The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-23
ALARMING FIRE IN JERSEY CITY.

Terrific Explosion In q Petroleum ReHnery-
The Engineer Burned to Death and Three
Men Fatally Injured-Loss @3O,OOO-The
Building in Ruins.
An explosion occurred about half.past eight
O'Clock yesterday morning IN the petroleum refinery
of Richards Sons verpanck situated at the corner
Of Prospect and South Eighth streets, Jersey City,
caused 1t is supposed. by the overlooking OF the Oil
or contact between the naptha and the fire In the
furnace. The first explosion was followed by
second and third, the last absolutely carrying
into the or, to height Of nearly 100 feet, great
part Of the structure, and sending forth volume
Of dense black smoke that enveloped the entire
vicinity for several minutes Scarcely nau
the falling debris settled the ground when
masses Of it displaced by the explosion of oil
barrels In rapid succession. Sheets OF fame rolled
up amid the clouds Of smoke, and the fierce liquid
swept across tn cove 1t licked up everything CON-
bustibe. A large quantity Of lumber lying In the
water was thus quickly disposed Of.
AS soon as the fremen arrived on the ground 1t
resolved 10 effect On entrance to the still room,
where the workmen were employed. In the effort
four OF the remen were slightly scaded. They sue
ceeded in reaching three Of the workmen, who were
Frustrated by the flames aud smoke and an examin-
burned One Of them was SO suocSed that he MSs
insensible for long time after beng taken out.
Their names are Henry Uhter aged twenty-hve;
Theodore HdebYand, foreman, and August Pittner.
The latter resides In West Hoboken and has wife
and two children. Hldebrand has also wife an d
that death only can bring relief. He fingered In
great agony during the day, but he cannot survive
Passing under the doorway further leading to
the engine room one OF the fremen beheld n sight at
which he stood aghast There lay In the midst OF
the ruins crisped frying mass OF esh the horrible
remnant Of man who had been an active member
of this busy world half an hour before. The features
were burned away and the body 50 contorted in a
carbOnized crisp that the blood runs cold at the
thought OF what even human being may come to
In the end. This Is all that remains OF Joseph Lit
ginger the engineer, twenty-five years OF age, ma
tive Of Augsburg, Bavaria. He was unmarried. 1t
Is said that the unfortunate man on hearing the first
explosion rushed TO the engine room to shut or
steam and thereby prevent any further danger to the
and the building, but poor fellow, he persisted
In the attempt. Had he consulted his own safety
merely he would be living to-day but like the heroic
mariner who stands at his post till the passengers
are ali safely provided for and then goes down In the
wreck this engineer risked his life TO Others in
stead Of making his escape. II this be not herolsn
there Is none on record
One other man Is missing, and there can be no
doubt as to his fate. The fire continued 10 rage,
despite the efforts Of the fremen, and at hal-past
twelve O'Clock the stables or John ID. Carscalen, at
the corner Of Sixth street, caught fire and was al
most totally destroyed. Through the exertions Of
the firemen the corner frame dwelling house attached
saved. The loss In this case is about $500; fully
insured. About $500 worth OF timber was destroyed
and an old scow lying IN the cove was also burned
down. The loss on the refinery, including stock and
machinery reaches $4,000, which is insured as fol-