Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-29
EXPLOSION OF AN oIL.wELL-Loss OF LIFE AND


IL has already been briefly mentioned that oilwe
in Warren county, Pa took fire few days ago and ex
poded with ghtful effect causing the loss OF eighteen
lives. A letter gives the following additional partcu'
lars: -
well which had been drilled over two hundred feet
nv HawIey & Merrck had struck oil, but the yield be-
ing less than expected the pumping was abandoned and
drilling recommended. Over hundred feet further
were drilled when at half past five on "Wednesday eve
ming a sudden rush Of oil through the five inch and
half Tubing threw out the drills and gushed up in the
air forty feet above the surface of the ground At the
least computation it was throwing from seventy to one
hundred barrels an hour Above this mass OF oil, the
gas of benzine rose in cloud for fifty sixty feet. As
soon as the oil commenced gushing forth, ell the fires OF
engines in the neighborhood were Immediately e1tn
gushed.
At about halfpast eleven, as large number of men
and boys we're around the well engaged in saving the OIL
the gas from the WELL which bad spread in every drec-
ton took fire from the engine OF well over four hun
dred rods distant when in second the whole air was In
flame with crash and roar like discharges from
park of artillery As soon the gas took fire, the head
Of the jet OF oil in furious blaze and falling like
water from fountain over space one hundred feet in
diameter each drop down blazing globe OF boil
ing oil. Instantly the ground was flame, constantly
increased and augmented by the falling OIL AT once
scene of Undesirable horror took place. Scores were
thrown fiat and for distance of twenty feet and num-
beIs horribly burned rushed blazing from the hell of mis-
fortune shrieking and screaming in their anguish.
Just within the circle of the flames could be four
bodies boiling in the seething OIL and one man, who
lower part OF the ground, was killed as he dug, and
could be seen as he fell the handle OF bis spade,
roasting in the fierce element. Mr.. H. R. Rouse, OF the
firm of Rouse Mitchell Brown, of the village OF Ea-
terprse, Warren county, gentleman largely interested
in wells in this locality, and whose income from them
amounted to 81 900 day. standing near the pit and
was blown twenty feet by the explosion. He got up
and ran about ten or fifteen feet further and drag
ged out by two men and conveyed TO shanty some
distance from the well When he arrived not yestge
OF clothing was left upon him except his stockings and
boots His hair was burned oh, as well as his finger
nails his and his eyeds while the balls OF his eyes
were crisped up nothiuguess In this condition he
lived nine hours made his WILL leaving 100000 to the
poor of Warren county the same amount to repair the
roads of Warren county, and 5000 year to his father
his ouly living relation for life. He died, however,
without signing the will.
The bodies of five other were recovered and re-
cognized. In addition there the skeletons OF five
others visible within the circle OF ame and as many are
missing strangers who came 10 witness the operations
Of the wells 1t is supposed that number OF others
have been burned powder close by the mouth OF the
well. Some thrtyfOur we're wounded.
At the time of the explosion every thing in the neigh
borhood-sixty or seventy rods-took fire, and slan-
ties derricks epgneh and dwellings, were at orce
involved 10 flames. The boiler Of Dobbs' well, eighty
rods from the original fire. blew up with tremendous
explosion killing instantly the engineer, wesley skinner
adding another Intensity TO the evenings horrors. At
this time the whole air was on fire. The jet oil rushing
up forty feet almost pillar of vid flame, while the
gas above it, the distance Of hundred feet was flash
ing exploding dashDg toward the heavens, and appa-
renty licking the clouds with its furious tongues OF heat
Ali this time during this tremendous combustion, the
sounds of the explosions and burning were so tremend
Gus and continuous that they could BIO compared TO moth
ing but the rushing of hurricane or tornado through
forest The heat of the fire was so intense that no
one could approach within $50 feet without scorching
their skin garments. 1t was the most frghtful and
yet the grandest pyrotechnca display ever vouchsaied
to a human being
On Friday morning the oil was still rushing up, on
fire. with the regularity and speed throwing it
was calculated least 100 barrels hour, covering
immense space with flaming ola loss to the proprietors
of the well of from $4,000 to s25. 900 daily No hui
man power extinguish the flames, and tie oil must
burn on until the well is exhausted No pen can de-
scribe its eceness tongue describe the magnitude
of its horrors Thousands OF spectators visit the
every day. 1t seems the earth is really fire, and its
elements about to melt with fervent heat. The flames
were last accounts still ascending to the height Of
eighty feet.