New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-23
BLAZE THE PATENT OFFICE
CHEMICALS EXPLODE AND CAUSE a DAN
GEROUS FIRE.
THREE EMPLOYEES SEVERELY BURNED AND
MANY MARROW ESCAPES FROM DEATH

THREE EMPLOYEES SEVERELY BURNED AND
MANY NARROW ESCAPES FROM DEATH
RECORDS AND DRAWINGS DAMAGED
Washington. April 22--The United States Pat
enl ONCE was for the third time visited by fire to-
dav The scene Of the blaze was in ti." southwest
corner Of the basement in the Photographic blue
print room close to crowded public thorough
fare. AT about il5 O'Clock Mr.. Flint chief Of this
room vas pouring cthcr into five-gaon jugs
when the LIQUID exploded. and. running down the
floor came I'm contact with the stove and ignted
Mr. Flint was caught In the flames and severely
burned about the face. arms and shoulders. lie
was removed to drugstore across the street
where his wounds were dressed. and was then
taken to the Emergency Hospital
c. NJ Perkins a watchman, who ran into the
room to see what the trouble was. was also caught
in the flames and received painful burns clerk
named Garter was also severely burned MISS
Nevins in charge - the telephone INES IN the
building whose office is in the ADJOINING room
was overcome by smoke and tainted. but was car
red ont uninjurod 6y one Of the employees. Inc
room was filled with chemicals and explosives
which burned hercely and emitted vast volumes ol
smoke which caused hasty stampede OF the
numerous clerks employed in other portions OF the
building
The photograp piers and assistants had many
narrow escapes. as the explosives flew all about
tho room Resides Mr. Flint the chief. there were
in the room at the time Of the explosion MT
TheilkiI. j. 3 Wheat. jr.. J. +. Latimer ana Mt
Rlackage. assistants. Mr.. Theilkilrs story OF 'he
occurrence was that while Mr.. Flint was pouring
about five gallons # ether into bottle, the Dot
,l, fell t. the slate noor and broke. the contents
running about the place. He began sweeping II
toward the door. telling those about To be carei"I
,,i,h the lamps. etc. some OF the fluid reached
the stove. and there war an explosion, which was
ouiqklv followed by a second. with considerable
force blowing up about seventy-hve bottles MI
Flint was blown through the door. his head strk-
ing a mass Of papers piled in the hallway lie
arose. his clothing in blaze and rushed for the
area calling for help.
J. f. Wheat. jr. was standing near Mr. FINN ana
was also blown through the door. his hair aolaze
and clothing torn He received no permanent IN
iur,os and attended - Mr. Flint j. H. Lati'her
was blown through the open window on the avn. avn.
and was followed through the ADJOINING "lnun"
by Mr. Blackage. VINO was IN 'he da'"''''' '' ''''
MIR Thokn was blown acWss the room oy me me
first explosion and through M "lhdo" uy 'n
second His escape from injuries vas a I,Iil"tie
Ills apron VAC ON fire. MS head snged ms nat
blown into fragments and his coat torn III p,aee
stored IN the room We're eighteen galloIs ~ vi
,,li,, 200 gallons II ether and 100 pounds OF gun
cotton Of course. these ana every 'HH"S e''O ~
the room were destroyed.
Af,er half an hours hard work the iiremen ex-
,incuished the flames before they could spreai 10
,rn aiioining Offices The loss was about Slow
rrtr.inallv I'm photographic apparatus. Most OF
- rig,rol drawings were saved and Of those
d.sfrovcf a good many can be replaced NonS
.b. haus rea,. hy were stored number oi Mes
which c,utained records of the office ana other
napers. and many Of these were damased oy
water Bv 3 o'clock quiet was restored ABOUT uly ~,
-. fh. nan
-, vv,ra women who had rushed our OF the
buildlug resumed their work.
Publi. attention has frequently been cailed 10
danger :, human lie and public property ocea-
.iIned hv examination - explosives ana otheT
dangerous avocations AMI the storage of g&reat &
Quantities of chemicals In the Paien; once. ! ne
s, .. .,,~r.t the-. yvhi,h burned for twenty hours
ami DESTROYED the museum. making the entire re-
'.,rstru,,i5n - that portion of the Interior De
partm,nt building nee Ssaty.