The New York herald., 1922-07-19
TWO FIREMEN DEAD
in WAREHOUSE FIRE,
CHEMICALS EXPLODE
Thirty Injured as Blast
Rocks Buildings in w.
Twelfth Street.
LOSS rs OVER MILLION
300 Firemen Treated-Ten-
ement Dwellers Driven
From Homes.
BANTON LEADS INQUIRIES
District Attorney Ready to
Ask Indictments for Grim
inal Negligence.
BANTON LEADS INQUIRIES


A fire attended by series of ex-
plosions that rocked the earth within
radius of several blocks and ter
rified tenement dwellers Of the dis
trict started yesterday morning at 8
O'clock. in the seven story warehouse
Of the Manufacturers Transit Com
pany, Jane and West Twelfth streets,
and was still burning at 2 o'clock this
morning.
At that hour the fire had already
caused deaths of two firemen, thirty
others had been injured so seriously
that they had to be sent to hospitals
and fumes and smoke had so inflamed
the throats and eyes Of more than 300
persons that they required medical at
tention. Three hundred persons were
driven from the tenements in the
neighborhood and property damage
estimated at $l.ooo,ooo was caused.
Three Investigations were under way
late last night to determine whether
any one was criminally responsible for
the fire. Joab II. Banton, District At
torney, assumed charge Of the in
vestigating bodies, and announced he
would present to the Grand Jury any
evidence Of negligence if obtained and
would ask second degree manslaughter
indictments. Early this morning Of
ficials OF the Fire Department said
there was no iikelihos6 o< -extinguish-
ing the flames before daylight. but the
fire was under control and there was
no danger of its further spread.
Explosions Cause Death.
The explosions were the direct cause
while the second man was killed while
responding to the aiarm from Brooklyn.
The wagon on which he was riding hit
curb at Flatbush avenue extension
when the driver had to avoid colli-
sion with an automobile truck, and the
fireman was thrown to the pavement.
Another fireman was so seriously in
jured In this accident that he is not
expected to live.
The authorities have not as yet been
able to learn what caused the fire or the
explosions that started shortly after the
fircmen reached the scene. This prob
ably will not be determined until city
chemists have completed analysis of SUBJ
stances fshed out Of the cataract of
water flowing from the burning struc-
ture. But the District Attorney has OBJ
tained information indicating that at
least thirty-seven cases of magnesium
powder had been carted into the ware
house since March and that one Of
these cases was being removed when
the first explosion occurred, flames leap
ing upward through freight elevator
shaft and mushrooming out on the six
upper floors.
The presence of this magnesium In the
building was touched upon at confer
ence in the office of Mr.. Banton, at
which Thomas j. brennan, Fire Com
missioner; Joseph A.. Harmon, his
deputy: Fire Marshal Priol and Lieut..
James ]. Gegan of the Police Bomb
Squad. were present. Mr., Banton said
afterwnrd q warehouse receipt for the
magnesium powder was signed by
Thomas w. Burnside. secretary OF the
warehouse company.
May Go to Grand Jury To-day.
II shall lay the matter before the
Grand Jury to-mo rrow," Mr.. Banton
said. 'if 1 find criminal liability at
tached to any one after all the evidence
has been sifted. Since human life was
destroyed II is obligatory upon me to
investigate. and IL find explosives were
stored there contrary to law to prose-
cute the guilty person or persons for
homicide--second degree granddaughter"
In Difference to the leadership of Mr..
Banton. none of the investigating au-
tnorities would discuss their progress.
but n statement by Fire Commissioner
brennan earlier In the day was consid-
cred significant Mr.. brennan said
There are no records in the Fire De-
partment showing any permission for
.he presence of chemicals in the build
ing. and if there were any stored there
they were stored there Illegally. The
Sause OF the fire has not. as yet. been
determined
II has been many years since Green
wich Village was treated to 30 much
genuine excitement and given such op-
portunity to demonstrate itself as yester-
day. And It responded In manner
which evoked praise from policemen.
fremen and onlookers alike. Long be-
fore organized relief reached the scene.
and. IN fact for the first four hours of
the fire. when the blaze was fiercest and
men were being bowled over by the
nauseating acrid fumes. the people OF
Greenwich Village. including the bobbed
haired artisans and the poorer working
people further to the north. pitched into
the relief work by turning their homes.
stores and back yards into temporary
hospitals.
Acting Fire Chief Joseph Martin,
feiled by the smoke after eight hours OF
fighting. directed his forces from a cot
In an undertaking establishment, his
eyes swathed in cold applications and his
body IN blankets.
Engine Company 13, to which Lieut.
John J. Schoppmeycr. who was killed,
was attached, was the first piece OF mp
parutus to reach the fire. A second
Continued on Page Three.