The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-07-07
HE GREAT OIL FIRE.

Wayne Co. Democrat.
IHE GREAT OIL FIRE.
Oil Tanks Struck by Lightning-:Five Oil
Refineries in Flames--The Sharpsburg
Bridge Burned--LOss Over Half q Mil
lion Dollars--Partial Insurance--One
Man Burned to Death.
One of the most distrous fires ever
known in Pennsylvania, occurred ON
Sunday afternood, June 26th, in the
Eighteenth Ward, Pittsburgh, oppo-
site the borough of Sharpsburg, re-
sulting i'll the entire destruction of the
Eclipse oil works, and the partial
burning of the Citizens and three
others, and the destruction of Sharps-
burg bridge. The terrible confagra-
ton was caused by the simultaneous
striking by lightning of two oil tanks
one belonging to the Eclipse oil
works. One life was lost.
From the Pittsburgh Commercials
account of the fire, we copy the fol-
lowing:
THE CoNFLAGRATIoN.
About half-past two o'clock the
lightning struck simultaneously a
twenty thousand barrel tank belong
ing to the Eclipse works, and one be-
longing to the Citizens works. The
burning oil from these set fire to the
adjoining premises, and flowed rapid
ly down to the bridge, setting fire to
all buildings that came in its way, and
soon tie bridge was enveloped in
flames. 1t was but an instant and a
pail as black as midnight settled over
the entire vicinity, and men were flee
ing from the terrible scene without
scarcely being able to see their way
The flames swept down upon the Of
flee where Mr.. I'll. B. Foster, the book
keeper of the Eclipse works, was sit
ting, and only few charred remains
are left to tell his sad fate. gf
A man named Valentine Holly
Jumped from the second story of the
Eclipse works and was bruised; he
was followed by man named Patrick
Welch, and they endeavored to assist
the family of DIR. Tweedle to escape.
A cooper who resides at Negley's Run,
was seriously injured in jumping from
the window, and had to be taken to a
hospital.
In few moments the scene pres
sented was indescribably and awfully
grand: The spectators who stood up
on the hillside above the bridge could
obtain a complete view of the dread
full confiagration. About fifteen acres
of burning tanks dwelling and build
ings lay just below them. From each
tank came boiling up immense coll
umns of dense smoke. and ever and
anon the flames would leap akyward
as if anxious to follow the pillars of
smoke in their upward course. Five
huge columns of black smoke marked
the points where oil tanks were burn
ing, and the dwelling house of DIR.
Tweedle and the buildings of the
Eclipse refinery filled in the interven-
ing space with lurid flames. BEYOND
this, clearly cleaning through the
smoke, the sharpsburgh bridge was
| to be seen, clearly defined, and blazing
and cracking about to fall. Soon it
fell, on each side of the high pieces
the woodwork fell into the river and
serpent-like fioated Kissing down tha
current. aa Hsa H. l-g9 -
Just then there arose from the burn
ing mass of the Eclipse ruins the
screeching of the six large boilers,
and the crowd drew back in momen-
| tary expectation Of an explosion
The valves whistled and screeched in
tone that sounded like the mourn
ing of some unknown monster over
the awful spectacle.
| The conflagration extended along
river bank for about a half mile and
the ties of the Allegheny Valley Rail-
road were set on fire. and the rails
wrapped into almost every conceivable
shape.
The alp was filled with burning cin-
ders, and some of the first struck and
ignited tank of crude oil belonging
to Forsythe Brothers, and also set fire
to the settling and agitating house of
the National Refining and Storing
Company, over quarter of mile
below the place where the fire first
broke out, The Astral works of Mr..
John b. Bell were also partially burn-
ed. A large number of tanks fortu-
nately escaped. AT the National oil
works the Independence saved tank
near the building by throwing a
steady stream of water. Tho Anohor
Refinery, Pilwppth Rpothers owners,
was also slightly damaged: :
THE DEATH OF Dir. FOSTER. %
| Our reporter also conversed with
Mr.. John Moreland, who found the
eharred bony of Mr.. Foster and he
stated the remains were found Just
where Mr.. Foster, who was book
keeper of the firm, was likely. to have
been. a
| The body was subsequently, identi-
fed as that of Mr.. Foster, by the find
ing of his pocket knife and other =
ticles being recognized by DIR. lived
die last evening. Mr.. Moreland, the
telegraph operator of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, whose of
fee is in the same building with Mr..
Foster, stated that when he left the Of
| t,rrk Tarxy L. Al