New Britain herald., 1922-07-18
Incendiarism Suspected - Owner Refuses to Tell What Caused Blow.Up- Smoke So Dense Search. lights Are Used.
SEVERAL PERSONS
 REPORTED MISSING

New York, July 1s.-A series of ex- plosions caused by fire wrecked . six story warehouse in Greenwich vii. lage today killed fire lieutenant, seriously injured more than a score of persons, shattered windows for blocks and drove hundreds from their homes in neighboring tenements.
 Five Fire Alarms
 At ten o'clock more than an hour after the first blast occurred intermit- tent explosions continued filling the section of the city with fumes and smoke. Five fire alarms had brought to the scene the greatest array of ire apparatus out since thes Equitable building fire.
 Worst Explosion Ever
 Smoky Joe" Martin, acting dre chief told Mayor Hyland, that the ex. plosions were the worst he had ex- perienced in his many years in the department
 East Wrecks Havoc
 The warehouse where it was believ- ed chemicals or powder caused the blasts had great holes torn in it's walls and tons of bricks, stones and packages of goods were hurled onto the pavements. Neighbors rushed out and some tugging household furniture with them were flung to the streets by the explosions. Many only slightly injured were treated on the spot the more severely hurt being conveyed to hospitals.
 lncendiarfsm Suspected
 theory that the fire was started by incendiaries was advanced to the bob squad of Anthony Paone, who lives opposite the warehouse.
 He told Lieut.. Gegan that schortly before s o'clock he had seen three men with a pushcart stop in front of the building and carry several boxes in.
 As they emerged, he said. he heard an explosion and saw flames. He turn. ed in the alarm.
 Contents Is Secret
 Frederick Francis, treasurer. of the company declined to tell fire officials before he had consulted his lawyer what the contents of tho warehouse were, but iremen said is contained magnesia and sulphur.
 One Killed, 20 Injured
 Lieut. J. J. Shoppemyor was killed and nearly a score of fremen were injured, shortly after the first fire ap- paratus had arrived.
 Another Fireman Killed.
 An engine of one of the five nrO summoned from Brooklyn struck a curb as it was rounding . corner and hurled two firemen be- heath the wheels. Fireman James H. Malone was killed and Fireman James Carroll seriously injured
 Many of the seriously injured we're 1remen and police. Hundreds of oluecoats quickly called to the scene 'escued frightened tenement dwellers md others were posted at all aban- toned dwellings to see that no one coted vacated homes.
 Searchlights Used.
 Two hours after the fire broke out he smoke had become so thick that l call was sent to a Brooklyn fire rouse several miles away to bring 5000 candle power searchlights.
 No Chemical Permits.
 There are no records in the fire de- 'artment showing any permission for he presence of chemicals in the building if there were any stored here they were stored illegally" said Commissioner brennan. The cause of he fire has not been determined. At noon the casualties list stood at To dead, nearly 30 injured and three iceinC Tho ton 'om the ranks of the fire and police apartments
 Hundreds Driven Out. Among the hundreds driven from leir homes were artists and poets lhabiting the Bohemian section of le city These folk carrying their anvases and their manuscripts- hich in many cases comprised most their household possessions-raced om their attics and cellars Stand g behind the fire lines were bobbed- aired women and long-haired men, lffing at cigarettes as the fremen orked
 Nearly five hours after the blaze arted the cause was undetermined Id the casualties list unchecked Despite the assertion of department ficials that they believed none of leir men had been trapped In the lins, David Collins, superintendent transportation Of the Bellevue and lied hospitals upon his return from lperintending ambulance service at le fire said:
 T understand that from to IS remen were In the building when