New-York tribune., 1922-07-19
/ Fireman Crushed Under
Coping, Another Dies
on Engine During ALL
Day Battle With Flames
Trace Explosions to
Stored Magnesium
Many Are Driven From
Homes; 8 3Boroughs Send
Apparatus; Search De-
Iris All Night for Victims

A case of magnesium powder being
carried from the warehouse of the
Manufacturers Transit Company, Inc.
10 to II Jane Street, and extending
through the block to 245 to 251 West
Twelfth Street, started the fire which
resulted in the death yesterday of two
fremen and the injury of scores of
others. The cause of the conflagration
was announced last night by, District
Attorney Banton after a conference
WITH the Fire Commissioner. the Fire
,larshal and the police. 1t was learned
that thirty-eight cases of magnesium
had been taken into the warehouse
since March 8. Other cases were ig-
nited by the heat and several explo-
sions followed Mr. Banton may pre-
ssrt the case to the grand jury to-day
Lieutenant John J. Schoppmeyer, of
Engine f3. was killed as he tried TO
enter the Nest Twelfth Street entrance
Of the building. An explosion bowled
him over and he was pinned beneath
heavy piece of stone coping. Fireman
James II. Malone, of Engine Company
2ie. Brooklyn, was killed when an en-
the way to substitute for another
brooklyn engine which was called to
Manhattan struck curbstone at John
son Street and Flatbush Avenue Exten-
sion. BROOKLYN.
Firemen Seriously Injured
The seriously injured are:
/ Carroll James, fireman, Engine 219;
internal injuries; Brooklyn Hospital.
Chapman, Edward, fireman, Truck 8;
eyes injured; Red Cross station.
Doherty, Thomas F., fireman, Hook
end Ladder 8; both legs fractured; ST.
\ Vincent's Hospital.
McCaffery, Michael F., lieutenant,
wrist and hand; st. Vincent ssHospital
o,Brfen, James j., fireman, Engine
81; smoke, gas and shock; ST. Vim
cents Hospital
0Neill, John M, fireman, Hook and
Ladder 80; smoke; ST. Vincent's Hos
pital
Reynolds, Peter, fireman, Engine 10;
eyes burned by chemicals; Bellevue
Hospital.
Borough Call Sounded
punctuated by explosions which sent
windows, bricks, big packing cases
and coping hurling through the air the
fire quickly spread throughout the en-
tire seven stories of the structure.
The recurring explosions, which start
ed about $3.50 o'clock and continued
Until almost noon, caused presumably
and heavy black smoke all added to
| thp dirjcui4iac ~ tho
sponded to the five alarms sent for
Manhattan apparatus and the borough
call, which brought five additional
gasoline pumping engines from
Firemen worked all night lastnight,
hecking every possible angle, to run
down report that several men stand
| ing on roof were blown into the air
by the second explosion and buried in
the debris.
Woman Reports Three Buried
Mary O'Toole, who lives on the top
moor OF los Greenwich Avenue, re-
ported that she saw at least three fire
I.. men carried down by the explosion
fire Commissioner brennan, Acting
Chief Joseph Martin and practically
every fre captain present at the blaze
aenled the report. Commissioner Dren-
nan SAID that check had been made
ana that all fremen had been ac-
counted for. Still, in the belief that
.he persons blown into the debris
might nave been spectators, every chan
nei OF verlfication was traversed with
OUT confirming the report.
Mayor Hylan, Assistant District At
sorney Morgan Jones and Fire Com
missioner brennan were among the off :