New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-12-17


Flames, Night Foreman Declares
Sulphur Laden Gas Promised For
Few Days-Wclding Rooms in Fac
tories Forced to Suspend Opera
tions.
Following an explosion, the origin
of which is a mystery, a large purify
ing tank at the plant of the New
Britain Gas Light Co. on Meadow
street was destroyed by fire at an
early hour this morning, threatening
to leave New Britain without a gas
supply al least for the day. The COM
pany estimates it must eXpend $25, 900
for repairs.
Fire Fierce Que.
James Cherry, the night foreman.
"was standing in the gas plant yard
and turned to errrerzvKee LEO
o'clock when he heard a blast and
saw the building in which the de-
stroyod purifying tank was located in
tiames. He, telephcned to police
headquarters and later ran to fire
alarm box No. 213 at the American
Hosiery Co, a short distance away
and rang in an alarm. For more than
an hour, the fire department combat
ted the flames, their valor. no doubt
being responsible tor preventing the
spread of the fire to other buildings
So intense was the heat that the iron
girders supporting the brick building
in which the tank was located wore
bent in and the tar coating on u large
melted.
Cause Still Mystery.
Manager Fl. r. Sloper of the gas
company is unable to accCI Mt for the
explosion. With the exception of a
wooden roof and wooden Stats on the
second door the building is of in
fiammable material. There are no
electric wires or ether sources of fire
in the structure. In fact there is no
illumination and when it is neces-
sary to enter the building after dark
an extension electric light is used.
1t is customary to operate the pur-
flying system between 7 a. m. and
$3.50 p. m, and last night the process
was discontinued at IL O'Clock, later
than usual. So far as known, there
was no defect in the apparatus and
the officials of the concern are tpuz-
EIed by the explosion.
To Make Immediate Repairs.
Soon after the fire started, Mana
ger Sloper arrived at the yards and
before the smoke had drifted away
he had made arrangements for re-
pairs having telephoned to the Isbell-
Porter Co. of Newark, n. j., manu-
facturers of gas making appliances.
Factory heads were communicated
with and asked to use gas sparingly
during. the day when it was feared
e4hat the city supply might be below
requirements.
Soon after the fire alarm was
sounded a series of light explosions
was heard by residents living within
mile of tho plant. The sound re-
senbled tho rat-tat of a machine gun.
: The cause of these explosions is un-
known and many who were present
at the fire declare they did not hear
them, although they were distinct to
peopIe living on the southwest out
skirts of the city.
In a statement published elsewhere,
the gas company announces that it
had the alternative after the fire of
shutting off the public supply entire
Iv until repairs had been made or
furnishing gas containing an amount
of sulphur, not injurious to life but
Of disagreeable odor The company
also announced it may be necessary
to discontinue the gas supply for q
few evenings while repairs are being
made
The plant was inspected today by
Engineer Ruud of the Public Utilt-
ties Commission.
Factories Arc Affected.
Sufficient pressure could not be
produced this morning to run the gas
Continued on Fifteenth Page)