The evening world., 1917-12-20
2OF|REMEN HURT
ASDACK ORAUGHT
WRECKS FACTORY
supposed Firepropt BmI'nl
Blown ~ Picces-iOSs Pm
81 S1OO.OOO.

and frN waT fnfca1 0fef 'f' "'IN'''
- gclo his morning when =
back dr,' "la' O." 10 Tho hurnInr
plant ~ ne yov York Cordaso Com
pany. ~ So is south street
ThN Injured rrs
Ensinse- Martin Mango. W..
Eins 80 20. a. Volunteer ii"Hr.
seriously burned ai,ou' ''ra ani
arm anf daep scalp wounI
Pirouar charles KahouI Tru.E
So 80. 90 volunteer tiofpii1l. tn-
vere huns ibout hsnd and face
Tres'sd 80 Volunteer iionpi'al
and returned 20 quarters on or
f~rr ~ Dr N. ". Archer. r1rc De-
psrtrnrnt surgeon
Lisut. John stafford and Iircmon
John M,lon. william Francis. A.
freI ftenrctty. John G'rcvan.
Francis Gnrdelln. Waiter Morris.
all o' Truck 40. 10: Lieut.. J. j.
Newman ana Fireman william
McCuirc. both OF Truck No. 10.
Firemen John Mshoney and Harry
Spangi,.. both of Engine No. o.
John Roth. chauffeur for Deputy
Chief liinLs.
Tho back draft that wrecked tho
building was tho most sovorc that has
occurred In Now York IN thirty years,
according 70 Chiof Kcnlon. II sent
tho two upper noors ot tho building
crashing through tho roof: tore or
tho rear wall and drove iron shutters
and parts of heavy iron stairway
through tho walls OF buildings on
Front street The cntiro contents OF
tho New York Cordago Company
building were blown into the East
River.
While tho names were eating
through tho wrcckagc caused by the
back draft. II vas recalled that tho
Richmond. Rochester Company. own
crs Of the New York CordaSo Com
pany md also OF tho building. had
spent $4,000 recently In making tho
building what they believed to bu
absolutely iircproof'
II was said by Fire Department
officials that because OF this sup
posed condition. tho firm had allowed
rs various fire. insurance policies 10
run out. and that az tho time tho fro
broko out thero vaa practically no
Insurance on the building. Tho esti.
mated loss Is 100000.
A passerby discovered FRO working
through tho basement Of tho building
shortly before o'clock. lIo ran 20
tho Old slip Police Station, etonc'a
throw away, and notified Police
Lieut.. Casey. who sent Putroluan
Murphy - investigate. when Murphy
reached the building tho ilro was well
on its way toward tho roof. and he
iminodiatcly turned III an alarm.
The first company 20 reach the nrc
was Truck No. 10. Under Lieut.. StLf-
ford. tho hook and ladder men at
tackled doors and windows In an effort
10 gain an entrance. but found tho
hreproofing OF steel doors and wire
glass windows so strong that tho uso
OF battering rams and axes were
necessary. They broke into the
ground Moor hallway and turned their
attack TO the door leading into the
main room on the ground noor.
Al that moment. Deputy Chic.
Binns ordered Chauffeur William
Walker TO turn in a second alarm.
The men OF Truck No. 10 had brok,n
into the main room and we're walt
ing for Engine No. 30 20 como through
with hose llnes when the back draft
"let CO.,
Lieut., Stafford and ton men Of
Truck No. 10 were hurled back
through the main door. Engine Com
pany No. 10 woe blown into tho 6trcot'
Chief Binns wos knocked down and
Ills chauffeur. Walker Was thrown
under hi9 car so forcibly that ho had
TO be assisted out.
The roof shot into tho air, followed
by the two upper noors ana tho rear
wan was demolished. \ heavy biz
debris ci,.-le' IN the hcad
OF Engineer Mnngles of T7gno NO
10 crushing his helmet Aat and IN
nictinE u serious scalp wound.
John Roth. socoud chauffeur for
Chief Blnns. was struck ln tho back
by d large, tagged piece ot glass.
fnc glass was driven through tho
three coats hc vas wearing anu
made a deep gash IN the h"Sh'
Through the great hole lctt when
tho rear wall went out, hgu Iapp"d
into the. building az No 81 South
Street, occupied by WU"up Thomas,
sail makeS aud ship chandler, spread
ing rapidly through the t"o upper
dOorB.
The heavy iron staircase ana
nEcproor shutters that had been At
tached TO tho demolished wall were
blown across a ten foot arcaVay and
through tho front ~ tho building ar
10. 81 Front Street. occupied hy
Henry Mordllngcr, snip chandler
Thi9 building was oct on lire, ls also
were the. buildings AZ No. ~ Front
street. occupied by William 5yrca.
tea and coffee dealer, aud No. 80
Front Street occupied by tae Sosco
Ton md rn(Ca., TtrvtVt4frg RIIa OF