Newark's Multiple Alarm Fires Of 1898

PASSAIC STREET STABLE GUTTED

March 29 - Tuesday
At 23:48 hours, an alarm was turned in from Box 435, at Clark and Passaic Streets. On arrival, firefighters found a stable on Passaic Street heavily involved in fire. With the blaze threatening to spread to nearby exposures, a second alarm was struck.

BLACKSMITH SHOP DAMAGED

The arrow and red cross indicate the fire building. Broad Street is at the bottom of the map and Belle-
ville Avenue runs to the upper right.

May 6 - Friday
An alarm from Box 423, at Broad Street and Belleville Avenue (Broadway), at 10:55 hours, brought Newark’s Bravest on the run. On arrival, they found a working fire in Thomas Wolfe’s blacksmith shop. The large, frame structure sat on the point of the intersection, occupying 1-15 Belleville Avenue and 325-31 Broad Street. The size of the building, along with its proximity to exposures, prompted the sounding of a second alarm.

LEATHER FACTORY ABLAZE

May 24 - Tuesday
At 22:36 hours, an alarm was turned in from Box 624, at Camden Street and Bank Street (12th Avenue), for a fire involving Schaeffer’s leather factory. The blaze went to a second alarm.

MULLIN CENTRAL STABLE HEAVILY DAMAGED

The arrow points to the fire building. Note the attached brick structures to the north and the close expo-
sures to the south. Market Street is at the top of the map.

June 6 - Monday
At 21:31 hours, firefighters responding to an alarm from Box 24, at Market and Washington Streets, found a working fire in the Mullin Central Stable, at 261-65 Washington Street, opposite Camfield Court. The brick structure, measuring 60-by-70 feet, was well involved on their arrival.

The stable was attached to three brick buildings to the north, and was separated from large brick and frame structure to the south by only a narrow alleyway. This, along with the hazardous nature of the building, prompted a second alarm to be struck to help contain the blaze and bring it under control.

The stable was owned by the Mullin family, who operated a morgue and undertaking establishment at 91 Lafayette Street, at Columbia Street.

FATAL CELLULOID EXPLOSION RIPS IRONBOUND

The above map shows the massive complex of The Celluloid Company, which was the scene of many di-
sasters and spectacular fires over the years. Ferry Street is seen running diagonally at upper left, with the
quarters of Engine 8 at the corner of Fillmore Street. Darcy Street is the gray-colored street at lower right.
The yellow buildings along Magazine, Darcy and Westcott Streets are the frame dwellings that caught fire
after the massive explosion.

September 4 - Sunday
At 23:30 hours, a massive explosion occurred in the converting department, which was located in a large building of the Newark Celluloid Co. complex, at Ferry and Westcott Streets. As the force of the blast lifted the roof off the building, streamers of flaming celluloid, and a torrent of flaming oil, rained down on the neighborhood of mostly two, three, and four-story frame dwellings, setting fire to 28 of them over Ashbridge, Darcy, and Magazine Streets. A general-alarm was rung in, bringing the entire fire department to the scene. In addition, a general call was put out for all available ambulances and police patrol wagons to transport numerous people who were burned to hospitals.

A total of 40 people, all residents of the surrounding houses, and most of who were employees of the celluloid firm, were burned, including men, women and children. Many suffered burns to their faces, heads, and bodies as they fled from their flaming homes. Most of the victims were taken to City, Saint Michael’s, the German, and Saint Barnabas Hospitals for treatment, while others were tended to by neighbors. Four were listed in serious condition.

Two days later, Henrietta Bauer, 12, of 49 Darcy Street, died in Saint Michael’s Hospital; and May Fusella, 2, of 94 Darcy Street, died in the German Hospital. The father of Henrietta, Tobias Bauer, 54, who was also in Saint Michael’s Hospital, was in critical condition with burns to his body, head, and face, and was not expected to live. His wife, Rosina, was also in the same hospital, suffering from burns, while their 16-year-old daughter, Isabella, was in the German Hospital, also being treated for burns. The mother and father of May Fusella were also in the German Hospital being treated for burns about the body.

A baby had been removed from the scene and taken to City Hospital because her parents could not be found. She was identified two days later as Mamie Obermeyer, the daughter of Mrs. Sofia Obermeyer of 63 Magazine Street. She was in City Hospital being treated for burns to her legs and face, but was not seriously injured.

Watchmen said that all they saw was a sudden burst of flame, and the fire jumped from floor to floor with such rapidity that they barely had time to escape.

Newark’s Bravest had the blaze under control by 02:00 hours, but it continued to burn until 05:00. The cause of the fire was attributed to spontaneous combustion. Losses were estimated at $200,000, which would be equal to $5.4 million in 2008.

ACADEMY STREET  SASH FACTORY DAMAGED

The large arrow at upper center points to the Wightman Sash & Blind Co., while the smaller arrow at the
center indicates Newark Fire Headquarters. The green cross marks the site of the Phoenix Lock Works.

October 16 - Sunday
During the course of the day, three fires were started in the three-story frame Wightman’s Sash & Blind Co., located 37-43 Academy Street, at Halsey Street, by sparks being blown toward the building from the chimney of the adjoining Phoenix Lock Works, which sat on Halsey Street, at the Morris Canal. The fires were quickly extinguished before any serious damage was done.

At 17:43 hours, an alarm from Box 213, at Academy and Halsey Streets, brought Newark’s Bravest to the scene for a fourth time. This time, however, the fire had gained good headway before being discovered, resulting in a second alarm being struck.

Firefighters had a tough fight and managed to extinguish the blaze in the 90-by-100-foot structure before it destroyed the plant. Damages were set at $5,000, which equates to $133,895 in 2008.

Captain James A. Johnston, of Engine 2, was seriously injured when he fell from the roof of a one-story building adjoining the sash factory.

The Wightman establishment sat directly opposite Fire Headquarters.

FIRE PANICS 400 IN LEATHER FACTORY

The arrow points to the fire building.

December 20 - Tuesday
A fire broke out in the drying room of the three-story Chrome Patent Leather Co., at Avenue A and Murray Street, causing a panic among the 400 employees working in the plant at the time.

As the fire began to rapidly spread throughout the 250-square-foot building, more than 100 women ran over each other in a mad, screaming frenzy to flee the flames. Several were knocked down and suffered severe bruising, while others fainted and had to be carried from the building.

Many of the 300 men working on the upper floors wanted to jump from windows, but others prevented them from doing so and led them safely to the exits. The mad frenzy attracted a large crowd, and fostered the belief that many persons had burned to death in the building.

At 16:20 hours, Newark’s Bravest turned out to an alarm from Box 525, on Avenue C, between Murray and Harper Streets. The large crowd hampered firefighters in getting through and police had to clear the way, experiencing great difficulty in doing so. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had gained great headway and little could be done to save the building, which eventually burned to the ground.

Fire losses were placed at $200,000, equal to $5.4 million in 2008.