New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-02
SHINES OF THE TROLLEY.
ICE OR PETROLEUM OR SOMETHING
BURNS WITH GREAT SPLENDOR.
ING OUT OF THE FOURTH AVE.

WONDERING CROWD WATCHES FLAMES POUR
ING OUT OF TIE FoURTH-AvE.
RAILWAY SLOT.
"Wel. tell yer what" said one OF the bystand-
ers the OLD cable Is better after ALL amt it?'
"Oh, dom, know" said another. did you ever
see cable give such a show as that?
you'd better stand back there" somebody else
shouted; IF she explodes the whole business will
go"
iii, Get out O. there. all O. yer!" shouted the
conductor.
as this Fourh-ave.?" said the fat woman not
yet moved.
IAN ont, Step lively" shouted the conductor.
"Ah say" said the messenger boy dis Is A
Fort-ave car. amt It? We amt just come down
town; ives just eon uptown Yves all right what
tell"
"AH out. Quick now" the conductor shou'ei
again: the cars on fire."
The, they did Get out and stood around in wonder
with several hundred members OF the volunteer fire
department who had collected to look at the
wonderful sight. 1t was not really the car that
vas on fire. II was the electric conduit The car
was a Fourth-ave. car. as the messenger boy had
correctly said. 1t had just reached the end OF the
Brooklyn Bridge The passengers had all got out.
and several OF a new set had got in to go uptown.
when the fire broke out in the conduit under the
forward truck, where the connection was made
between the and the wire. Bright flames mixed
with electric flashes were leapinS ana sHOotlns up
through the slot and licking the under side OF the
car it looked as If the company had lighted
tar barrel In the conduit. and trying 10 roast
the car on It's own forward truck as a gridiron
The ire looked as big as good-sized election
night bonfire.
Everybody seemed to think that an explosion was
imminent but that did not make anybody the more
willing to relinqI sh good place 10 see. W nat
Is TT" How did IL START
IFS the ice on the wire that makes H." some
body guessed.
The notion of a little coating of ice on wire
burning with all that rage did not suit the crowd
excited as 1t was. Il was In the car when 1t pc
gan said one 1T blew the car right up off
ne "oh i, it" it did. did IT. How high"
We'll not very high OF course pnt IL jumped up
any minute, and II it does It will blow the car high
enough" 5000
body else; ITS got crossed" ,, 49,. 49,
other explanation. but not much. But now the at
tention Of the crowd was diverted from eXplana-
flashes began to travel. The hottest place seemed
to be still under the forward truck of the car but
other end Of the car and to the end of the slot
which was about the length Of the car further. The
ard hckering VI through the slot die down again
IN an instant and repeat the operation at intervals
After a while somebody suggested moving the car.
IT was a39u own g a and P show
over "ENlry" shouted the newsooy; "all about
The Tribune reporter and several OF the other
hystanders got into another car and started up
town. you see said a man who sat next 70 Tho
Tribune reporter, there We're two positive cur
rents got together; that what was the matter"
ooh. yes" said the reporter. and what was 1t
that burningY'
they generate petroleum, and that makes the
flames"
This particular reporter does not NEEDLE with
scientific matters a rule. He knows his place,
But he has heard enough science In the last score
OF years not to be astonished at anything. and SO
this new way OF obtaining petroleum, though new
to him. was not a surprise.
Il can't exactly explain how II is" the man Of
science went on. "but. you It's Just like when
a fuse burns out. only the fuse is small that II
burns quickly but with this hig wire. down there
in the conduit. Il generates kind Of naphtha gas.
] never saw a street railway before but I've
il I'm other places. That one OF the things
that bothered them about the underground trolley
all along and hey thought that they had over
come 1t. but, you see. they haven't. Did you see
how the fire down 70 the end OF the slot? n
the slot had reached to the Battery the fire would
hav gone all the way"
The reporter I'D not feel that he understood II.
even yet, quite well as the pOns aslnorum. but
he admitted that. whatever the trouble was they
had mot vet