New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-07
MANY FIREMEN FALL
DROP UNCONSCIOUS FROM
ESCAPING GAS.
Deputy Chief LangfOrd and Thirteen
Others OUercOme an East Esd
Street Blaze.

Deputy Chie< Langford. Battalion CHIEF
Skelly and twelve other irenen were overcome
by gas last night while fighting fire on the
ground floor OF the building at Nos 56 and %
East 23d street. occupied by the SarnOff Com
pany dealers in hats.
The fire was discovered soon after o'clock.
When the hremen arrived they thought they
had only an ordinary ground foor blaze to deal
with They found the door Of the store barred.
and Immediately the meB OF Engine Company 10
unlimbered their battering ram and brought IL
into play.
With Lieutenant Lang directing operations
they soon cleared an entrance, and Lang rushed
into the building. followed by Fireman William
Roach. Lang took only one step over the
threshold when he fell lake a log. overcome BY
escaping gas. Roach was overcome also, and
his wrist cut by Aying glass
The fumes OF the escaping gas were so strong
that hremen who were about to enter the build
ing with line OF hose were also overcome ard
weakened 10 such extent that they dropped
the line. The powerful stream IF water rushing
through the hose caused il to wriggie on the
sidewalk like an angry snake. and several spec
tators were knocked down
Deputy Chief Lsngford arrived at this juncture
and directed the work of rescuins Lang and
Roach They were taken out Of the range "
escaping gas. ami Lieutenant Ward, of the Chill
dren's Society. which is across the street from
the building where the fire vas in progress.
summoned Matron Clerns. with a supply of milk
and sulphur. First ard to the injured was ad-
ministered while the arrival Of ambulances from
Bellevue and New York hospitals was awaited
Roach was weak from loss of blood. which had
/ been pouring from the cuts in his wrist
Lang was apparently erazed by the fumes
which he had inhaled. and il required the united
/ efforts OF five men 70 restrain him. Meanwhile
/ Deputy Chief Langford and Battalion Chief
| SkeIly had entered the burning building Skelly
| who has been out Of hospital only re"
davs. became exhausted and was carried OUT BY
| his superior officer.
| Frank McKenna and Thomas keenan,. OF En-
| gine Company 1s, were among the first to roi-
/ low their chiefs into the building. Both were
overcome. McKenna has brother. John. VINO
is a member Of Engine Company s. When re
| saw his brother fall a victim TO the escaping
gas John. accompanied by Frank Ferris. OF the
same company. rushed in and pulled him outside
| Frank McKenna received severe cuts about TIE
| wrist while working on the battering ram
/ The complete list Of those who went down
\ Uhen the gas met them. exclusive or those al
| ready mentioned. Includes Thomas Shafrer VIII
| lam Signor of Engine company IS; Jonn Shy-
der. Of Engine Company "a; Michaei smith, OF
| Engine Company a; Charles Spangeroers' oi
/ Engine Company s. Lieutenant HacSeHsaWs O'
Hook and Ladder Z and George Barnes. driver
| Of Truck 3. All were "t'0iiNNN y -
| OF Bellevue Hospital. and Dr. mcclure ol ~"
| York Hospital
DEPUTY Chief Langford praised the work OF
The men highly He said the cause OF the ire
,ras unknown. but that the escaping gas came
! from pipe in the rear Of the store. which nao
been melted by the fire. As there are no VIM
| dows in the rear Of the building the nremeh
met the full force of the fumes when they bat
tered on the door. II was found necessary 20
| cut holes in the back wall before the hrernen
could work with any degree Of safety me
| damage was about $4,000
| The Sarnon store occupies part OF the groul'u
| floor and basement Of the Mercantle bulluiiis,
=, ,be southwest corner Of Fourth avenue and
2sd ztreet The basement show windows face
| ON the downtown station of the subway. Much
| smoke was blown into the subway during tie
fire. and no trains stopped at the 2sd street sta