New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-18
GAS IMPERILS THOUSANDS.
MT. VERNON'S BAD SCARE.
Current off Ten Minutes at Night,
Then On-ChurCh Bells TolIed.

An accident befell the Westchester Lighting
Company. which furnishes gas to the people of
Mount Vernon and Pelham, last night. and
result the gas in both places went out for ten
mi:.utes. then started up again. pouring out its
poisonous fumes in the homes when many per
sons were asleep.
1t was feared that there might be great loss of
life as a result Of this accident. which happened
shortly after 10 O'Clock.
The entire Police Department turned into
a rescung party. and began a house to house
canvas, arousing the people. who might have
been asleep when the accident occurred. Ser
geant Grant had Chief Angevine. OF the Fire
Department. order the fire whistles to be blown
and the fire bells rung TO help arouse those who
might be heavy sleepers
Mount Vernon is city OF twenty-five thou
sand population. and most Of the people retire
early Sunday evening. The city covers
dozen square miles and il was thought 1t would
be almost impossible to reach every one before
morning Church bells tolled to help
spread the news.
The New-York Telephone Company joined in
the work of rescue and devoted all its efforts
10 informing it's subscribers to get up and turn
their gas of. and TO tell their neighbors OF the
accident. Citizens Joined I'm the work. and be-
gan running from house to house. warning peo-
pie. Mayor Brush. when he learned Of the
trouble. ordered a general fire alarm. and all
the hose engines and hook and ladder COM
panies started pstroillng the streets.
CHIEF MAIN BURST.
Little information could be obtained early this
morning from the westchester Lighting Com
pany. the employees greatly excited. but
it was learned that the accident caused by
a bursting of the chief main. in Pelham. lead
ing from the works in Eastchester TO Mount
Vernon. This is the outskirts Of the city.
bout four miles from the business district
Reports from a number Of people who woke
up just in time to smell gas escaping in their
homes began early this morning 10 reach the
police. Mrs. William II. Martens. wife OF one
Of the wealthiest residents of the city, tele-
phoned Sergeant Grant that she woke up and
found the house filed with gas. The family of
Albert Buckley also nearly overcome. Sew
erai other families were reported by policemen
to have narrowly escaped asphyxiatlon.
President Frank A. Stratton os the West
chester Lighting Company said at midnight
that he had not heard OF a single case OF as
phyxiatio1 and did not think there had been
any. He said that the company had it's twenty
five employees out in Mount Vernon and Pei
ham with route books showing the location OF
every meter and subscriber. and that the men
were telling subscribers rapidly possible
to shut off the gas. The company has cut off
the gas supply, and Mr.. Stratton says 1t will
not be turned until noon to-day, TO pre-
clude all possibility of danger.
About five years ago. when the East Chester
Lighting Company furnished gas to Mount Yer
non an accident happened at night. which
caused poisonous fumes to be sent through the
pipes to the consumers. and made nearly a
hundred people extremely I'll. Mass meetings
held at the time. and the gas company
was denounced. Since that time the plant has
changed hands, and no other accidents have
occurred until the one of last night.
Later Mr.. Stratton made this announcement:
The accident was caused by the breaking of
one of the big valves near the Seventh have. sup
ply station. This caused the gas to go off for
about two minutes. which put out many OF ths
lights I'm the city. When we found that the
break serious Immediately off all
the gas In Mount Vernon and Pelham and sent
men out to warn consumers.
The accident one which could not be
ticipated or avoided and due I'm manner
its employees. / am satisfied that what little gar
Is in the pipes Is not now sufficient TO harm any
one; still. every precaution known to the COM
pany. is being employed.
The accident VIII cause especial inconvenience
to people who gas for fuel,