The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-13

Both the subway manholes at the corner ex-
ploded The subway on the east side holds
electric light wires. and contains six OF the
United States Companys cables. two OF which
were working. and two Of the Mount Morris
Company's cables both OF which were work.
ing. All Of these cables were burnt out. The
west side subway contained telephone and
telegraph wires. which. 80 far as are known,
we're not hurt by the explosion OF the manhole
on that side. Through the middle OF the east
manhole which Is opposite knoX's hat store,
and across the steam company's Fulton street
trench. run three gas mains. one twenty-inch
main belonging to the Mutual Company. and
one sixteen in ch and one siX-inch main belong
ing to the Consolidated Company. 1t was in
the trench four feet south OF this maphole that
the big gas jet burst forth. Through this
trench east and west runs six-inch main be-
longing to the Consolidated Company. making
four mains centred whore the Jet burst forth.
The New York Steam Company has been re-
placing Its Fulton street pipes with new ones
at Broadway. This necessitated the digging
OF deep trench under broadway. and the
laying bare OF most OF the eight gas mains at
that crossing. The steam pipes are laid below
the gas mains. Work was done at might, and
was carried on by the light OF kerosene Ian
terms. 1t had been known for several days
that there was leak In one OF the big mains
thus laid bare. At2H A. NJ. yesterday work
man stumbled over the big trench by Knox's
and dropDed his lantern on the gas
main. Instantly tire spurted out. and rose
several feet. burning the mans face eighty
the west side subway manhole. across Broad
way. shot of, with great noise. The paving
thrown for dozen feet in the air. and the iron
framework was forced several feet on, OF place.
slighter explosion at the east manhoe, close to
the blazing gas jet The paving stones we're
n asra RSs sent
zen rushed down to Engine 80 on Fulton street
with the news and foreman Cooney re-
Il was found that the joints OF the mains.
whore the mains passed through the east side
BY the explosion. and were blazing Hereby In
several places; 1t was apparent too that sew
fhe a@es enea and qutcHy desroyed tie
plankinR intended to cover the trench during
the day, and shot ten feet inward. The fire
but the water hid the break under a cloud OF
steam, while It could do nothing against an
short time the heat caused the brick wal OF
tho manhole. which was al that separated 1t
Es the ON to sds9 6S
were scattered about town to notify the gas.
steam. and subway companies. and Officials
c"mpanes could not shut OH the gas from the
mains. Tor the pipes we're 9 OF the old.fashioned
lesaened aud the flames were reduced to three
or four feet In height,
eneer Brdsa of the Pu b Torks Depart
Electrical Control and Co9misssIoner ,Gliroy
eN5 H. B b Mse' fa ana S4Sr
seope said s Rsv s cpd DO nRonk 1 until
flames we're stopped: SO the gas cc4Impany'S
wagon load of large Fubbnr lnps brought,
and gangs OF laborers tore up The streets
over all the mains which t ,E met at Thhee
rubber, bags, and tbon mi the bags with water
completely and dam the flow Of gas; But IT
was necessary 70 dam every one OF me eight
q each company connected with every other
OF the same company at the crossing. Ground
was broken on Hroadway a. pey street to stop
side Of Broadway, and again opposite tho Post
building, to stop the three mains on the east
the subway and trench. These ali had 10 be
damned again north OF the blaze. and to 90
st. fsSs ohSpel and i 10 four 0 paees n the
east, side, between Ann street and the blaze
IL Fulton street gOqnd broken in two
Pssss aSs ss %Si "R beat
pipes caused a great deal Of trouble all day
Pe tapped il, more than one place n several
ipstanees When the bags were inserted eEa ,l Into
sced d into hem BY he spene tn thew rer
auently softened when sWeled out against the
hot lining OF the pipes. AT the south curb Of
fuitSSh street 9st vest Of BE9adT tS this
solidated C9mpanys six-inch main and plug
NTHt ociack the fire had been sufficiently re-
duced to enable the Broadway cars TO run on
the east track. Since the middle of the fore
noon the cars had run on the down track, the
drivers leading their horses past the blaze,
About O'Clock the blaze was low enough to
permit OF earth being thrown oyer the pipes
principal jet, which seemed to spring from |
half dozen loose joints IN the several pipes In |
the trench. but still tho flames burned hotly |
around the pipes in the manhole.. These |
finally burned out about Q o'clock, whom the |
water-hag nlugs ~ the pipes above and below
The blaze attracted q large crowd OF people |
TO the srot all day. Early in the afternoon
the crowd became SO great that the police had
to shut off all travel on Broadway from Ann |
street to below the Post building.