The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-02

F0UR on REFINERfES BUENED-A MAN
ROASTED TO DEATH MARROW ESCAPES
.-THRyLLIyG SCENES-- GREAT loss OF
PROPERTY.
By the Pittshure papers Of Wednesday
we have full particulars Of the terrible llre,
caused hy Il lghtniug-Stokc,W which occurred
in that city on Tuesday afternoon. The
Chronicir says that since the 10th oi Aprl,
1915, there has been no such conllagration
there. The S,lddennesS of the calamity, its
appalling swillncss, the strange manner OF
its origin. and the terrible magnitude OF It's
results. render this fire almost without
parallel i'll the experience of Pittshurg.
The loss of human life marked the event,
and the destruction of property was simply
tremendous; yet fearful rs was the occur
renee, it seems miracle that it was not
more fearful, So narrow were the many cs-
capes and SO impctuollS the flames.
THE STORM.
Shortly after o'clock in the afternoon
the Skv became overcast with dense clouds,
and there were evidences of an approach
ing heavy storm. A lew minutes before
three, persons who were. i'll the more
elevated portions OF the city saw the storm
raging in that direction saw the vivid
dartines of chain-lightning saw even some
Of the effects the wind-Storm, and realized
that II great disaster was impending. One
! gentleman went upon the Mechanic-Strcct
bridge the better to see and enjoy the grand
sight the storm presented. While he looked
uD the river he saw Il magnificent bolt OF
lightning leap from the sky and descend
straight to the earth in the vicinity of the
SharushlIrg bridge. AS it nenred the earth it
"forked," and 4 second afterwards great col
unus of flame shot up into the air to height,
il seemed to him, of Il hundred feet. Then
immense masses of black smoke rose straight
| to the sky, and rs they seemed to touch the
| rain-coudS, spread out into white VapOr, rs
| if heated TO Il white heat. All the state
menis agree that the lightning simultane-
ously struck two tanks Of oil, but the ma
| jority of the witnesses aver that four tanks,
| belonging respectively to the Citizens, the
Eclipse, ForSythe Brothers, and the Ma
tional, retiucrieS, We're struck by the same
divided bolt. BE this rs it may, these tanks
were in flames almost, if not quite, at the
same Instant. Each exploded, and the oil,
in sheets and torrents of flame, ran out over
the earth in all directions. There was only
| one thing for human beings to do then, and
that was to escape from the swift pursuit of
death as best they might. 1t would have
been rs wise to attempt to stop flood of
| lava rs that Eamin. oil.
PROGRESS OF THE FIRE.
AS soon as possible an alarm was struck,
and the department, except two engines left
in town for emergencies, were on their way
to the fire very promptly. In the mean time
| the flames were making fearful progress.
| The largest OF the tanks struck and the one
which wrought the most dcsolation was Il
huge Observation-Disclosures tank on the
| Eclipse premises. This tank contained
eighteen thousand barrels ut the time. 1t
| IL. , t,r An
column of flame rose to a gl cat height in the
air, and in IN instant broad streams Of blrn-
ing oil We're rushing down toward the river
and along the SharpSburg road to the bridge.
The works We're situated mt the corner of
| the main road aud the road that leads to the
bridge. Between the works and the river
stood the splendid residence of DIR. Twed-
die, the principal owner of the refinery.
One great stream of fire ran swiftly to
the house and poured into the cellar,
filling it almost instantly. A servant girl
had gone into the cellar as Il place Of re-
fuee from the lightning. She had barely
time to escape up the stairs with her life.
Her clothing was OH fire, and she was some
what burned. DR.. Tweddle was in town at
the time, and Mrs. Tweddle was in the
house with her little boy, whose birthday it
was, and three little children of Mr.. Il. r.
Lockhart, who were spending the day ut
the house. She Instantly ran out with the
children, but the smoke was binding and
they became separated. Mrs. Tweddle was
saved by Il gentleman, who took her away.
The children kept together and fell into an
old boat, completely saUurating their cloth
ing with oil. They were rescued and taken
to the house where Mrs. Tweddle had
found refuge. Had the party remained 4
moment longer in the house they could not
have escaped. The house was swiftly con-
slimed, not an article being saved.
THE BRIDGE BURNED.
In the mean time another torrent OF fire
rushed along the roadway to the bridge,
and made its way swiftly across it. In lit
tie more than a minute from the time the
oil first reached it the wooden structure
was in flames from one end to the other,
and in less than ten minutes it was entirely
consumed. only the piers being left stand
ing. Parties who were fleeing from the
fire had run upon the bridge only to find
themselves pursued by fiery death. They
had q terrible race for life to the other end
Some of the people of Sharpsburg had
started across the bridge to see the fire, hut
were met midway by the flames, and had to
run at top speed back again. Fortunately
no one was hurt here.
THE ECLIPSE WORKS
formed the centre of the conflagration.
The property was owned prlnclpally ny III,
Twcddle, and occupied about ten acres OF
ground, The works were considered among
the finest in the world. The establishment
was in full running operation ut the time.
The flames spread about, and in few mo-
mcnts tapped up I'LL on the grounds. An
other tank contained 2,400 barrels crude
oil, another 600 barrels refined, O third
/ 900 barrels topaz oil, which, together with
fifty tons of parattine packed and ready for
shipment, were all consumed. The engl-
neer of the works, Alonzo Kennedy, had
just filled the boilers (siX in alD with water,
when he was compelled to flee. The heat
soon raised steam, and terrible kissing
sound was heard for a long time. Fortu-
nately the boilers did not explode. The
works and everything belonging to them
were utterly destroyed, together with DIR,
Tweddle's residence, i--
THE CITIZENS woRKs 80.
gre located Immediately above the bridge,
and occupied several acres Of ground. They
were in operation at the time, and large
quantity of oil, refined and crude, was con-
tnined in the tanks, in sheds, and barrels,
about the premises. Between them and
The Eclipse was the road, which turned
bend here to enter the bridge Lending to
Sharpsburg. The works had a capacity OF
ten thousand barrels per month. s'u a
The tank that was struck here contained
eight hundred barrels. Within few feet
of this small tank were two others, much
la rpor ono of which contained two fhou.