The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-09
FLOOD AND FIRE
ON FIFTH AVE.
| Mains Burst. Gas Explodes,
Traffic Is Tied Up ut
23d Street.
MANY PERSONS HURT
Trolley Car Nearly Hurled
From Track by
Blowout.
CITY OFFICIALS WATCH
| Mayor Mitchell. Mccall, Adam
son and Others See the
Firemen at Work.
CITY OFFICIALS WATCH

A four foot water main running north
and south under Fifth avenue broke At
the intersection Of Broadway. Twenty
third street and Fifth avenue early yes
terday morning.
Tho water tore away the earth to the
ehe pavement and broke into the sewer
Running through Twenty-third street
Next the tremendous back pressure of the
underground Hood tore into the new
broadway subway excavation and filled
the subway.
with subway. trolley and conduit sew
srs filled. the water began to bubble up
through trolley slots and the temporary
planklng that covers the subway diggers
In front Of the prov OF the Flatiron
Building.
Finally with streets and even sidewalks
flooded and water pouring over the curb
and into cellars. a series Of gas explosions.
caused by the underground spark Of a
surface car. began at IL 80 A. NJ, and
continued at intervals until p. NJ,
Thousands of dollars worth OF plate glass
was blown out OF buildings; all traffic
in Twenty-third street was shut of and
cannot be resumed until to-day, and the
new subway ditch was filed with water.
Eight Passe. Gers Hurt.
A trolley car was banged SO badly
that eight passengers had to be treated
by an ambulance surgeon. Trolley tracks
IN Broadway and In Twenty third street
were destroyed. Two six inch gas mains
and a twelve inch water main were broken
! and another water main Of twenty inches
was so undermined that the water WAS
shut OFF
A column of flame fifteen feet through
mounted high In the street for three
hours. Wires OF the Western Union, the
Holmes, the Edison and the telephone
company ia the conduits were broken.
Buildings thereabout including the Flat
iron. were without water or gas yesterday
and last night. Cellars were flooded.
The tenants ordered from the buildings
and the buildings closed.
Great holes were torn In asphalt and
block pavements and II was necessary to
rip up mach more good pavement before
the flow OF flaming gas could be shut on
While thousands looked on from fire
lines strung blocks longer than usual.
becausy Of the fear OF more explosions
he Hood and the fire brought 10 the
scene the Mayor. Commissioners. Public
Service Commission officials from Chair
man Mccall down, city and subway en-
traction, telegraph. telephone. contracting
And other firms involved.
Water Caused Havoc.
II is the opinion OF Robert Ridgway
deputy chief engineer OF the Public Ser
vice Commission. that the big hole in tn,
Tour foot water main began to open IL
the night and worked destruction tina
was not discovered until : 80 A. NJ.
Policemen Fishe! and Dckie Of tn
West Seventeenth street station wer
near the FTatiron when Fishel first no
tced the water yelling up Soon tn
water tapped over the curb. raced across
SAe north sidewalk and poured into tn
basement of the Garfield National Bank
which runs the length Of the south sid
o' the Fifth Avenue Building.
The policemen notified the water an
gas companies and trolley car msn SEA
,sord % supt. T. A. Delaney OF tn
View YORK Street Railways Company. VIII
came and stopped traffic.
For an hour and half Supt. Delane
WOULD not let car move At 10 Il
oeiock, the water having been shut OF
ar Delaney gave word 10 the notorme
Resume their runs carefully.
perhaps $50 cars had sloshed throug
'ne water in safety until Car 1901. heade
east through Twenty-third street. stoppe
d NTH avenue with fifteen passenger.
mostly women.
ENpiosion JoIts Car.
conductor Frank Marriott gave IN
starting bell to Motorman John Bowes
me instant Bowes turned on the powe
"'e nrst gas explosion occurred a manhol
cover beside the car was blown off and tn
car was jolted 40 badly that two Of i,
''hoows were broken and the passenge,
Hro"n INTO a heap.
Inc bang brought thousands fockin
coward Madison square. Motorman Bowe
NSp Had the presence of mind TO run III
'a' away from the spot. Then four poles
men ana the two car men carried stunne
passengers across the flood ana laid thei
y" 'he MOOR Of a Childs restaurant
An ambulance call brought Br. Farna,
-" me New York Hospital. lie saw ths
~@oigh all the passengers had escape
90 hy'ng glass several women and thrt
n'eh suffering from shock required after
MOI Those treated by DR.. Farnam were
ARGUS MRS ERNEST. 2s Prssidel
"ts, Fsssaic. N. j.
EsPoSlrO MRS. LoTTIE. 40s We
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