The sun., 1919-02-01
70 AEROS BURN AT
ROCKAWAY, REPORT
Hangar and Sheds Destroyed,
but Loss of Airplanes
Not Admitted.

The explosion OF gasolene in tank
on which repairs were being made with
n blow torch in one of the largest ham
gars at the Naval Air School. Rockaway
Beach. started a fire yesterday that de-
stroyed the hangar and another aircraft
shed adjoining and partly burned five
small auxiliary buildings.
1t was reported, but not officially adj
mit'ed. .hat four large seaplanes and
eight small Spads housed in the two
hangers were destroyed.
Ten men at work near the blow torch
operator were spattered with oil by the
explosion. hut escaped uninjured. Hardly
rad they LETT the building, however, when
there came n second explosion that de-
nlolished the structure. They said they
saw a big gas tank shoot through the
roof several hundred feet In the air.
bursting like a rocket. with a trail Of
flame that set fire TO the adjoining
hangar
\ high wind, having clean sweep
along the beach north and south ot the
station. made efforts TO check the flames
unusually difficult. The entire personnel
OF the air school, 1000 men. formed fire
squads and at once began spreading
sand on the oil that was burning n trail
along the ground to other buildings.
There are twenty hangers and th!rtv-1ve
airplanes AT the station
The work Of the iliers was accom-
plished in imminent danger OF a huge en-
plosion from fifteen barrels Cf Caso.cnc
in the burning hangers. In some man
ner this disaster was 2vertcd.
4 knights Of CoIumbua secretary VITO
was n the camp AZ The time said that
ten or twelve men we're WORKING in the
hangar under the command Of Lieut..
Douglas when the explosion occurred.
The man who was soldering the gas
tank thought il was empty. he said
Alarms were sent out Immediately 10
all FIRE stations III the vicinity and
seven companies responded. 1t was
found when they arrived that the water
mains on the reservation were dry. and
had IL not been for the prompt work
of Capt. McAvoy OF the steamer Frank
and Helen McAvoy, which plies between
Canars!e Point and Ruckaway, the fire
would have got beyond control
Capt. McAyoy ran his boat close to
shore and with the aid OF firemen and
sailors ftted two large hose lines 10
tho pumping machinery and pumped
water from the bay.
As soon as il was seen that the two
hangers were lost efforts were concen-
;rated on keeping tho flames from II
tank containing $500 gallons of oil,
which was within 200 feet of the fire
Sparks and pieces Of burning timber
fell upon IL. The hose lines from the
steamer and shovels OF wet sand thrown
by tho air station fighters prevented
tho explosion.
The IRE boat Seth Low. called 70 the
scene, ran aground or shoals east Of
~ II 4
minutes showing or under her own
power. When she arrived the danger
was over.
The Knights OF Columbus secretary
was positive twelve scaplanes were de-
stroyed. Machines from other hangers
were run out 10 safety along the beach
Naval officers refused 20 talk about the
fire.
The estimated damage, including six
planes in the course OF construction
known TO have been destroyed was un-
estimated az $4,000. Accord
ing to Fire Chief Laurence OF the Forty
seventh Battalion the property destroyed
included an assembled seaplsne with AN
engine, Ave planes which
had been taken apart and were in stor-
age. four Liberty motors. two automo-
hiles the erector shop hangar, an adj
Joining hangar and "A motor oil building
The report Of the commander OF the
air station to Rear Admiral Usher made
onn hour after the fire started stated
that all planes We're removed from the
burning buildings before flames reached
them, Cap. Yates Sterling of Admiral
Usher's Office made an investigate but
said lie could report his findings only
to his superior.
Two sailors were slightly burned in
hghtins the flames. They were IL. s.
Johnson. first class seaman, and q 8
Egdell of the Ouartermaster Corps
The y I. the largest hydreplane nn1
air cruiser in the world, was dragged
10 the beach in safety. Nearly ali The
hydropanes wero taken first 10
the beach aud then anchored OF shore
10 escape the flames The Are burned
ten hours.