The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-06
THE OIL CONFEDERATION
DisasGFOus Fire Oa BeDnehOG Run-FOur.
teen Wells Fire.

teen Wells Fire.
From the Reno Times February 2.
At o'clock last night we received the follow.
ing despatch:- ...I.
PETROLEUM CENTRE, January 3l.-Editor Reno
IfneS:-A great fire is raging on Bennehof II In.
1t originated from spark from the smock-stack
of the Getty Well. All the wells in the vicinity,
twenty-five in number, are on fire; about 1000
barrels OF oil consumed AS the oil runs down
the stream the fire follows, and ls setting every
thing within its reach on FIRE. The oil is still
burning as 1t flows from the wells.
Our reporter immediately started for the scene
of the disaster (eaven miles dlstant) ab obtained
iull particulars which will be found below
Yesterday afternoon, as some of the carpen-
tiers fweIe employed in erecting tanks at the
Getty Well, at about o'clock p. NJ, ii suddenly
took fire. and before the lapse of twenty minutes
it had spread over the surface of at least acre
o. ground, wrapping in the flames no less than
nine of the best producing wells on the run. As
near as can be estimated, there was accumulated
the consumed tanks, previous 10 the fire,
about 1000 barrels OF oil. No. % on the creek
recently gave excellent signs of becoming q
large producing we'll, but the tools recently got
fast and delayed its further development. 1t is
probably owing to this cause that all the wells
on the run were not ignIted The ire proceeded
from the Getty Well upwards until it reached
No. 20, and consumed the engine house, der
ricks, ETC., on this lease Also
At this stage heroic son Of the Emerald Isle
mounted the roofing of the adolng TANKS and
| notwithstanding the imminent danger of the gas
| arising from them catching fire and wrapping
| him in certain and terrible death, he continued
| 10 pour water down the sides Of the tank which
| was Tapped up by the fire on the ground at the
base. There was no oil on No. 20, and owing
| to this, ard, stated by number of spectators
| the efforts of the party alluded to, the flames
were kept from proceeding further up the creek,
| and at least half of the wells saved. 1t is sup
| posed that the carpenters engaged about the
| Getty well had been smoking and thus origi-
| mated the fire. So soon as the tanks burst
| the LIQUID flames rolled down the valley OF
licking
| in lis career. In half an hour from the
| first outbreak stream of fire nearly half mile
| in length extended down the stream, and several
| engine houses and derricks we're thus consumed.
| The rails OF the horse track which was laid up
| the run, were bent and twisted by the heat into
| all the shapes of writhing serpents. The bridges
both on the track and highway were generally
! burnt. Burning pools of oil, trees fiery to their
| tops, mouldering masses OF ruined machinery,
| twisted tank hoops, and blackened stumps,
offices and hillside are all that remain this morn
ing to tell the sad tale. The following list of pro-
perty consumed has been compiled hastily, but
| will probably be found not far from correct:-
The Getty, owned by r. p. Getty q Son, DIR.
Getty and &. c. Getty, with all surroundings,
| and 2000 barrels Of oil in the tank, etc.
The Harkn WE'LL tank, etc. including 1900
barrels of oil, owned by s. Ross, X. c. Cotton,
Pulver Estate, j. j. Osborn Hawkins & Mallory,
and 4. rockingham
No. SO, owned by Messrs. Coddlngton, Spence,
| Wilson, Moore, and Others. The tanks were
| supposed to contain 1900 barrels OF oil.
| No. "a, owned In great measure by the same
parties. Two tanks containing 500.
| No. 20, owned by NOwlen g. rockingham, and
| Others. No oil consumed. ...
No. 2S, owned fully by the Bennnhof Run
| Petroleum Company, with 900 barrels of oil
The Clarke Well had previously stopped pro-
| ducing, but its tanks contained considerable oil
belonging to other parties, all OF which was
| burned
On the Getty Lease two derricks, engines, rigs,
| etc., were destroyed. On the Harklus or Froth-
| iugham Lease the same number suffered a Ike
tate; ditto on 33; one well on "a. On the
| Northern Light Companys territory two wells
were burned, one OF which was producing some
| OIL The other was being tested. Probably not
more than three hundred barrels OF oil wds de.
stroyed on this territory. To be included in the
| damages are several rigs on leases further down
the creek, and the injury sustained by the
| railway
The following wells are still safe, VIII
| The Western Union Telegraph, the RunceY
| Wells, Nos. and ., the California Wen, Phla-
delphia Well Spence Well, and No. TO-
| The BeGnehoff Petroleum Company are said
| to have been insured. but the extent is not yet
| ascertained So iar as informed, noEe OF the
working interests were covered by any insu-
| rance whStever,
The wells which have been ournt over were
| producing as tollows:-
Harkins Well el....................200 200 hbls per dav
Getty Wei. l,............... 3D. ..175 bbls per day
| NIaIk Wen. I........,,...,....'''''. notnlng
90 NO 1....,,....... 'lVO pD D. por uuN
90 NO q z0O po,s Pol uaf
..,.... Y bbls per day