New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-24
Pvrene Is Safe
For Tubes, Says
Transit Report
Gen. Andrews, Chief Execu-
tive of Commission, Rec
ommends Fire Extinguish-
ers Be Restored to Trains
No Gas at Recent Fire
Chemicals Cause.-The lnjuryat
West Side Subway Mishap,
SAYS u. s. Bureau of Mines

General Lincoln c. Andrews. chief
executive officer Of the Transit Com
mission, in q report 70 tho commission
made public yesterday, recommends the
continuance Of the use Of the Pyrene
FIRE extinguishsr in the subways, de-
ante the demand Of the Hylan admin
istration that Il be eliminated.
General Andrews covers the eireum-
stances Of the short circuit fire on
Lexington Avenue express train on
July 6, as result OF which several
score Of passengers collapsed after they
had escaped TO the street, 70 feet above
through emergency exits.
Frank Hedley. president OF the IN
terborough, ordered the suspension OF
the use OF the Pyrene e1tingulshers
nending an investigation. General An
drcws's report recommends that the
Transit Commission direct the Inter
horou0h 20 resume the use OF the
tstrachloride extinguisher IN case Of
short circuit fires.
Smoke From Paint and Insulation
"Tbere Is no evidence" says General
Andrews in his report, that poisonous
oss was generated through the april
estion Of carbon tetrachloride. Smoke
md fumes generated by the fire were
nrineipally from burning INSULATION
mint and other substances. The vapor
snd fumes from the carbon tetraehlor-
ide were so diluted, due 70 ventilation
~ drafts about the fire, as 70 De hegil-
chile A thorough search for a SUIT
shle substitute for carbon tetraehloride
as FIRE extinguisher in similar CIR
cumstances has yet disclosed none as
good or better st,
The Transit Commission called on
.he experts Of the United States bu-
r.su of Mines for o report on the cause
"a extent OF the accident in the SUD
wsv. the Federal experts reporung'
~ That there apparently were no
-.aiiv serious cases resulting from the
effects Of possible toxic gases. ~,
20. That the symptoms given IN me
ho.ni.oi records can all be accounted
for nv the known effects Of gases re-
tultine from the burning Of insulating
materials, rubber, varnish and paint
Not Symptoms Of Phosgene
~a That the symptoms given are not
Characteristic OF phosgene or carbon
tetrachloride poisoning.
The Transit Commission's physician
turned in a report IN which he saio'
81 Interviewed nine members OF the
crew Of the train on which the acciaent
occurred, all Of whom remained IN the
tunnel until all Of the passengers hao
left. Seyen Of these men had oeen
actively engaged in fighting the hre'
OF these seven men four felt no III Ell
feets whatever and remained with the
train until It returned TO the yarui
one was only slightly affected ana was
revived by taking a glass OF water sn n9
two we're taken 10 the hospital VI
the two taken % the hospital one To-
NAMED FIVE minutes and the othsr
twenty-four hours. None OF the tram
crew showed any symptoms OF poison
ing by phosgene gas. ~
an Analysing tho bedside histories
81 all cases admitted 70 the hospitals
the symptoms were those that would
be found due % smoke inhalation. ne
collapse OF passengers upon reaching
the sidewalk was due, 70 certain eH,
tent, 70 the inhalation OF smoke ana
TIE rapid climbing Of stairways sew
enty feet IN height 10 reach the street
surface from the train. After close
study OF all the hospital charts have
been unable 70 find any symptoms OF
phosgene poisoning"
Panic Increased Danger
Had the passengers remained on the
train until the crew had extinguished
the ere" says General Andrews, land
had the train pulled out, as the rules
81 the company provided, passengers
would have suffered less from smoke
and service would have been rce15red
throughout the system In about twenty-
FIVE minutes"
After citing the excitement and I'M
usual exertion on the part Of the pas
sengers climbing out OF the subway to
the surface. General Andrews says;
"All might have been avoided had
they remained quietly in the cars. All
Of this points again 70 the necessity
for Teassuring passengers and the
avoidance Of exaggerated statements
which tend 20 arouse apprehension and
panic IN case Of emergency, making II
most difficult for the trainmen 70 hold
the passengers IN the cars, even when
they themselves know that IL 10 70 the
advantage Of the passengers to remain
there
The Underwriters Laboratories. 26
City Hall Place, established and main
tsined by the National Board Of Fire
Underwriters. yesterday made public a
telegram with reference 10 the use OF