The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-04-23
10000 GALLONS OF WATER
POURED AROUND NO. y,S FIRE
ENGINE HOUSE YESTERDAY.

ENGINE no USE YES1ERDAY.
bursting ofn Large Water Tank on Top
ofOnc Of the J. Gibb Smith Com mpamy's
Buildings-Fireman Huriey's Narrow
Escapo-Tortunatc That the Accident
Occurred on sunday-Damagc About
$500.
A large 10000 gallon water tank on
the roof Of one Of the lumber sheds Of
the ]. Glib Smith company on Water
street burst yesterday afternoon and for
a short time was the cause of consider
able excitement in that locality. The
shed or building on the top of which
the tank was located adjoins No. rs
engine house and the f1remen were
startled about l o'clock by hearing a
report like that of cannon and by
deluge of water which descended upon
the engine house and flooded the yard
Some thought of stories Of cloudbursts
of which they had heard, but none re-
membered to have heard that cloud
bursts We're accompanied by loud re-
ports. The fremen who were in the
house at the time rushed out to see
what the matter was and two who hap
pened to be out in the yard were won
dering If they had been struck by cy-
clone or the world was coming to an
end
Fireman Louis P. Aurley and Assist
ant Chief Perkins were the two in the
yard at the rear Of the engine house
when the accident occurred Hurley
stood close to the J. Gibb Smith COM
pany's building and Perkins was far
ther away. When the report came ap.
parently from over their heads both
looked up to see what it was and Hur-
ley tilted his head just in time to catch
the downpour in the face His clothes
We're drenched and standing in eight
inches Of water shivering from the cold
ness of the water and with alarm at
tie unexpected happening, the cause OF
which he had not vet grasped, he pre-
sented woebegone spectacle to his 4
brother firemen when they ran around
the corner of the engine house. 1t was
some time before he recovered his eqtia-
nimity. He was most fortunate in not
being closer to the tank building, since
he might have been serio,Islv II not
fatally injured had he been 80 clos.A ! J, IL
to catch the full force 81 the falitnr
water and debris Of the tank Mr. Per
kins stood far enough away so that he
caught only the outer edge of tf,e sheets
Of descending water
The tank was about twenty feet high
and fifteen feet IN diameter ii was
bound with fen one-eiphtb inct "A w o3
hoops and II is thought tbat thesa
hoops had become rusted and tharehv
weakened and inadeouate - hold hanir Vi
the enormous weight Of the 10000 gal-
Ions Of water, for the tank was full AZ Ii
the time. The tank was comnletelv
demolished nothing but the roof and the
iron frame work remaining after tbe
bursting BY the force of the water
some Of the blanks at the sides were
driven upwards SO that thew st,,c,x AT
from the TOP Of the frame
work while the other n1arla wora y
thrown over into the lumber ward ana
into the ward at the rear ~ +l,a angi,,a
house.
R. Charles D,ckarnan soorot.r,, !,
the ]. Gibbs smith connanv calIea 81
the companv's lumber vard aho,,t
O'Clock Yesterday afternoon tn Inol
over the extent Of The damaae ~ aaid
that the tank was built about s,iv vaars s
ago and was thought "a he n pood con-
dition. He said that the loss 1vonld
amount to S4oo or sboo Th. h,,,,dnca
are insured. but there will, ha a o,,astions
as to whether or not the Insurance VIII
,ovar lose of +h,s ohoroo+ar nv 4a.1-
was used to hold reserve SUNNY "a
water for ,se IL 90 90 of Arc
Lie lOTCe OF tine water ana debris OF