The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-07
MIGHT HAVE BEEN
WORSE ADAMSON
Fire Luckily Was Where Man
holes Let Out the Deadly
Fumes.
GAVE FIREMEN WORST JOB

Fire Commissioner Adamson was on
his way TO his ofice In the Municipal
Building when Chief Kenion. responding
10 the second alarm for the Are in the
subway, met him and told him where he
was going. Commissioner Adamson or
dered his chauffeur to turn around and
follow Chief Kenlon's car.
After Commissioner Adamson made a
personal investigation Of the accident
he gave GU; the following statement:
The lire occurred in two cable man
holes in the subway on the south side OF
Broadway and Fifty-thlrd street. II was
undoubtedly caused by a short circuit
The power. light and signal cables for
the subway enter the tunnel through
these manholes The fre apparently
started simultaneously in the two man
holes, and no far as could SEQ was con-
fined to the manholee. The manholes
acted as chimney for the smoke and
flames. which was exceedingly fortunate
AZ they enable the greater part OF the
flame and smoke to escape in that way.
II the fire had occurred In tho subway at
"a point where there was no outlet the
smoke and gases would undoubtedly have
ssphyxiated many more of tho passen-
gers.
THE mRnholes are built IN the SIDES
OF the subway and can be entered from
the street above or through doors opening
into the subway. The heat IN these man
holes was very great and the cables were
badly charred. Fortunately the two
southbound trains. on which most OF the
asphy Niated persons were passengers,
stopped about three or four car lengths
north Of the point where the FIRE occurred.
Had the cars stopped opposite the Are
the consequences would undoubtedly have
been much more serious. None of the
cars was burned In any way. ! was In
formed by some one at the fire that the
subway officials kept running cars for
some time after the short circuit oc-
CURED. using. az ] was told, the storage
batteries on the cars. I do not know
whether this Ia true or not.
at took some time for the firemen to
get at the fire. and tho smoke was driven
several blocks north and south and
poured out through the ventilators at
Fitty-third street and Broadway.
The situation which the Fire Depart
| ment had TO face was the most serious III
| all it's experience. Chief Kenlon Informed
me that he had never during his service
as a fireman faced n situation so serious
| and difficult. The hremen had to go into
| the subway by ladders placed IN the mar
row openings and through a dense ana
| choking smoke. They were overcome by
| inc uO0tnS anu ldu u 10 DTOuRUl OUT ny
| their comrades. Men were sent into the
subway In relays and worked with the
greatest courage and energy until they
were overcome and had TO be relieved.
| They brought out many passengers who
were limp and unconscious and some OF
| the flremen upon reaching the street coll
| lapsed from the smoke and eXertion. Tn
| der circumstances OF exceeding difficulty
| every fireman performed his duty with
| the greatest courage and bravery. But
for their prompt work there could be no
| telling how serious the fire might have
been
Three alarms were sent in for thS fire
| and two special calls were sent out--the
| first one for 100 men, and a few moments
later "a second call for 100 men without
apparatus.
"Dr, Harry NJ. Archer, honorary medi-
| cal officer of ths Fire Department. did
| splendid work in reviving the people taken
! from the subway and in directing the re-
moval OF the unconscious TO the various
hospitals"