New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-11
WRECKED BY THE STORM.
HOW BROOKLYN BUILDINGS SUFFERED.
THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE GAS EXPLOSION
DAMAGES AT THE NAVY YARD
AND ELSEWHERE.

THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE GAS EAPLoS1oN
DAMAGES AT THE NAVY YARD
AND ELSEWHERE.
The explosion of the gas holders OF inc .i''1ens
0sslight Company, In South Brooklyn, on weonesuas
evening was due to the gale OF wind, as repor'eu IA
Tho Tribune yesterday. terrific WIND storm from
the southwest swept up from the bay ana through
the low part OF the city along the 0o"shus oansi
from Red Hook Point The first large s'rucsurc
IN ,ts path was the gas works, at Smith and Fifth
ss II Is supposed that the force OF the WHO s"aSou
the huge main gasometer and caused the rlvets oi
oue side TO part and tails permitted the gas 10 escape
AS It was gas made by tho naphtha process IL was
exceedingly explosive, and either contact WIN
light or shark caused by the friction OF the broheh
from plates and the stone foundation caused the
tn6amn,abe mixture OF gas and air to explode WIN
tremendous force blowing the holder into pieces.
Before the flame extended to the second tank inc
ras was let or by Michael Maloney ana INC ooVo'
descended into the pit at the bottom OF the
and no damage was done to 1t. But before inc
third holder could be treated In hke manner :" GA
poded but not with so great force as the frst one,
as Il was only half as large. The main tank was iio
feet IN diameter and so feet high anu hoiu ma,
a million feet Of gas. The loss 10 uc ei"1ons
f,ompany was about 100000 Their customers "cio
suupIed last evening by the Fulton Municipal coin-
pany, from which the Citizens company Las W
tanned its gas for several years. the naphths OF "af
no. % s,nn,lcs be,ne much cheaper than coal gas
The Iosscs ale mainly covered by Insurance. the
policies being written TO cover explosions Inc W.
iamsburg Fire Insurance Company refused few Yeas
ago to renew It's policies against fire for the CiuScn'
Coropany because explosions were inciuocu -"'
risks will prove almost total loss from Wedncsuss
nights accident The losses of the residents n7se
tho gas works from the explosion and nre amount %
about $1,000.
After the damage Of the Gas works the VIM s'or'"
swept directly across the city In noheasters aliec
tIon doing considerable damage at various points
untl Il reached the Navy Yard where loss OF about
"a 500 was caused by the unioollne OF portion VI
the Marine Barracks After leaving the Navy Var"
the wind gust passed ND the East River ana spent
Its force hsrmlessly
The track of the storm was narrow and Its force
was not great enough seriously to harm the suestan
tally built houses Ia the track But the scores OF
minor losses reported aggregate about $4,000 The
largest Of these was loss OF u 900 In the new ouiia
ing of smith Gray & Co.. at flatbushssyo anil
Tuitonst where the unconpleted upper portion was
10 the roofs Of the fats at Nos. 40 and l8l
nile Ia DIST nearly all The roo OF me oia 1cr'ra
piesty tcrian Church. "a Schermefhoin-st, no"
primary scnpoi, piown oil 49,, .,....
The only serious accident caused py the piS ~
Mrs Frederick. al No. p Ft,-st,. oppsle no
works yesterday morning, from flight and the i1haia,
ton OF gas which filled the houss at ths time u .nc
cxplnson The mother carried The child In ner arms
lid not return to home With Il for several hours
The exposure and the conditions 10 wnicn ~ was
subjected brought convulsons and caused It's oeah
1t was only few weeks old.