim, widow of the founder of the firm. Later B. Frank Antrim, president of the firm, arrived. The members of the family conferred and decided to reopen today their other store at Twenty-sixth and Federal streets, and to secure if possible an unoccupied floor of a chain store building to carry on the business. The stock, according to Antrim, was fully insured.
The firm was created on December 1, 1889, and had made arrangements to celebrate its golden anniversary. Mrs. Antrim, mother of the treasurer, stated she had half the anniversary number ready for publication “but the first fire we ever had has ruined all that now.”
Smashes Windows
When Gold, accompanied by his son, Marvin, discovered the fire, the latter smashed in two front windows on the first floor to permit the smoke to roll and and [sic] to prevent an explosion inside, he said. Meanwhile, Leroy Garrison, who lives at 50 South Twenty-fourth street, was driving past in his automobile.
He saw smoke rolling upward from the first floor and ran to the rear of the structure and threw open the door to permit the smoke to roll free at the rear.
Eight minutes after the first alarm was sounded Chief Lennox ordered a second, then a third at 7.33 p. m. Eight engines and two hook and ladder trucks responded and the fight began to keep the flames from spreading in the neighborhood. With the wind blowing north, the tanks of the oil company across the street seemed threatened, but the interior of the structure was bulked with two firewalls which held and gave the firemen a chance to get into action and beat down the flames.
Paint, chemicals and tar paper stored on the second floor made a dense, choking smoke that completely concelead [sic] the neighborhood and the hundreds of spectators that thronged the vicinity to watch the fire. Two tenants in nearby houses, Miss Agnes Mitchell and Mrs. Roy Dilks, 72, living in 1510 and 1508, respectively, were unaware of the fire right next door until the police sent them to safety.
Miss Mitchell said she was in the shed in the rear of her home and the first she heard of the fire was when a policeman ordered her to get out.
Refused to Leave
Mrs. Dilks, alone in the house at the time, refused to leave. She told the police she didn’t want to go, because the family had lived there but a month and her relatives were away. Finally she was urged to depart and did, finding refuge with Mrs. Albert Bowne, whose husband runs a printing shop a few doors below.
When Councilman Antrim arrived on the scene he attempted to rescue records of the firm which he said could never be replaced. Five times he entered the smoking building and five times he was turned back by the firemen.
Finally two firemen, Andrew Ballantine, who drives Chief Lennox, and Ladderman John Strauss, of Truck Company No. 4, forged their way through the dense smoke and retrieved the records.
Antrim fixed his damages from smoke and water at $100,000 which he said was the amount of stock in the building. Mrs. Antrim, his mother, stood under an umbrella near the burning building, and refused to go back.
“We’ll open tomorrow,” said the energetic woman, “and not let this bother us. This firm was created in 1889 when Hulings, my son, was four, and B. Frank Antrim, now president, and myself ran the businees [sic] and we’re not going to let this get us down, you bet.”
Antrim said he was the last person to leave the building at 5 p. m., and everything appeared to be all right then. The burglar alarm with which the building is equipped did not sound, so Antrim says no one could have entered the building after he departed.
Truck in Collision
Truck in Collision
After Engine Company No. 10 was sent home the apparatus was sideswiped by a traveling sandwich wagon, owned and driven by Emido Martelli, of 1315 Thurman street, at Eleventh street and Newton avenue.
Martelli’s wife and 25-months- old son were aboard the wagon at the time but none was injured. Police took Martelli to City Hall where he was asked for a statement as to the accident. According to the persons on the scene, Martelli was driving on Eleventh street when the engine came along Newton avenue, with its siren open.
The wagon driver did not seem to pay attention to the screams of the whistle and continued, the front of his car grazing the side of the apparatus.
When Engine Company No. 9, at Twenty-first and Federal streets, the first engine to respond to the alarm, reached the hydrant the firemen found an automobile parked there, and locked. They had to push the car out of the way, in order to get a hose to the hydrant.
Chief Lennox said the last time the department received a third alarm was when fire gutted the store of the McCrory Company at Broadway and Kaighn avenue.
Two Firemen Injured in East Camden While Fighting Grocery Blaze
Camden Courier-Post —
Two firemen were injured last night while combating a slight fire in a grocery store basement at 2401 River avenue.
Harry Leigh, 44, of 28 North Twenty-sixth street, suffered cuts over the right eye while descending stairs in a smoke-filled cellar to combat a fire in a defective oil burner, he said.
Albert Dukes, 44, of 3803 Westfield avenue, received cuts of the hand and a sprained ankle when he fell 12 feet from the roof. Both are hosemen attached to Engine Company No. 9 and were treated at West Jersey Hospital.
Leigh said one of the steps was broken and he did not see it on account of the smoke. Dukes was examining a chimney on the roof when he made a misstep and fell to the sidewalk.
The store is operated by Mrs. Elizabeth Savitz.