New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-23
One Killed, Scores Suffer
Inhamed Throats When
Leak i'm Tank Releases
Deadly Phosgene Vapor
Masked Workmen
Battle With Death
Check Flow Just as Phone
Girls Are About to Tell
Whole Region to Flee

BOUND BROOK, N. j., April 22.-Ar
1,800-gallon tank of phosgene, one Of
the most potent and insidious Of the
poison gases used in the war, sprang 8
leak at 1880 a. m. to-day at the Hem.
ingway Chemical Plant at Middlebrook
quarter of mile west of this town.
One man died from the effects of the
gas, four are in serious condition and
scores are suffering from Inflammation
of the throat. Earl Pullman, an EN-.
ployee at the plant, is the dead man.
Workmen who tried to stop the leak
were overcome in spite of their gas
masks. There was enough of the poison
gas in the receptacle to cover two
square miles, and little breeze from
the south sent the clouds rolling across
the southwest section of the borough.
Physician Falls Unconscious
Families were awakened strangline
and set out afoot or by automobile fol
higher ground. House after house sud.
denly blazed with lights in the dark
countryside. A policeman was overcome
on post. A physician Fastening in re.
sponse to an emergency call fell sense
less and could not be revived for hall
an hour
A fire alarm called firemen and 200
citizens to the center of the town
where they awaited for hours ready to
arouse the entire community if the
leak could not be stopped. Telephone
exchanges were warned of the peril
creeping upon them, and the young
women at the switchboards gave as
surance that they would remain at
their posts 20 the last.
The Hemingway plant has been sold
pany, but the chemical Company re-
tanned control Of the gas in storage
and has been selling it in small con-
tainers. At 1880 q. m. three workmen
in gas masks were filing these con-
tainers from the 1,800-gallon tank
when they began to have difficulty in
breathing.
Leak Defies Workers Efforts
Recognizing their danger. thew
searched for the leak in the darkness
and discovered that valve in the
big tank was at fault. Despera ;ely
they strove to readjust the valve, but
it. resisted their efforts, and in spite
OF their masks the numbness which il
the warning Of the fatal phosgene
stupor crept over them.
They fed, Pullman, the last man out
crawling away on all fours. Already
part of the countryside was aware OF
the fumes which were overwhelming
1t, but took them for extraordinary
emanatlons from the plant of the Calico
company. nearby. The telephone mes
to Chief of Police Nash, who had been
aroused by the gas, was the first in.
timation of the deadly nature of the
vista ton.
With the cooperation of the tele-
n.hone company, Chief Nash made fran
tic efforts to find Harold Saunders,
chief chemist at the Hemingway plant
who alone had the knowledge and skill
to stem the flow of gas.
Saunders was at the plant. He and
his assistant, Michael PASCAL. had
been motoring back to Bound Brook
when the taint in the air smote them
Without a word they swung around
and went racing back to the plant,
straight into the invisible, deadly cur
rent.
PASCAL, who was at the wheel. was
almost unconscious when they drew
up at the factory. Saunders leaped out
and found two gas masks, which he
and PASCAL buckled on. Then they
tackled the leak, assisted by Peter
Wirdel, another employee. In the midst
of their work they were interrupted by
the telephone bell.
Gas Fighters Stick to Posts
Saunders answered and informe ID
Chief Nash that the situation looked
serious, but that he and his conpan-
ions would stick until the last hope
was gone and would give ample warn.
ing If there was no stopping the leak.
The trouble was, he said, that the gas
penetrated their masks.
Soon after a. M, when the fume s
were at their worst here and officials
were on the verge of arousing the
whole town with advice to flee for the
hills, Saunders telephoned that he had
got the valve in place. His voice was
weak, and he and PASCAL and Wirdel
soon were under the care of a physi-
clan. DR.. Benjamin Borrow also is in q
serious condition.
1t is believed that the sufferers will
recover. The after-effects of phosgene,
however, sometimes are serious, vic
tins Of the gas often developing tuber
culosis months after they apparently
have recovered.
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