Smoke, heroism and disappointment cloud EC and its environs! Eyewitness report from Bwogger John Klopfer:

"Minutes ago, outside of the Center for Career Education on Morningside Drive, a loud whoomph was heard and the smell of gas filled the Columbia University Tutoring and Translating Agency. Alarmed students poured out of its offices as flames shot six feet into the air through the hood of a taxicab parked just outside. The driver valiantly fought the flames with a small extinguisher, which availed him little. Within minutes, no fewer than three fire engines arrived on the scene. As bored firemen bandied about their axes and neighborhood children looked on in awe, the first engine's hose was brought to finish the job. Now, the driver is standing by his car making phone calls, looking disappointed as the fire crews roll out."

Photo by Sam Reisman

About an hour and a half ago, Bwog was journeying south on the east side of Broadway when we noticed three men sprinting west across moving traffic towards the other side of the street. People stood on the sidewalk between 111th and 112th and observed the men as the chase unfolded. "I hope they get him!" yelled one spirited citizen to no one in particular.

Bwog asked a passerby what was happening, and she informed us that one man made off with a wallet that did not belong to him. According to our passerby-informant, the wallet was taken from a pedestrian on 111th street. The first man (whom Bwog could barely make out in the distance) was the bandit, and the second two men who followed him were good (and fast) Samaritans.

Public Safety wasn't aware of the incident when we spoke with them on the phone a few minutes ago, so not much is known about the current whereabouts of the wallet or the wallet bandit.