The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-24
MAN TRAPPED
BY EXPLOSION,
SAVES HIMSELF
Torch Bursts in Colorado
Building Furnace and.
Flames Spread.

Trapped In the fre-box OF the big
furnace In the Colorado building. James
Callan. who was employed in preparing
the machinery for winter use, had a
narrow escape from death this morning
when a gasoIene torch exploded few
feet In front of the opening.
CaIan was in the rear Of the great
iron box when deafening crash oc-
Cured. followed by great volumes Of
dense black smoke which poured into
The furnace. partially binding the man
Reaches Coal Bin.
Though nearly suffocated. Callan
fought his way through the flames to
a coal bin under the Fourteenth street
side OF the building which had been re-
Gently filled.
Scrambling frantically to the top Of
the coal pile. he managed to force open
the trap door OF the manhole through
which the coal is shot into the cellar.
Even after this was accomplished Callan
found himself al most too weak to crawl
out to the sidewalk. where he sank ex-
hausted. He was more badly frightened.
however. than hurt.
Fire Alarm Turned In.
IN the meantime not knowing OF the
struggle which Canan was having Jdni-
tor Smith ran 10 Box Isl, at the corner
OF Fourteenth and streets, and turned
in the fre-alarm. while John Jessop.
chief engineer Of the building, caught
up a large piece OF felt cloth. which
lay near and ran 70 the scene of the VX-
plOsion. Realizing what might ensue If
the blaze was allowed 10 gain the least
Roadway in the direction Of the paint
room, which is located under the pave
ment on the 9 street side. and where
several gallons Of highly explosive oils
were stored, JeSSOp. regardless OF severe
burns which the angry flames inflicted
on his hands and arms, gradually beat
tho blaze down
BY the time the Fire Department ar
rived nothing remained except few
smOldering flames.
Occupants Alarmed.
D" At this point the oflicenoIders. VINO
had known nothing OF the accident. got
the odoT of burning wood, and when
those on the top floor on the side fac
Ing Thirteenth street saw clouds Of
smoke coming up through the elevator
shafts and pouring into their rooms they
dashed out into the Railways and made
for the elevators. Though they were
badly frightened. it was found thai
none was hurt when hurried roll call
was made Of the excited groups which
stood in the lower hall and on the G
street sidewalk. Many occupants OF the
suites in the building not knowing
where the fire was and bearing the
fire bells rushed TO the windows ant
Veered into the street
curious phase of the blaze was TIT
turn the flames took after igniting the
cellulOid collar which was fastened or
the shirt Of Jesse jenkins. a painter
Jenkins shirt with collar and tie at
tached happened 30 be on the table or
which the gasOlene torch sat. and II
was a great surprise TO the man q
find, after the excitement had Gained
down, that although the collar and tit
had been burnt to a crisp. the shirt had
been but slightly scOrched near the
band G Sproesser, another painter
whose street clothes had been piled
near jenkins shirt found that nothing
had been touched by the flames. No
two feet away from where his clothe.
lay, a table with an excelsior GOVERNS
had been ruined.
Thomas Z. Wickersham. the superin
tendent, says that the damage done wal
so slight that It is not worthy of Civ
ing an estimate
The gasolene torch which exploded was
one generally used by plumbers In melt
ing lead, and was standing on a table
about three feet in front OF the furnac,
in which Callan was working. VIVA
caused the explosion cannot be learned