The evening world., 1909-02-24
twelve FIREMEN
ARE OVERCOME
BY GAS At FIRE
Fall Unconscious in Cellar
Fighting Flames Caused
by Explosion.
PLANK SAVES WOMEN.
Trapped on Tenement Roof,
They Slide 10 Safety
Work of Firebug'
PLANK SAVES WOMEN.

Twelve flremen breathed gas into the'l
lungs In flaming cellar OF a tenement
house at No. 3l3 First avenue at L3
o'clock this morning, and one by one
they fell unconscious with fire all about
. them. They would have perished hnt
/ not other fremen rushed into the thick
Of the smoke and gas to save them.
Policeman Schmidt, of the East Twen
ty-second street station. discovered the
fire when the cellar doors were belchine
forth smoke, He sounded an alarm
and then, with Policeman Hoffman. ran
Through the house. The families living
ON the four upper floors were aroused
and ordered to hurry to the roof The
+ Railways were so filed with smoke that
escape to the street by them was I'M
possible.
The families were not allowed to
dress, or save valuables or money. The
rain was falling in torrents, and as the
smoke came up through the house the
fifty or more persons on the roof were
panic stricken.
+ Slid Down a Plank.
One OF the policemen took plank
from the roof and ran 1t down to the
adjoining house. the roof OF which was
ten feet below. One after the other
men. women and children tobogganed
down the incline, and when the tlremen
came there were no tenants to rescue.
The men Of Engine No. s and Truck
No. 3 We're the first to arrive on the
scene. The ground floor Of the house
was occupied by Fishmann & Gottieib's
furnishing goods store. In the cellar
were packing boxes and large quantities
Of excelsior. The fire started in the
excelsior.
Acting under orders from Deputy
Chief Shay. the men Of the two COM
panies broke into the cellar and dived
down. They were getting the better Of
the flames, when there was terrific
explosion as Ihe heat broke the gas
meter.
Get out! Qui,k. Cas- shouted
Shay
Fell In Heap.
Some OF the men close to the street
door managed to reach the sidewalk,
but most Of them were in the rear OF
the cellar. AS they made a dash for
safety they began falling, and toppled
mo- 1r
heap,
Then came other tiremen. They VEN
tured down into the gas.filled cellar
and the rescue OF their companions was
begun. A tarpauln was spread on
the street under an awning, and a
temporary hospital was established.
The police came from the East TWEEN
ty-second street station. and while the
hremen worked in relays to hold the
tames In check, the police began artiti.
cial respiration on the firemen.
One OF the first Of the unconscious
men TO revive was Jim" Reilly, OF
Engine No. ). Before the policeman
could hold Slm back he was In the fire
lines second time, and a second time
he collapsed. Again he was revived,
and third time ne took his place
In the gas filled cellar. only to collapse.
His condition then was such tina. ne
was ordered taken to quarters in an am.
bulance.
Gas Pipes Melted.
The gas pipes all through the founda.
tion Of the burning house had melted
from heat, and the situation was becom.
ing alarming, when a man from the
Consolidated Gas Company came run.
ming up and shut off the gas supply on
the block.
This left the block In darkness, and
the smoke was so thick that the fire.
men could not see where 10 turn the!,
hose. After two hours work the flame.
were under control
How the fire started Is question
The f!remen say !; may nave been in.
cendlary and 1t ma not. Ar investign.
ton is being made by the Fire Mar
shall.