The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-20

OF their property.
The OIL Pier,
alongside of which was moored the schooner
Barre l. was about eight hundred feet in length,
and was built about three years ago. Some tive
thousand barrels of oil were stored on the dock,
ready to be shipped to-day. The lighters all
lay at the lower portion OF the pier am na1 no
chance of escape, some eleven being totally de-
stroyed.
The Tobacco Pier
was eight hundred and sixty feet in length and
leased by A. s. Jarvis Co., owners of the ex-
tensve tobacco and cotton storage houses in
Jersey City. AT the extreme end lay the ship
Wagen, and alongside the wharf the barque
Free Trade and lighter Ceres, all of which were
about three hundred and fifty bales of cotton.
portion of the pier was covered, and as soon
as il was found impossible to save the dock,
Mr. II. Henwood, one of the firm of Jarvis d
Co., Immediately commenced throwing the
cotton overheard on the upper side. While
doing so the flames on the upper side burst
through, and Mr.. Henwood had a narrow escape
for his life. As it was, he was badly burned
about the lace and hands.
The Railroad Pier
is about the same in length, ald is used by the
Erie Railroad Company. There was on the pier
about thirty cars loaded with grain, etc some
half a dozen Of which were totally destroyed,
all the upper portion of the dock being also
more or less damaged, the entire portion burnt
away about twenty feet, and about fifty feet at
the end. 1t is due to the Jersey City iremen to
say that through their efforts the pier WAS
saved from utter destruction; also a ne " pier
Immediately adjoining, from which the iremPn
had good chance to bring their pipes to bear
on any portion of the dock.
The OIL Yards
are about six hundred feet square, covering
nearly the whole front from the railroad pier TO
Jarvis dock. The whole place was filled with
petroleum, greater portion in tanks. The loss
on oil could not be correctly ascertaned, but it
was mostly owned by Hewitt & Schofeld, Avery
d Burtes. Road Ross, Robbins IL Co., Lam
bart Stephens, Robin Il Jacoby, and Giles
Polhemus.
1t is reported that there were two trains loaded
with tanks Of oil to be brought in to-day which
has fortunately been saved. The ruins of the
oil yard present more the appearance of q hoop
yard as nothing Is left but the iron hoops of the
barrels They lie in piles all over the burnt dis.
trict, that it easily be seen that there was
an immense stock of oil on hand.
There were some ten cars loadel with oil also
destroyed, and about two thousand empty bar.
rels that were piled outside the building
The Shipping.
There were no less than from thirty to forty
vessels moored alongside the docks, and as soon
as the fire began to spread efforts were immedi-
ately made to tow them out in the stream; At
first it was found impossible to obtain tugboat,
and many of the sailors and tiremen cut the
vessels adritt, so that they could float out How
| ever, the steamtugs VHgintd, Seymour, the
| Snlith, and two others, hove in sight, and were
soon alongside the docks. The ship d. W. Wtqjen
being in the most immediate danger, two of the
tugs got lines fastened to her stern and tried to
| draw her out; but it was found that she was
aground, and it being low tide all efforts proved
| frultless and they were compelled to abandon
| her to her fate.
| The Rebel blockaderunner the Saxon was
secured and towed into the stream, also two
| other steamers and the brig Arlington. Some
| halt dozen lighters were cut adriit, but were
| however, secured by one OF the tugs and to wed
| 10 place OF safety. After the fire had become
| considerably subdued, the tugs Seymour and
| Snolth ran up alongside of the Wdjen and got
| three streams OF water in her sides, with the
| hope OF saving portion ofthe cargo, consisting
| of tobacco.
| At one time number Of barrels of oil that
| were blown overheard by the explosion began
| floating out from which sheets of flame arose
| and it was feared that they would set fire tC
other vessels: but through the efforts of severa
parties in small boats they were prevented from
doing any damage.
| The Losses.
| The following is the total loss, as far as coulC
be correctly obtained, amounting TO over ont
| mllion:-
Loss of vessels and cargoes.. ............ $409, IL
LOSS Oh uocks' zlUOO
| Loss on c. ntents on docks, sneds. etc. 100
LOSS on Colton' ''''''''''''''..''...'''' ~ w
Loss on railroau ana cars. ................. oO w
Total loss. ........................Sl 81 O59 II
.nanlNI 4