New-York tribune., 1903-05-22
uEN ROLLED ON GROUND
Shrieked in Pain srith Clothes Afre
-Women Tainted.

owned by Thomas D. Dewitt. a wholesale coal
dealer OF No. 80 Broaway, and living at No. 133
West Seventy-eighth-st.. exploded yesterday In
Farty-seventh-st., just west Of Third-ave.. and
nainflIly injured score or more persons On
account Of the excitement attending the acci-
dent and the fact that the only policeman there
81 the time was injured. the names OF ali those
injured were not obtainable.
The known injured are:
6aTaed a5o1f 5soe shoulders. Flower Hos
Ti;aI-
HARRIS, William J.. Engine No p; burned about face
KrHDREGAN. Harry. Engine No, 8: burned sbOu, head
lace hands removed 70 Flower Hospital ano later
FzorPE1. A. 5evreIler. Of No 7ee Third-sva: burned
aie- 5arHed about face hands and body Flower
a sS sS .ss ss Bss Bsss sss 5sRas ss7
MARTIN Peter Engine No 2I burned about face. neck
and hands; Flower Hospital.
- r3c5; ~ Inees f,lover Hospital and home
ooE J s BstI9a 9 bp4e st fdtSes sesy Sa49ed
from body; Flower Hospital
TONE Richard driver. of No. 1457 Amsterdam ave-
face and hands burned; home
Several windows in the New-Amsterdam Bank.
3; the northwest corner Of Forty-seventh-st-
and Third-ave, were broken by the force Of the
explosion, and the steps Of the elevated railroad
station at that point were set on fire.
The automobile was in charge Of John Seek
erson II. the employ Of Mr. Dewitt The ma
chine had been out Of repair, and Tho gasolene
tank leaked badly. Seckerson was told TO take
The machine from the coal depot at Forty
Flinth-st and the East River to a repair shop
He ran the machine west in Forty-ninth-st- to
Third-ave., and then south. At Forty-seFehth-
81. the machine worked badly. and he turned 1t
III I-ia ing o a
near the curb. and just outside Of the bark
He jumped from the machine and stopped
down 70 learn the cause OF the trouble. He saw
. 5et Of flame coming from the gasolene TANK
and 7lrlr ed back In minute the flame hao
-eac1ed the box. and the automobile was en-
veoped in fire
Toorey. who was near by. sounded an alarm
At the same time Vandenbergh, the 1anltor OF
the bank building, pushed the automobile out
into the middle Of the driveway. He was nearly
f,,,rned in doing so. DR.. Ramsdel, OF the fre
Jleuartnent says that the machine tleh
s4aT4ea forward. then backed. and pitched for
ward sgain.s Il finally came 10 standstili near
.he middle of the street When the firemen ar
rixaa Engine No. 21 stopped at a hydrant in
front of the bank building. Hand grenades
z.a-e tl,rovvr1 at the machine, hut they did not
o,tirg,,fsh the flames. The fremen then al
tac,ed 2 hose TO the engine and started to play
CT the burning machine
Three or four hundred persons had gatheres1'
and as the police reserves from the East F1Ity-
f5rst-st station had not arrived, they cro"oeo
n, close to the machine. The water had only
l.ser rlayirg on the burning autoTnophe aoOut
Two minutes when there was sudden pun OF
smoke and loud report. The gasoiene 'alih
had exploded. The burning fluid from the 'alh
scattered in all directions. and those in the
md
Of f.
-r,,,e1 had heen using his best endeavors 10
,a.-, the crowd back and was nearest to the
Machine The fluid went over his face ana
hands and set fire to his clothing. Many others
suffered in the same way, and the scene that
followed the explosion was pitiful A score ,, %
mon rolled on the ground and shrleheo VIZ. =
lin women tainted, and the fire was ioi
,-n,,,art forgotten The iremen dropped the
hose and running for their ruober coats aLu
hlankets. extingushed the flames In the ciothiiis
r- Parnsdell called two ambulances rom
Flower Hospital. and administered Wnal IT. ros ..e
conld 70 those who had been injured. lnooe
who had escaped harm helpeo u Ooii'
!nto stores and doorways - - .,o saroer
While excitement ran high one OF the nTenien ni
discovered that the steps es Q. 'e eTe Quickly ex-
finguished What remained or the au'oiii0O'
was also soused with water
when rbe arnbulances arrived the ponce re-
rsr-,ae bad lust appeared. The police had 10
force Z big crowd back TO give the surgeolls gns
room Those who were more seriously puiiIsu ne
were attended to first ano puhuieG iIeT Ir9,r;ne
e~h,,lancee The others had their injuries
dressed and went home Although only zen
cases were reported. the doctors oresSeu te ~
7uries of over twenty-five persons OIheis W
fbeir injuries dressed in drug stores
INCH has a stand under the elevated s, sIatIo,
s4er,s Some one In passing knocked seseia a. a.
$50 sl-lLs =. -,e ground and Lynch went outside 10
Ticlx them up, thus getting in the pain OF 'he
flaming oil - ,.-ya NJ
Seckerson was later locked UP on d ClieAi 6S g.. -
,-.-...aI -,aei;oence The policeman found MIN
talking with Mr. De Witt. The latter ~ent ~ 70
- e-stto1 and endeavored to have the charSe
thdrawn.