The New York herald., 1921-04-23
WAR GAS MPERLS
TOWN; ONE DEATH
Three Heroes Prevent Trag-
edy as Deadly Phosgene
Sweeps Bound Brook.
TANKS VALVE BREAKS
Police and Fire Volunteers
Called to Awaken the
Populace.
TWELVE ARE OVERCOME
Chemists at Paint Works
Struggle Repeatedly to Choke
OFF Escaping Fumes.
TWELVE ARE OVERCOME

| A wave of phosgene gas seeping
from a broken valve in a tank at the
observation-disclosures paint works swept
over Bound Brook. N. j.. yesterday
morning before daybreak. A dozen
men were overcome. One Of them. Earl
Pullman. who works In the paint plant,
died at his home in Bound Brook dur
ing the afternoon. Four others. are
suffering the tortures Of suffocation
the gas produces, but are expected to
recover.
These four are Harold Saunders for
merly chief chemist at the plant;
Michael PASCAL, his assistant; Peter
Wirdel, and employee, and DR.. Ben
jamin Borrow, who was bowled over
by the heavy, sweetish fumes when he
went to the rescue OF Saunders, Pas
call and Wirdel. To the courage and
fortitude Of the latter trio is due the
fact that the casualties were no
greater, despite the fact that the wave
was considerably denser and more con-
centrated than that normally used in
warfare. Besides, there was nothing
but a suggestion of a breeze blow
ing toward the town. Consequently
the wave was sluggish and folks had
time to escape. Pullman died of con-
gestion OF the lungs.
Filling Portable Container.
The containing tank wa not full when
- Il.
tained about 1900 pounds of the deadly
fumes, sufficient to overcome most OF
Bound Brooks 5000 persons under ia
vorable conditions. The gas, formerly
used solely for purposes OF warfare. Is
now marketed commercially. The valve
went wrong while a squad of workers
were filling a portable container for
shipment. Saunders Wirdel and PASCAL
arrived on the scene after other men had
failed repeatedly to stanch the flow.
Chief of Police Nash had mobilized his
entire force and the volunteer fire fight
ers He proposed going through the
town. awakening the populace. and had
directed the two young women operating
the central telephone exchange switch
board--Violet Schantz and Victoria ia
kubic-to warn every subscriber to va
cate the town and take all neighbors
with them. The leak started shortly
after / o'clock In the morning Saun-
ders. PASCAL and Wirde did not begin
their attack upon the broken valve until
nearly 4. Earl Pullman had already
Joined in several attempts to close the
valve.
Saunders asked Chief Nash to defer
the general alarm until he did what
he could to plug up the hole. The tank
is located within a quarter OF a mile
of the town itself. In the immediate
neighborhood are houses occupied by
employees of the various plants and
factories. Most Of the occupants of
these houses were awakened by the
choking ges and all fled. the women
and children being herded into the town
proper and there taken care of by
! friends
Nash threw a Gordon OF policemen
around the gradually charging area
flooded by the gas. Slowly they re-
| treated before the wave. Some Of them
collapsed as the gas closed In upon
them, but gamely struggled to their
feet again. Three more squads Of men,
wearing the ordinary gas masks, tried
to reach the open valve. And these
men failed like their predecessors. j.
4 c. Bolt, formerly an employee at the
plant. enlisted another squad. Bolt Is
an experienced man at the tanks. But
/ he failed.
Used Ordinary Masks.
Saunders. PASCAL and Wirdel didn't
wait to find the heavy masks that are
as near proof against highly concen-
trated phosgene as O. mask may be.
They slipped on the ordinary canister
masks-the sort having rubber face
pieces. wire nose clips and the flexible
outlet gill--and took chance. Their
method was TO dash to the open valve,
struggle with II for a moment ana then
when so dizzy that they could no longer
see stagger out for sufficient AR 70 re-
yive themselves with. They did this a
dozen times. Bolt agreed TO telephone
Chief Nash at headquarters " Saun-
ders. wirdel and PASCAL surrendered
| And then the chief was TO start out
arousing the town
wirdel collapsed, but the two chem
lists went In again. AZ the base OF tne
tank there Is telephone. saunders
he'd agreed 10 telephone Bolt if he and
PASCAL closed the leak This time the
two men were gone 80 long that boii
began TO lose faith. He was apout
persuaded that Saunders and PASCAL
had collapsed and that " was time 10
tell Chief Nash TO 60 ahead.
Rut before ne could tell Nash TO
spread the alarm Saunders and PASCAL
appeared clawing the masks off their
faces. Their lips had gone blue and
both men were vomiting violently
I'VE got her" they announced. Shes
stopped"
The phosgene plant has been pro-
tested against by most OF the citizens
OF Bound Brook at various times
Mayor smalley declared last night that
he intends taking UP the question Oh
the removal with County prosecutor
Esekman. chief Mash said that ags1e
I from some nausea among the younger
children and numerous slight headaches
the townfolks did not suffer from the
attack.
They owe that to Saunders, Pascai'
and Wirdei," he added.
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AurY4oRuzEs BOND ISSUE.