New-York tribune., 1921-05-25
12O Families
ln1perilled by
Gasoline Blast
Fire and Explosion i'm Bronx
Garage Endanger Lives of
Tenants of Apartments;
Cause $l5O,OOO Damage
Pistol Shots Give Alarm
Elevator Operator Sticks to
Post in Broadway Blaze
Despite Binding Smoke

Fire and the explosion of a gaso-
lene tank in the Boulevard Garage, at
573 East 133d Street, the Bronx, early
yesterday morning destroyed the one
story structure which housed the
garage and caused damage estimated
at $150,00O.
Following the discovery of the fire
about 100 families in nearby apart
ment houses were ordered to the street
by patrolmen. Danger of the fire
spreading to the houses was the reason
for the order. Sixty or the families
were able to return to their homes
later, but the rest were forced to seek
shelter among neighbors and at the
police station.
Fire Lieutenant ODonnell, Of Engine
Company so, narrowly escaped serious
injury when the walls of the garage
caved in from the explosion. The ex-
ploding gas reservoir shook houses for
mile around the scene and coused
much damage to window panes.
The fire was discovered by watch
man employed by the New York, New
Haven q Hartford Railroad. who saw
flames shooting from the upper part of
the building Forbidden by the rules
of the company to leave his post. he
drew his revolver and emptied it into
the air to summon help This brought
Patrolman O'Connor, of the Alexander
Avenue station, to the scene. He
turned IN the first alarm and began
ordering tenants in the nearby houses
to vacate.
Forty Trucks Burned
When Chief KenIon arrived he
turned in q second and third alarm
and efforts were directed toward saw
ing the adjoining buildings. Forty
trucks were burned in the garage,
which was owned by Mrs. Madeline
Ruben.
One man was overcome and several
others suffered from smoke last night
az as they were descending in passenger
elevator in the burning twelve-storv
building at $50 Broadway. The origin
Of the fire was in the offices Of the
Union Headgear Company on the ninth
floor.
Oswald Pickering, negro elevator op-
orator, living at 1887 Third Avenue
discovered smoke in the elevator shaft
After turning in an alarm he made
several trips to the upper floors of
the building carrying workers down
through the rapidly filling elevator
smart. During his last trip an uniden-
titled man, who was treated and taken
to his home before his identity could
be learned, was overcome by the
smoke. The fire was confined to the
ninth floor.
A spectacular blaze drove several
families from the six-story tenement
at II Eldridge Street yesterday after
noon. Fremen from Engine Company
81 had the fire under control twenty
minutes after they reached the scene.
Still Explosion Victims Dead
Naceo Manescalco and Leslie Toreen-
son died yesterday morning from in
juries which they received on Monday
night when a still alleged to have been
operated by Manescalco exploded in
his apartment on the second floor of
887 Third Avenue, Brooklyn. John
Marcella, who, according to the police,
was operating the still with Names
calico, is at the Samaritan Hospital
suffering from severe burns, but will
recover. He is charged with felonious
assault, and will be arraigned on his
recovery. Five other persons are still
in Brooklyn hospitals from injuries re-
ceived by the explosion and the fire
which followed it,