The sun., 1909-02-15
WALL FELL ON FIVE RIREMHN
STIFF GRAHAM, TERRIBLY
UUPT. LIKELY TO DIE.
The others All Badly Injured Too-Des
perate Ftsht WITH Biszs In Pratt OIL
Works. Wilfamsours Rescued
From Ruins in Smoke and Darkness.

perate Fight WITH BIazs IN Pratt OH
Works, wrnamsburE-Men Rescued
From Ruins in Smoke and Darkness.
Battalion Chief Michael E. c. Graham
and Ave other firemen were very badly
hurt az Are In the gasolene section Of
the Pratt oil works at the foot OF North
Twelfth street. on the East River. Will
ismsburg. shortly after 10 O'Clock last
night 1t is feared that the chiefs back
il broken, and both OF his legs are 30 badly
injured that amputation may be neces-
sary.
Just how the fire started is not known,
but little after 10 O'Clock watchman
saw flames coming from the packing
bouse where the gasolene is put into
small tanks for shipment. An alarm was
turned in at once and the firemen saw
on their arrival that they had a tough
job before them. Chief Lally. who is in
charge OF the entire Brooklyn fire depart
ment. ordered additional alarms sent
anu lncSt tHt HfbDOdtS
A. Boody and Seth Low TO the scene
The buildings where the fire started
we're near long pier on which there
we're also thousands Of gallons Of packed
gasolene waiting shipment On the eost
side Of the burning building were situated
number Of large tanks Of gasolene apd
on the west side more gasolere tanks.
The fremen saw that the problem was 10
keep the fire from spreading to these
tanks and also TO keep the burning gaso-
bene from the water where. it might have
spread and done much damage to vessels
tied up at adjoining wharfs.
Chief Lally ordered Graham and four
men from Truck So to get on the roof Of
low building which forms a sort Of link
between the two main houses where the |
gasolene is stored and thus try to break
the course Of the fire. Graham and his |
men succeeded In getting on this roof
in the face Of almost insurmountable |
difficulties. as the heat was intense While |
Tie men we're on the roof Graham felt |
the walls Of the little building quiver and
at once ordered his men Oh.
She's coming down, boys; run for
IT, he shouted
Lieut.. Conley Of Truck 50 and another
fireman ran to the base OF the wall and
threw up ladder to the men. But Just
as they were about to step on n the roof
fell in with the Ave men. At this same
time. without any warning. the walls of
the big building on the east side gave way
Eith an explosion like q cannon and came
down in pile on the s men and the smaller
building. Conley was also caught and
thrown into the river. where he was picked
up by a crew from the hreboat Boody,
The other fireman who was holding the
ladder was only slightly hurt. Both men
we're hurried to st. GATHERINGS Hospital.
Meanwhile the five men buried with
The wreck OF the small building were
sven up for lost by their comrades.
Chief Lally, however. called for vohn-
'eers and sent them into the ruins to try
ana get the bodies out. After half an
hours work the rescue crew managed
TO get hold OF the first man and dragged
him TO the open. II was short work then
TO reach the others. All were still breath
ing and they were at once hurried to
'he Eastern District Hospital.
Al the hospital it was found that Graham
was In terrible condition. A SUPER q
fetal examination OF the fireman showed ,
that his hack was probably broken and {
I nat bis legs were so badly crushed by ]
The mass Of brick that had come down Z
on him that only amputstion could give q
MN chance Of life. Even then. the
doctors said, it was hardly possible Nr q
him to survive his injuries.
The other injured men all had internal I
injuries and were all in pretty bad shape Q
Ihe men hurt are George Walsh of 6ss
evergreen avenue. Charles +. Hide
orandt OF S3l Monroe avenue. Frank J.
moore OF a2s keap street and Nicholas j. u
Aullaney Of lss Engert avenue.
htl O'Clock this morning the fire reached D
a large lumber pile. which burned iercely.
oN the firemen felt certain that they had I
Inings in such shape that its spread TO u
,ne ,ne gasolene tanks was not probable. II
" "hatever oil had been in the tanks was n
Oy mat time drawn of through pipes to a
o'ssVllle, anyway. d
ohe OF the worst conditions that the n
y rnremen had to contend with was the fac
'i'A' no engine company in the Williams u
0Hs district is equipped with a search - -
'sii, ana II was necessary for the men to -
NorA IN absolute darkness and feel their a a
way around. A heavy pail Of smoke IL
rom the burning oil added to the difficulty. r.
Al'er the freboats got on the job, however
small feet Of Standard Oil tugs joined y
Of these ehadpowerfullight d.
1moh helped out the two searchlights 70
mat we're finally brought from Brooklyn.
u was in the darkness that the walls fell u
-pon the firemen.
ihe officials OF the Pratt works were
Io' able TO place any estimate on the
IAmage last night. but the firemen esti- "
mated that IL would not be less than ei
'""o The fire was reported under =,
ontfol shortly before o'clock this morn
as and the freboats left the scene. b,