Flash Light Powder Gives New York Three-Day Fire

Flash Light Powder Gives New York Three-Day Fire

One of the Worst Chemical Fires the Metropolis Ever Has Had Was Caused by Explosion of Magnesium Powder— Two Lives Lost and Many Overcome—Losses of the Week

ONE of the most stubborn and difficult fires the New York City fire department has had to fight occurred on July 18, following the explosion of what was supposed to be magnesium powder, which was being transported by workmen from the storage warehouse of the Manufacturers Transit Company, 1014 Jane Street. The fire was the direct cause of the death of one member of the department, Lieutenant John J. Schoppmeyer, of Engine Company No. 3, and indirectly of a member of Engine 210, who was killed when the apparatus struck a curb, and he was thrown to the sidewalk with another member, who was badly injured. Lieut. Schoppmeyer was thrown down by an explosion, and was crushed by falling debris before he could be rescued. The fire started at 8:15 a.m.. with a series of explosions. It was said that several cases of magnesium powder destined for the Navy Department, were being moved by workmen when one exploded, probably from the friction on the men’s feet on some of the powder which had leaked from one of the cases. The men scattered, and a storekeeper pulled a nearby box. The building had been originally constructed for a garage. and the large elevator shaft, designed for the accommodation of automobiles, acted as a vent, up which the flames roared. It was one of the explosions which blew the machinery of this elevator from the top floor down upon Lieut. Schoppmeyer and crushed the life from him.