The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-06-04
Prom tn. New Ya. rhsune. an. N
A Rtrer on Fire-FyaAtisg the Fio~es-@
Singular Erpssiient.

tn. great FIRE at the Deyoe Works Hunters
po;nn Continued to burn al through Tuesday
night, the oil tanks continuing to blaze wltf
unabated fury, some ~ 100 gallons OF OIL oeihe
consumed. One incident connected with thu
burning Of the oil in these tanks 10 well worthy
Of note. It appears that at the lower end OF the
dock. fronting the East River, tank containing
several thousand gallons Of bensinc was en'el'
oped in flames all night, yet strange to say.
tank filed with kerosene oil, which immediately
ad;oipcd Il, remained untouched.
Al about 0 O'Clock yesterday morning, the
brip Advance, which had been burning Al night
capsisci, prccipitsting hundreds Of gallons Of
burning oil into Newtown Greek. The flames
spread rapidly over the surface Of the water,
and another alarm OF fire was Immediately
sounded, bringing all the engines Of the Eastern
District back to the scene Of the disaster. The
tide was flowing strongly into the creek from
the East River at the time, and the seething
mas Of burning oil spread rapidly up the oreek.
and in the direction Of the new Hunters Point
bridge. ,t. -,
the scene ut this point was terribly grand.
The entire creek from shore to shore, and from
the poins of its influx into the East River nearly
nm TO the bridge, was one living. lurid sheet Of
aame. which would ut intervals shoot up to an
amazing height, the whole covered with dense
masses of black smoke. The banks were lined
by thousands Of excited spectators all drcading
the calamitous results Of this most extraordi-
nary disaster, but all powerless 70 check the
progress Of the devouring element. The fire.
men were in despair; their apparatus were oil
constructed to draw water from hydrants, and
there being no plugs In the vicinity, the only
available water was that of the creek, which had
now been rendered inaccessible. The greatest
danger apprehendcd was that the flames, which
were RAPIDLY approaching the new bridge, would
be communicated to that structure, in which
case 10 all probability, II would have been to
tally destroyed. The means finally employed to
arrest the progress Of the flames were only dis
covered by fortuitous accident.
An individual standing upon the bridge.
watching the flames almost ut his feet, picked
up large stone, and hurled II quite thought,
lcssly into the stream. Instantly 1t was noticed
that the sea Of fire was broken by the spiashinrg
of water, caused by the falling stone. and as the
circle of waves gradually increased In sire the
flames reccded until o CLEAR space OF TWO or tnree
wards In diameter had been made. The idea
Tins suggested was rapidly acted npod; tht
crowd of bystanders rushed to the brick-yau o.
&c. Provost, and returned loaded with bricks,
which they commenced hurting into the stream
Lines were speedily formed for rapidly passing
the missiles from the brick-yard to those on tho
docks; the men worked with will, and in IN
incredibly short time, UPWARD Of two thousand
bricks had been hurled into the stream. Tit
violent agitation Of the water thus caused, had
the effect Of checking the progress Of the flames
and with the very material aid rendered by thu
tug-boat Fuller, the conaagration was soon en-
tirely stayed.