Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-05-09
FRIGHTFUL EXPLOSION OF An OIL
Well.

we nave alreaCy made mention OF an
explosion of an oil we'll in Warren coun-
ty, Pennsylvania. We extract the fol-
loving particulars:
A we'll which had been drilled over
two hundred feet by Hawlcy and Mer-
rick, had struck oil, but the yield be-
ing less than expected, the pumping was
abandoned and drilling commenced =
Over one hundred feet further were drill
led, when at half past five on Wedncs-
day evening a sudden rush of oil through
the Ave inch and half tubing threw
out the drills and gushed up the air for
ty feet above the surface of the ground.
At the least computation it was throw
ing from seventy to one hundred barrels
per hour Above this mass of oil, the
gas of benzne rose in cloud for fifty
or sixty feet. AS soon as the oil com
menced gushing forth, all the fires of en-
gines in the neighborhood we're imme-
diately extipguished.
At about half past eleven, as large
number of men and boys were around
the we'll engaging in saving the oil, the
gas from the well, which had spread in
every direction, took fire from the en-
CINE ola well over four hundred rods
distant, when in q second the whole air
was in flanse, with crash and roar
like dischar-es from a park of artillery.
AS soon as the gas took fire, the head
of the jet Of oil was IN furious blaze,
and falling like water from o fountain
over space one hundred feet in diane.
ter, each drop come down blazing globe
OF boiling oil. Instantly the ground
was flame, constantly increasing and
augmented by the falling oil. At once
scene ofindescribable horror took place
Scores were thrown Hat, and for dis
tancc of twenty feet, and numbers hor-
r}bly burned rushed blazing from tie
bell of misfortune, shrieking and screa-
ming in their anguish.
Just within the circle of the fame
could be seen four bodies boiling in the
seething oil, and one man, who had been
digging Il ditch to convey away the oil
to lower part of the ground, was killed
as he dug, and could be seen as he fell
over the handle of his spade, roasting in
che fierce element. Mr.. II. r. Rouse,
of the firm Of rouse, Mitchell Il Brown,
of the village of Enterprise, Warren Co.,
a gentleman largely interested in wells
in this locality, and whose income from
them amounted to $1,000 a day, was
standing Fear the pit and was blowed
twenty feet by the explosion. He got
rp and ran about ten or fifteen feet fur
ther, and was dragged out by two men,
and conveyed to shanty some distance
from the we'll When he arrived not a
vestise of clothing was left upon him ex-
ecpt his stockings and boots. His hair
was burned off, as we'll as his finger
nails, his ears and his eyelds, while thc
balls of his eyes wero'crisped up to moth
ingness. In this condition he lived nine
hours-made his will, leaving 100, 600
to the poor of Warren county, the same
amount to repair the roads of Warren
county, and $500 year 10 bis father,
his only living relation, for life. He
dssd, however, without signing the
will.
The bodies of five other men was re-
covered and recognized. In addition
there are skeletons of five others visible
within the circle OF flame, and many are
missing strangers who came to witness
the operations Of the wells. 1t is sup
posed that a number Of others have been
burnt to a powder close by the mouth
ofthc we'll. Some thirty-four were woun-
ded
At the time of the explosion every
thing in the neighborhood- sixty or
seventy rods-took fire, and shanties.
derricls, engine houses and dwellings
were at once involved in flames. The
boiler of Dobbs' well, eighty rods from
the original well, blew up with a tre-
mendous explosion, killing instantly the
engineer, Wesley Skinner, adding en-
other intensity to the evenings horrors.
At this time the whole air was on fire.
The jet of oil rushing up forty feet was
almost pillar of livid flame, while the
gas above it, to the distance of hun
dred feet was flashing, exploding, dash
ing toward the heavens, aud apparently
licking the clouds with its furious ton :
gucs of heat IVhectiag Union.