The New York herald., 1922-08-13
Apparatus Blocked by Rails
Hurried Shifting of
Trains Saves Situation.
SMOKY JOE OVERCOME
.l5 Freight Cars Destroyed in
All-15 Tugs Pour Water
on Flames.

Three fremen were injured and a
soore were overcome at a fire early
yesterday which all but razed Pier =
OF the New York Central Lines, at the
foot Of Sixty-fifth street and the Hud-
son River, doing damage estimated at
$1,000, 900. The blaze started in
freight car filled with grease and food
etuffs ard spread to other parts OF the
pier. consuming a total Of forty-fve
cars before it was brought under con-
troll.
Not since the Jane street nre OF
several weeks ago had the Fire Depart
ment as stubborn q blaze to combat.
1t was more difficult to fight than the
Janc street fire because 1t was found
impossible for q tim0 to get the ap-
paratus near enough to the burning
freight cars because OF the railroad
tracks. These had to be bridged by
boards to get the engines over. and in
some instances the apparatus had to
travel as far north as Seventeen
street to obtain a crossing and then
wait until freight trains had been
moved before they could get near the
Are.
Fifteen Tugs Fight Fire.
John Early, watchman, discovered
the blaze while making his rounds and
turned in an alarm which brought out
the company's fire fighting apparatus.
The blaze was combatted for nearly half
an hour before outside aid was called.
-Four alarms were sounded for city ap-
paratus, which brought five fireboats to
the scene. The marine fire fighters were
augmented by fifteen tugs of the rail-
road, which threw streams onto the
burning dock from deck standpipes.
The train in which the blaze started,
from cause as yet not known, was
loaded with grease. paper cartons, 1ute,
burlap bags, meat. fish and other food
stuffs. Quick action on the part of the
worknen in the yard prevented the blaze
from becoming one of the most disas-
trous on the river front in years. These
men brought an electric engine into ac-
tion and with this they managed to
move several trains off the dock. When
the city firemen reached the fire they
found blazes raging in five different
places.
soda Explosion Hurts Three.
During the fire a barrel of caustc
soda exploded, burning Fireman John
Halpin OF Engine Company No. and
Fireman Harvey Dallis of Engine Com
pany No 65 about the hands and face.
A third fireman was cut by glass At
least twenty suffered from the effects OF
smoke. among them being Acting Chief
Smokey" Joe Martin. who was over
come at the Jane street fire. All of the
fremen were attended by Or. Harry
Archer, honorary battalion chief. and,
with the exception OF Halpin and Dallis
they went back on duty.
The extent OF the damage was esti-
mated by officers Of the railroad. They
said the cause had not been determined,
but that they did not believe It of in
cendiary origin because OF the railroad
strike. It was pointed out that the
yards. which run from Sixtieth to Sixty
fifth street, are too well guarded to
allow anybody to start a fire without
being seen.
Another stubborn blaze that gave the
firemen hard fight was one in the
breakwater of the 145th street bridge
across the Harlem River. Eight fire
men risked their lives to combat the
blaze. They crawled on their hands and
knees. dragging thousand foot line
behind them, across railroad piles until
they reached the center OF the bridge.
from which point they might direct an
effective stream on the flames. In order
TO do this engines had to be lined up
along the waterfront at the Bronx end
of the bridge with the suction end of
their hose dropped into the river Traffic
across the bridge was tied up for forty
five minutes.