1949 HOLLAND TUNNEL TOXIC CHEMICAL FIRE PHOTOGRAPHS - 10 PHOTOS - RARE for Sale

1949 HOLLAND TUNNEL TOXIC CHEMICAL FIRE PHOTOGRAPHS - 10 PHOTOS - RARE For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1949 HOLLAND TUNNEL TOXIC CHEMICAL FIRE PHOTOGRAPHS - 10 PHOTOS - RARE:
$45.00

We are offering 10 Original8 x 10black & white glossy photographs taken on May 16, 1949, 3 days after a toxic chemical fire occurred in the Holland Tunnel which connects Jersey City, NJ to lower Manhattan.Stamped on the back of some of the photos is "Reproduction Bureau Studio. Acctg. Dept. N.Y. Tel. Co. 140 West St., N.Y.C. Date: May 16, 1949".A truck carrying 55 gallon drums of carbon disulfide, a toxic and highly flammable chemical, was the cause of the fire when a drum broke loose. The drum broke open and released the liquid which burst into flames, burning for hours at 4,000 degrees. Incredibly, no one died in the fire, although 93 people were either treated for burns or hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Only one firefighter died from toxic smoke inhalation. One photo shows a truck that was destroyed; other photos show workmen repairing the tunnel and New York Telephone Co. repairmen replacing telephone cables that ran through the underwater tunnel. One photo shows men in suits, most likely Port Authority officials and phone company executives, probably assessing the damage. And also, possibly executives representing the chemical company responsible for the fire.According to what we read, laws had already been in effect banning this type of cargo from entering the tunnel. After the fire, legislature was enacted with stiffer penalties for companies who violated cargo rules. CONDITION: Very Good to Excellent. Photos will be shipped in plastic top loaders for protection.