New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-10
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PARTS ogTHE CITY.
Great damage was caused by the gale Of wind
IN Brooklyn last evening" and by the explosion
at the sane time of two of the tanks Of the Cit-
xens' Gas Light Company, at Smith and f11tn
sts. Whether there was any direct connecton
between the high wind and the explosion is un-
certain, bat the main tank exploded at the momenb
when she wind struck 1t and the smaller tank fol-
lowed in few minutes.
The Citizens Company supplies the
aistrict of Brooklyn south of Atlantic-ave.. and
between the Gowanus Canal and the Bay. IL
Ii several years since it manufactured its own
was from Goa, for after the Fulton Municipal
Company intspduced the so-called water-gas.
whieh is manufactured as much less cost the
Citizens Company has supplied its customers
with gas procured from the Fulton company.
All the use madeof its plant was 10 store In the
tanks the daily npply for its territory Only
two or three mea were employed about the
place. The works cover the blocks
bounded by Snith, fifth and Inqueer sts. and the
Gowsnus canal
THE REPORT lDARD NILES AWAY
Al 7,te o'clock the main tank, with capacity
Of 10000 cubic feet OF gas, suddenly exploded
with conclusion which shook the ground for
many blocks, and was heard for miles. A sheet
Of nsae burst up from she ruins, and threatened
to sss fire to the, buildings opposite ana to the
adjoining tank. Ten minutes later this also
exploded and set fire "a two frame shsnties
opposite The first euplsston was the more
brilliant and filed the sky with great glow
But as soon as the oontens of the tank were
burned this subsidized
nrealarm summoned fouf engines and suc-
csssful attempt was made to save the second
tank from complete wreck and then the fremen
had 10 confne their efforts to the surrounding
shauties, which were saved from entire destruc-
ton The capacity of the three tanks was l,o0o,-
900 feet of gas, the larger one holding half this
quantity and the others each 25oooo fect. The
Fulton Municipal Company supplies the gas 1t
manufactures to all the other companies IN the
city save the Brooklyn, and their receiving tanks
are filed in the daytime, no gas being supplied
to them at night unless needed. The usual
supply was sent to the Citizens Company yester-
day, and when the tanks were filed the pressure
in them turned the ballcock in the supply main
and cut it OF.
ALL TIE LIGHTS WENT OUT.
: When the explosion occurred all the lights went
out in the district supplied by the Citizens Com
pany. The shopkeepers and owners of houses
made The best shift they could for an hour. and
at the end of that time the gas was turned on
again, connection being made with the mains
Of the Citizens Company by the Fulton Municipal
Company. The damage caused by the explosion
was variously estimated from $100. 900 % $780,
600. Thomas Burns, superintendent OF
the Citizens Company. would mse no.
"details OF tho damage. bus-from oersofis con-
versant with the gas business the following
estimates were gained: The two tanks destroyed
were worth $4,000. and the other machinery
at the place. which was not in use. was worth
about $50, 900. The gas burned cost the com
pany 81 cents a thousand feet, or s570, for the
million feet destroyed.
Considerable damage was done TO the tenement
houses nearby, but no person was seriously hurt
The windows and crockery were broken in all the
buildings for several blocks, causing losses amount
ing TO several hundred dollars.
The watchman at the gas works Michael Daily,
was in the outer part Of the gas works when
the explosion occurred, and ran ont and gave
THE FOREMAN RISKS HIS LIBE
Michael Mahoney, the foreman of the works,
Of iron Oh his head. He risked his life by going
on top Of the second tank and letting off the gas
The fremen had to rescue him from his perilous
position.
The experiences of several Of the residents
Of the neighborhood were somewhat startling
Fifth-st, opposite the first tank Mrs. Dugan
and her three sons live, and they
were startled by rumbling noise and then the
oud explosion. One of the occupants had Just
remarked. There comes the blizzard" when
The flames were seen, and they blew out the front
windows of the house. while the occupants had
At Ne. 13 South Fifth-st. John Mcvey and his
family live, and they had narrow escape. McVey
aid he heard the roar of the WIND and then, the
explosion Other residents of the region which
& called Slab City, had similar experiences.
John Hogan, of No. Ala Smith-st., was struck in
he head by piece Of iron and his head was cut
completely wrecked A panic was caused among
. number of people who had sought shelter from
the storm in Perrins drug store az No. 534 Court
H.. when the lights suddenly went out ana tney
'ushed pcllmell into the street
To many of the residents of South Brooklyn the
ound of the explosion resembIed that or an
and the people more remote from the
,cene thought it was sudden clap of thunder
the storm.
WRECKS ON ALL SIDES.
xeo scene Of the explosion was one OF complete
wreck The tall iron columns supporting the caps
If the tanks were shattered and strewn on the
ground, while on all sides were pieces of boiler
ron. The works of the gas company were put up
n $780, but had not been used for the manufacture
The wind storm did damage in other parts
II Brooklyn. At Platbush and Third aves., a
rame shed WAS blown down, while several per- |
'ons had sought shelter under II, and John Older !
md Theodore Wedermann were slightly hurt |
The window in the store Of Neil Clifford, at No. |
26 Conrtst, was broken by the wind or the ex-
2losion, and Mrs Susan Mason, Of No. 27o Eighth
IT,, who was employed there, had her leg cut by |
,rol1en glass. Two Of the large plate glass win
lows in Smith e. Grays new clothing
tore, ss Flstbush-aye. saass and FultSn-st,
enement houses in Dekalb-ave., near Raw |
nond-st, were unroofed The roof OF house
9 Canton-sf. and Myrtlc-ave was blown off and
odged in the top of tree. Roofs In many J
'ther parts Of the city were blown OH, and |
himney tops were toppled over. A brick fron.