The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-09-20
PRICE TWO CENTS.
RIVERS OF BURNING OIL,
THE DESTRUCTION OF AN OIL RE.
FINERY IN BROOKLYN,

Eighteen Hundred Barrels Of OIL Consumed
Narrow Escape of Chemical Works and
Lumber Yards-Strenuous and wcII-di-
rected Exertions Of the Fire Depsrt rtment.
At ten minutes before 0 o'clock last evening,
the ~atchmsn employed In tho vesta oil. Works,
on Gowannus canal, at the foot OF First street,
Brooklyn, discovered fire ia the receiving room Of
the establishment. The flames were apparently Just
breaking out when discovered, but before the
Waterman could escape to the street 70
sound an alarm, they spread to oil parts
Of the extensive Establishment. enveloping
1t In one vast sheet of flames. A. the fire reached
the great tanks and reservoirs that were nlod with
oil explosions occurred, Fastening the destruction
OF the bniding, and spreading the IRE throughout
all Its parts.
The Ere department, under Chief Engineer Cuu.
ningliam in person. was promptly on the spot and at
work, but the utmost they could do was to connne
the fire TO the premises In which It originated,
which, with all the oonteuts Of the establishment
buidings, stock, and hx;grcs
WERE TOTALLY DEsrROYED
The refinery consisted OF rarge OF low wooden
buildings, fronting the canal and Frst street ex
tending halfway up First street toward Bond, and
halfway across the block toward Second street
Back OF the refinery, and facing on Second street,
the extensive lumber and brick yard OF Messrs.
Christian & Hughes, which, through tho is,renuous
and vetl directed eIertions OF the 6remen, wss
saved with trihing loss OF about $780, which was
more than covered by insurance. The partition
fences and some sheds were DESTROYED but though
the fierce flames OF the burning oil spread directly
over and literally covered the piles OF lumber and
ath, tho steady and powerful streams OF water kept
upon them saved them from destruction.
Directly opposite the oil works, across the narrow
canal, was the
LARGE CHEMICAL WORKS
OF Messrs. II. j. Baker a Bro. These works con.
nd harr ia nf onna nIi
bcride immense guam Titles OF other dangerous aud
combusablc material. The Chief. Engineer directed
prevent their taking nre. The ERE apparatus OF the
Chemical Works was also put in operation, and the
and thus very fortunately escaped any damage from
the FIRE. Had the flames communicated with them
tile result would undoubtedly have been
rKARruLLY DsAsrRovs
At the time tho hre broke oui, q lighter ladies'
with crude oil lying In the canal in front the
Refinery. This was fortunately removed without
damage.
The refinery contsiped three immense wells, or
sunken tanks which wece filled with OIL containing
thousands o. gallons, which was all consumed. Be-
hundred barrels Of refined oil, READY for market, in
the establishment also several hundred pro.
pared for shipment abroad. The explosion OF these
tanks, barrels. and cans, in rautd succes.
sion, eSnld be heard long distance
until after midnight. As tho vessels one aiser ano-
ther exploded, the released oil rolled the fierce
RIVERS rLANE
In all directions First street was fed with water
tearly foot In deTtb, upon the surface of which
the burning OIL noated aud spluttered, deiyng the
stream OF water thrown upon It, and driving the
ntemen before It by the intense heat.
On the opposite side OF First street were
ROW OF FRAsK rESEAES1s,
occupied by Il nnmber Of lhborers families. Early
In the evening tho remen took refuge from the heat
In these buildings and thence directed their streams
upon the burning pile In front but the flames
caught their shelter. and they wero driven out
These buildings were taved, though in a badly
damaged condition. The tenants lost considerably
In the hasty removal OF their effects. though the
amounts we're not large. The buildings were owned
by Edward Glockcn, but whc,lier insured or not
was not ascertnined.
1.he oil works were owned by Messrs; Yenni q
were in their onlce In this city They were uDable
in consequence TO give The exact amount OF their
stock, or the Insurance upon H.. They estimate
their loss IN material stock, and fixtures at $40 OOO
TEcs~rre insured Tor $i2 900 in the London Liver.
pool, Home, and Wiliamsburgh Comp.nies The
buildings were OF little value, and uninsured.