The Day Exhausted Firefighters Battled NYC Subway Blaze/ 1915

[efdcapt115 1,511]

As smoke filled their carriages and New York City subway officials refused to open train doors, the screams of 2,500 commuters reached street level - the only indication there was trouble under foot.

On January 6, 1915, an electrical short in a manhole sparked a fire that pumped smoke into the subway line under Broadway at West 55th Street, resulting in chaos for a quarter-million commuters, claiming the life of one passenger and hospitalising hundreds more.

Photographs taken on the day show the gallant efforts of hundreds of firemen who battled the flames - many succumbing to the smoke themselves in search for bodies - after authorities were initially left unaware of the fear-stricken carnage underground.

The panic spread until there was a frantic fight in the darkness. Windows were broken, seats torn up and smashed against the panes, and crowds rushed against the end and side doors. The screams and whimperings of women mingled with the shouts of men, the clattering of broken glass, and the thuds of blows'

The New York Times, January 7, 1915

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107888/The-day-exhausted-firefighters-battled-New-York-subway-blaze-1915.html

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107888/The-day-exhausted-firefighters-battled-New-York-subway-blaze-1915.html

Great find. Thanks.

[M' Ave 1,466]

Fantastic photos! Even aside from the incident, just terrific photos of Turn-of-the-Century New York. Love the "Buick Motor Company" sign. Nice find!

[PFDRes47cue 653]

Awesome find! Great pictures.

[sfrd18 360]

Great shots. The FDNY has always been New York's Bravest!

[efdcapt115 1,511]

Great shots. The FDNY has always been New York's Bravest!

[x635 4,066]

Great find of photos, George. Very telling.

I wonder how the same incident would go down today, with all the lessons that history has taught us, as well as tools such as the SCBA.

[grumpyff 1,159]

Great find! Glad to see things haven't changed that much, transit wants to move the trains at any cost, and fireman back then didn't pull up their boots LOL

[jack10562 414]

You'll notice the black bell crown uniform cap is one traditional design that hasn't changed much in over a hundred years!