The sun., 1909-05-25
AUTO BURNS IN BROADWAY
MRS. JOHN HANAN CARRIED
FROM HER FLAMING CAR

BY Policeman wadins in Burning Case.
Iene Unpent by CollisIon in Trafic
jam Near the Metropolitan Opera
House-IIer Husband Also Escapes.
The automobile OF John H. Hanan. the
shoe manufacturer. in which Mr.. and Mrs
Hanan were going to the Metropolitan
Opera House to attend the Lambs Gambol.
was rammed by another automobile and
set on fire on Broadway at Forty-frst
street last night. An active and clear
headed traffic policeman got Mrs. Hanan
out of the car unharmed by tho flames.
Mr.. and Mrs Hanan. who were the only
koccupants Of their limousine car, with tn,
exception OF their chauffeur Charles J
Madison. were unaware that the rear OF
their car WAS in flames until Policeman
Flood opsned the door and advis,d a
hasty exit, Mr.. Hanan complied as
quickly as he could, and when Flood saw
that Mrs. Hanan was leaning back in tn,
oushions either too frightened to NOV,
or feeling that she was safe ami ais,
noted that river of burning gasolen,
was running underneath the steps OF thu
car he jumped inside.
Wrap your skirts about you as tightly
as you can. madam. and you'll get out all
right said Flood. -.
Mrs. Hanan did 80 and Flood lifted her
out of the automobile. stepped into the
burning gasolene and carried her to ths
sidewalk. His trousers we're singed.
The accident occurred about 3 o'clock.
just when the up and down tides Of traffic
we're causing congestion at Forty-first
street and Broadway that the policemen
we're having difficulty in Strengthening
out. There was mora than the usual
number of carriages and automobiles
because Of the Lambs Club show.
The Hanan car had come from the
Hotel Belmont. where Mr.. and Mrs. Hanan
live, and had just turned into Broadway
from Forty-second street when it got
into the terrific jam. Madison, the
| driver, ran along slowly behind the south
bound vehicles until at Forty-first street
he had to come to stop at the northwest
| corner.
The stop was too sudden for a touring
car right behind which was driven by
James French and is owned by the Ameri-
can Locomotive Company of Sixty
second street and Broadway. Frenchs
car didn't bump the Hanan auto very hard,
but hit it with just enough force to punc-
ture the gasolene tank and smash one Of
the tail lights. .-- .. ...,,
rThe gasolene from Mr.. Hanan's so
horsepower car flowed out through an
inch hole. ienited from the broken lamp
and started down the moline Of the street
at that point, burning as 1t went. The
flames also shot upward from the tank.
envelopins the rear Of the Hanan car.
There was a frantic rush Of vehicles
to get out Of the way Of the burning oil
Most pedestrians too moved without
any urging, for it was expected that
the gasolene tank would burst and scatter
flames all over the neighborhood. TIL,
contents of the tank all ran out.
Some one who didn't lose his head
called for help and pushed the touring
Hanan car to save it.
TOllCefIldu heuCh Oh tne WcSt L mir
tieth street station ran up when he sas
the flames and turned in a fire alarn!
The apparatus, with water tower an!
Chief Croker. got there quickly, but ~
that time the burning gasolene was sea-,
tered over such an area that it had burue.!
itself out.
The Hanan car was practically d.
stroyed. but the owner didn't lose much
time over it. He told the chauffeur t5
look after the machine and have taxi
cab call for him at the opera house after
the performance. Then he escorted his
wife down the street to the Metropolitan,
The police pushed the Hanan car into
Fortieth street as soon as it was cooled
of enough. Inside of about half an hour
street cars and carriages were moving
again.
Capt. O'Brien instructed Policeman
Heuok to find out whether Mr.. Hanau
would make complaint against French
and to arrest him to-day if the owner
of the damaged car holds him responsible
French was able to run his machine up
to the garage,
Late in the evening Detectives Dale
and Fogarty, who were working along
Broadway, were informed that man
who was pointed out TO them at Fortieth
street had something that he had picked
up in the automobile.
When questioned the man said he was
Paul Bracken Of 1871 Second avenue He
said he had picked up small leather case
con taining writing materials. a powder
puff, silver backed brush and small
mirror The stun all bore that Hanan
monogram. Braoken said he intended
taking the stuff to Mr.. Hanan in the hope
that he would get small reward.
Anl. 10 pnli1>o