New-York tribune., 1922-07-09
Smoke, Not Gas,
|. Is Blamed for
i Subway Panic
Expert Defends Pyrene Fire
Extinguishers, Asserting
! They Did MOI Cause Pros
I tration of Passengers
Cites Hospital Records
Fire Department Has Plan
!, to Check Accidents by
Lifting Third-Rail Shoe

bon tetrachloride FIRE extinguishers
were in any way responsible For the
sufferings Of the 800 or more passen-
gers who were trapped in the Lexing-
ton Avenue subway on Thursday morn
Ing was made yesterday by sthe head
OF one OF the leading firms In New
York handling this product.
The expert who was questioned by
The Tribune on this issue refused to
permit his name to be used because OF
his business connection with firm
which sells tetrachloride extingushers.
He is not connected with the Pyrene
Company, which is specifically attacked
by some city officials in this connec-
tton. Officers of the Pyrene concern
yesterday maintsined the silence they
instituted Immediately after the acci-
dent, and insisted that no statement
would be Forthcoming until their in
vestigation into the fire was completed.
Laid to Smoke Suffocation
"It Is a physical impossibility for
gasses generated by tetrachloride ex-
tinguisher to have affected the victims
OF Thursdays subway accident in the
manner certain reports have said they
were affected" this expert said "The
reason is very simple. The proof is in
the hospital record. Chlorine gasses,
which might to some extent be gener-
ated in the circumstances, are much
heavier than air. If there was any
gas present it was on the bottom level
OF the subway, and in order to breathe
1t into their systems the escaping
passengers would have had to crawl
on their hands and knees along the
tunnel floor. Standing, or in semi
upright position, it was impossible
that they could have inhaled gas fumes
created by tetrachloride extinguishers.
The statement was made that phos-
gene gas was generated. This is a
chemical impossibility. without the
addition of sulphuric acid, carbon
tetrachloride cannot generate phosgene
gas.
The answer to the gas story is found
IN the hospital reports. No human be-
ing can inhale phosgene in any dose
able quantities and live. No human be-
ing can inhale phosgene in any dose,
and not be seriously Ill as a conse-
quence. The people who required hospi-
tai treatment, | am told were suffering
entirely from the temporary effects Of
smoke suffocation.
"Of course, tetrachloride extinguish-
ers generate a gas; it Is the gas that
smothers the fire, by withdrawing
oxygeen, from IT.. but if all the tetra-
chloride extinguishers on dozen sub
way trains were turned on the fire
sufficient gas would not be generated
to cause any grave suffering, because
what gas did exist would cling In
evitably to the lowest levels. / have
walked knee deep in chlorine ges in
a closed room, and suffered no il! eff
fects. If the gas Is not taken into the
lungs, obviously it can do no great
harm. 1t would take enormous quan-
titles Of gas to fill even a small sec
t1on OF the subway to the point where
persons walking in the area would be
affected.
Claims Efficient Service
"Tetrachloride extinguishers are
used to fight fires in electric apparatus
because they are the most efficient, in
fact. the only really efficient method
Until better method is discovered
hasty conclusions reached by people
who are not expert in the subject do
great deal of harm, not only to
ness interests, but in wider degree,
because they induce feeling of mis-
trust Of all hand fire extinguishers
using tetrachloride as a base. This
would be a grave matter, since the
splendid record of this type of ex-
tinguisher is sufficient evidence of its
great value to the community in pre-
venting small local outbreaks Of fire
from spreading with disastrous re-
suits.
~ would not brief for the Pyrene
people, who are, in fact, competitors
Of my own organization; but do re-
(ha o%%
tinguishers in such sweeping terms. .
Thomas J. Hayes, assistant chief OF
the Fire Department, in charge of the
Fire Prevention Bureau, is investigating
the accident, and will make a report
co Commissioner brennan in which he
Will recommend that subway trains be
fitted with emergency equipment which
would lift the shoes of q car in which
short circuit originated, clear of the
third rail, thus Immediately shutting
off the power.
The other investigations being con
ducted by the city marked time fo,
shall John Prial said that his investiga
ticn had been delayed by the difficulty
In tracing witnesses, many of whose
addresses were wrongly taken in the
rush and excitement OF the accident
The last of the patients admitted tt
Bellevue suffering from the effects o.
the accident was discharged yesterday
afternoon.
A national safety code, governing tn,
use Of fire extinguishers. is urged in s
letter sent to the American Engineer
ing Standards Committee by L. V
Coleman, director Of the Safety Insti
tute Of America. Mr. Coleman says ir
his letter:
"There is need for national in.
vestigation Of the use of fire ex
tinguishers for the purpose of deter.
mining the type of extinguisher best
suited for fighting fires under va.
rious conditions-above ground under
ground, in close quarters, in open air
oil fires, electrical fires and fires OF
other sorts" Mr.. Coleman says tina,
the proposed code should take a place
beside the recently approved electrical
safety code and adds that the use OF
ere extinguishers "involves the safety
of perhaps greater number of per.
sons than any industrial safety code
now In preparation"