The New York herald., 1922-07-25
Infant Knocked From Car
riage at Third Avenue
ana 169th Street.
ROAR HEARD IN BIG AREA
Bronx Crowds Rush to Scene
After Accident and 2 Other
Minor Explosions.

A rubber ball bounced along the
sidewalk by Bill Fogarty. years old,
Of 1898 Washington avenue. The
Bronx. rolled into the street last night
at 169th. street and Third avenue, and
stopped on a manhole cover. The lit
tie boy stopped to pick 1t up. and at
that instant the manhole cover began
to rise and fall. gently.
With Billy at the time was his step
sister. Mary Whitley. IS. She knew
from the rising and falling Of the cover
and the kissing sound from beneath
the ground, that something was going
to happen.
Regardless Of her own danger, the
girl ran into the street and grabbed
her brother. She gathered him into
her arms, shielding him with her body.
and had just got him of the manhole
cover when there was a terrific ex-
plosion.
The cover sailed into the air az II It
had been shot from a cannon. and a
great burst Of blue flame swept out
Of the earth and mushroomed toward
the sidewalk. 1t subsided in few
seconds. but in those few seconds II
had burned Mary and her brother and
six other persons. One of the others
was Helen Siedner, 2. who was being
wheeled In a baby carriage by her
mother. Mrs. Kate siedners OF 1851
Third avenue.
Blown From Carriage.
The baby was blown completely out
OF the baby carriage and half way across
the street but 1t was blown an In
stant In advance or the burst OF flame
and was not, seriously burned Mrs.
Siedner was also burned about the arms
and face. The others hurt were Anna
Siedner OF 2o10 Seventh avenue. Max
Bores OF 1245 Washington avenue. The
Bronx. and Israel Benson Of 1927 Bos-
ton road, The Bronx. and Sylvia Cohen.
IL, OF 1851 Third avenue
All OF these were gent to Lincoln
Hospital. but nli excepting Mary Whitley
and her step-brother were able to 60
home after they had been treated.
Mary and Billy were seriously burned,
although the girl probably would not
have been injured at ali had not she felt
the presence of danger when the man.
hole cover began to riEe and fall and
tried to save the little boy who was
chasing his rubber ball
Only q few moments before the ex-
ploslon a similar ore had occurred at
166th street and Third avenue. but In
this instance the blowing away of the
rnanhole cover was not accompanied by
q burst of flame. Almost Immediately
after these there were smaller explosions
In cellar at 3401 Third avenue. No
one was hurt. however. except In the ex-
plosion at 169th street.
Alarm In Bronx Hospital.
This explosion was accompanied by a
roar as the manhole cover went high
into the air and the sheet of flame burst
from the earth that brought a crowd Of
several hundred almost Immediately. The
blast also set off a fire alarm at 169th
street and Franklin avenue and extin-
guished the lights In the Bronx Hospital.
at 169th street and Fulton avenue.
There was no excitement at the hospital,
however. as most OF the lights had been
out anyway anu the uTscS Wcnl tnTOukn
the building explaining to the seventy
five patients that they were in no
danger.
Some one telephoned to the Lincoln
Hospital, which sent three ambulances,
and to the MorrIsania police station,
where Lieutenant Cummings sent the re-
serves under Sergeant John l.. Sullivan.
The policemen, the physicians and the
firemen found the eight persons who
had been burned lying on the sidewalk
or In the street. all Of them semi-con-
scious.
Mrs. Siedner hardly realized that she
had been burned. She was staggering
about the street trying to find her baby.
which stranger had picked up from
almost under the wheels OF trolley car
and was holding In his arms, trying 10
find physician to take care Of II. Mary
Whitley and her little stepbrother lay
closest OF all to the manhole. Mary flat
Continued on Page Four.