The Washington times., 1907-04-08
Big New York Traction
Plant Is Totally
Destroyed.
falling Walls of Gauge
House Crush Fire
Fighters.
Three Hundred and Fifty
Trolley Cars Are
Demolished.

NEW YORK. April SIN a desperate
and hopeless battle to save the big plant
OF the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company and dozen big apartment
buildings In the neighborhood early to-
day, one fire captain lost his life. a
fireman was fatally hurt, and thirteen
men were injured. The big power plant
and car barns were almost completely
demolished and $50 cars were destroyed.
The loss IS put at s2,O00,0oo.
A series OF terrific explosions accom-
panied gae fire. in one Of these the
walls OF the building were blown out
and six men were buried beneath tons
OF brick. one OF them losing his life.
The Dead and Injured.
The dead:
John Ryan, captain OF engine COM
pany No. 50. crushed by falling wall
and died as last rites were being ad-
ministered to him BY the Rev. Father
Charles Molloy. Ryan was sixty years
old. a wicOwer He had been connected
with the ire department for thirty-seyen
years.
Fatally injured:
Frederick ;. Leopold. Of engine com
Heights Hospital IN a dying condition.
The injured.
John Connors, fireman OF engine COM
panv No. SO, scalp wound.
John RoXbury Of engine company No.
so. severely bruised
James Z. C0akley, Of engine company
NO. 50. cut about the head ana severely
John Nccron. Of engine company No.
50 severe bruises.
Thomas Larkin, deputy nre cniet,
shocked by coming in contact with third
Fieht bremen. shocked by coming in
contact with third rail.
TONY Mosia. tWenty-siX years Old, car
inspector. caught under the falling
walls and skull fractured also inter-
nally injured: taken 70 Washington
Heights Hospital. may die.
O'Connor, battalion chief. struck on
head by falling beam, severe scalp
wound.
Manager Roots Statement.
THE total loss VIII amount to at least
g Oo0 600 In rolling stock alone we have
lost s.. 10000"
Such was the first statement made by
General Manager oren Root when he
arrived st the scene of che fire this
morning. 1--WE have lost $50 cars" said
Mr. Root This must OF necessity IN
convenience though not cripple, the ser
vice In our equipment We nave cars
enough. but we shall be forced from
now on 20 run open cars instead OF com
bina1ion cars, as is usual at this time
of the year
IN regard to the machinery and dy-
namos, * will be impossible 10 estimate
the damage until more thorough ex-
animation can be made"
A workman IN the gauge-house first
discovered the flames. It is believed
that they were caused by short cir
cult An alarm was turned in, but be-
fore a warming could be spread around
the plant there was an explosion in the
boiler room and wall toppled over.
Night Engineer James E Hopkins and
three men narrowly escaped being
buried.
Crushed Under Walls.
Engine company No. 50 was the next
to reach the scene. It was the members
Of this company who met with the IA
talities and injuries. They proceeded
around to 146th street and made their
way to the rear OF the machine shops.
While they were at work from that
point there was an explosion and the
walls OF the gadge-hOuse collapsed
burying Captain Ryan and Leopold.
With the first crash of the walls there
was a general stampede Of the firemen.
Then a roll call was held. and it was
found that Captain Ryan and Leopold
were missing.
Firemen McCron and Connors man
aged TO drag Ryan and Leopold from
beneath the debris and as they reached
the street the Rev. Father Molloy ap-
peared. While he was administering
the last rites OF the church to Ryan the
brave captain died.