The evening world., 1912-02-29
Capt. kohler and Two Others,
at First Believed to Be Fatally
Hurt, Will Recover.
MANY OTHER IN PERIL.
Flames in Three Places Among
Waste and Oil Blamed
on Firebug.

Capt. Phil Kohler Of Engine Company
No u 10 In the Presbyterian Hospital
and Fireman Timothy Drlscoll Of the
sams company Is IN Bellevue. both
badly burned about the face and hands
by an explosion that caught them and
four others In Q cellar at No. 1851 Ave-
nue. A early this morning.
Tho explosion was the climax Of an
incendiary IRE, that was burning In
three places simultaneously. II RACED
amons casks and cans OF gasoline. and
there arc at Fire Headquarters to-day
four twsnty-saiion barrels Of gasoline.
their heads knocked In. and seven can
each containing from two to seven GAL
ions Of the iniammable stun. all taken
from the dangerous cellar.
Fireman John EEan OF No. ~ 10 at
quarters. severely burned. and three
other irsmsn. william Walsh. Daniel
sullivan and Joseph G!llis. are also
nursing burns. All were rescued from
the cellar by men OF Companies No. 70
and 81. sent by Deputy Chief Hayes
when the explosion rurned the cellar
INTO a lake OF Gaming oil.
Both Deputy Chief Hayes and Assis-
tant Fire Marshal Edward r. Croker
jr. declare the IRE an exceptionally
dastardly piece of work. The building 10
ave-story tenement house. the fats
abovs the nrst door stores being occu-
pied by seventeen families OF tobacco
strippsrs.
Policeman Bronan Of the East SIXTY.
seventh street station was At Seventy
sixth street and Avenue A whom .
pedestrian reported q glare in the vac
ant store at No. 1851 Avenue A. Bronan
turned in the alarm. Among the hrst
to arrive we're Deputy Chief Hayes and
Battalion Chief D~ousherty.
0LAzlNo GASOLINE SPREAD ~
WATER.
Hayes, with his chauffeur. LArry Cor
man. opened up the inside door to the
cellar and saw name and smoke coming
also from an ash can at the bottom
Of the steps. German said he could put
tho fro out. He ran down. smothered
Il with dirt and debris. n threw his
rubber coat over Il. Behind him came
Capt. Kohisr and the men OF No. n.
From the front Captain Rudy and
Lieut.. Barry OF Engine Company No. %
began to open up the other cellar door.
with Capt. FOX Of Truck No. 10. Koh-
ler's men had discovered another fire In
q woodshed at one side Of the cellar and
. third blass was going on In the empty
store overhead.
Suddenly an explosion came from the
wood shed. The fioor Of the cellar was
inches deep with water. and the nam
ins gasoline spread over the lake and
Z burning the fremen. The force
OF the explosion knocked several Of the
men from their feet. They we're all
dragged out. At first Kohler's. Driscolvs
ana ans burns were thought To se
desp, &c and Chaplain Mclean ad-
ministered the last rites Of the Church
to the three on the side walk. 1t 10 now
J reported that all will recover.
The tenants were panic stricken and
mad to be brought down by iremen and
police. Mary stastny. the janitor OF the
building. told Fire Marshal Croker tina,
tho empty store had been rented to
Adoiph Schmidt. . carpenter. who had
been sent to her by the owner. Samuel
sobel, OF No. % Rivington street. and
that he had taken possession and wal
getting ready to open Tor business. Al
the tenants declared they had expert.
sncsd no trouble with any ono and ne
one seemed to know Of any threats be-
ing made either against . tenant Of
sobel.