New-York tribune., 1912-01-23
Eighty Heavy Iron Caps Suddenly
FIy Into the Air in the
Thirties on East
Side.
BOMBARD HOUSES AND CARS
One Boy Standing on Cover Goes
Up with It and Then Drops
Into Sewer - Gasolene
Drippings Said To
Be Cause.

two explosions which blew. up about
eighty manhole covers in East 32d. SSd
and 34th streets, between First and Sec
end avenues, several more being blown
Iup on 33d street as far west as Tnird
avenue. Many Of the injured ones ala
rot have their hurts dressed In the I'M
mediate neIghborhood. Windows by the
score we're smashed and tenement
houses and a car were "shot" by manhole
covers One cover passed clear through
| car.
The explosions were due, 1t is sup
posed. to combustion Of volatile oils ana
gasolene used in garages and cleaning
and dyeing establishments round about.
No sooner had the covers Of the man.
holes been blown off than dense black
smoke belched forth, befogging the at
mosphere and adding TO the already
great fright and excitement among the
people pouring out of the tenement
houses and chops
| Persons everywhere in the affected Sec
ton were panicstricken, and some were
blown from fifteen TO thirty feet In the
air, one man being sent flying thirty
! five feet up from the street. hany
| landed on their feet or In way that
saved tn m from serious injury. Some
were attended by private physicians, but
many more got up dazed and hurried on
their way, not knowing how badly they
were hurt.
Boy Rides in Air.
AL, o,LYoofo ta, ,,aars oi6 of No
332 East 31st street, had a thrilling ex-
perience He was playing on top of
manhole cover in front Of No. SD1 East
32d street when an explosion cent the
cover, with him on it, fifteen feet in the
air. There the cover separated from the
boy and fell in a glancing manner TO the
street, while he fell straight down into
the manhole and into the sewer He
probably would have been drowned but
for the timely action of Robert zwobodi
Of No. 513 East 10Th street, who jumped
into the manhole and held the boys
head above the slime.
Two policemen dropped rope down
the manhole, and after Zwobodi had
grabbed hold of it pulled him and the
severe pains of the head and back. but
refused TO be taken to the hospital.
Michael Casey, a waiter, OF No 320
East Slst street, was blown UP so forci-
bly, that his watstcoat, coat and overcoat
were ripped straight up the back in his
flight He stepped upon manhole cover
al the corner of First avenue and 35d
haf nm
the air. carrying him with 1t. He fell to
the sidewalk, where he remained in an
unconscious state for several moments.
Sophie Weiss, Of No. 626 Second ave-
nue., was standing on manhoe cover
while waiting for car at Second ave-
nue. and 33d street and was blown
twelve feet in the air. She fell to the
street unconscious and was attended by
DR.. Jackson, of No. 145 East seth street.
Almost at the same instant two covers
in the middle Of Second avenue, between
32d and 33d streets, were blown in the
air. one of them breaking in two and
one part of it crashing through the roof
and the other part through the side Of
a Second avenue surface car Every
window in the car was shattered. The
passengers Jumped out Of the windows
and many were cut by falling glass, but
none so seriously as to be taken 10 the
hospital
Lid Lands on "l" Station.
At 34th street and Second avenue
manhole cover was blown up and landed
on the IL" station Of the 34th street
ferry spur. The glass in the windows
Of the station and of one Il" car, used
as a shuttle was shattered. The pas
sengers scrambled for the street, and 1t
is not known how many were hurt.
Persons in the Pennsylvania tunnel
under 31st street, at First avenue, think
ing that the tunnel had caved in, rushed
10 the street
About this time a Long Island ferry
boat came in at 34th street, and an
automobile. containing two women and
a chauffeur. just missed manhole cover
that passed in front Of 1t.
At Both street and Third avenue a
team attached TO big truck ran away.
crashing into an 81" pillar. throwing the
driver. William S. Damn, TO the street
and demolishing the truck.
David Sklut and his daughter, Esther,
fourteen years old, were waiting on Gus
toners In the grocery store at No. 3l2
East 32d street. and they and several
customers We're knocked down Moses
Esterman, butcher, of No. 80 East
32d street, was knocked under the coun-
ter and the large plate glass windows
in his place were shattered
peculiar thing happened at No. 30S
East 32d street. where Abraham Jam
had tailor shop. The show window
was completely shattered but the elec-
trio arc light globe Immediately In front
of the window remained intact
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