The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-06-30
-Four Reiinerics, Two Storage Yards
and BridGde Over the Allegheny
Destroyed.
\ rcnrlnI moIocnusl Of Liquid Firc.
Loss Over Half ii Million.

WI hllON II AZ illG AlkAtN VI NhAlS
ylvania occurred yesterday afternoon, in
the Eighteenth ward, opposite theborough
Sharpsburg, resulting in the entire de
struCtiOn Of the Eclipse Oil Works and
the partial burning Of the Citizens and
three Others, and the destruction OF the
Sharpsburg bridge The terrible contIa-
grafton was caused by the simultaneous
striking by lightning Oftwo oil tanks-onc
belonging to the Citizens and the other to
the Eclipse Oil Works. One life was lost.
When the storm was ut It's greatest
height, Il gentleman tells us he noticed an
immense tongue Of fire shoot down from
the heavens, which, At IN altitude Of an0hl
five hundred feet from the ground, divided
ut about right angle, each Of the FORKS
striking an oil tank, and in IN instant set
Ting the contents on fire. Ofthc tanks re-
tGrrcd 10, one was in the yard attached to
Tho EcIipsc Oil Works, and the other in
that of the Citizens Oil Refining Com
pany ,...
anil intensity, and shook the ground i'll
the vicinity us though it had been done
by an earthquake. Persons who were III
the locality say that after descending
straight us an arrow to within short dis.
lance of the earth, the fluid suddenly sep.
aratcd and spread out like the bursting OF
rocket, scattering balls Of fire in differ
cnt directions, which played over the
tanks for nm instant and then disappeared.
No sooner had the lightning communi'
Gated with the tanks than, at the instant,
they exploded, shooting thick volumes OF
smoke up into the air, while the flames
from the burning oil rolled about the top
Of tile tanks in huge masses.
1t was not long before the wind shifted
the last increasing blaze from tank to
tank in the immediate vicinity Of those
first set on fire. Now one, then another
Of the tanks would explode, the burning
oil thcrclrOm scattering in all directions:
Rapidly the fluid sought its level, and
here and there over the green grass the
burning oil had wGnded its way, carrying
destruction in its Tack. Out.houSes,
barns, sheds, stables and fences fell alike
prey to the dcvouring clement
Before the wind went down it had
swcpt the flames from the burning tanks
farther south, and in M incredible short
space Of time it was found that the ma.
tionl," the astral" and the anchor
rClincriCs were also on fire.
Close to the "Eclipsc' works was the
residence Of Dr. TwCcddIc, one OF the
principal owners. Almost instantaneous.
" with the first explosion the Doctors
residence was discovered to be on tlre,and
it was with the greatest difficulty that the
family of the Doctor escaped At all. The
effects Of the flash Of lightning was felt in
the house and the inmates ut once rushed
for the doors Three Of the children OF
Mr. Lockhart, Of this city, were on visit
to DR.. Twcddlo's family, and nj the mo
ment 0l the alarm dartCd ont Of an open
door and alightcd in puddle OF oil that
had ran from one Of the tanks, They
were Immediately rescued by gentleman
passing and conveyed 10 the residence OF
MIR. CNislctt, ut the Cemetery, where they
remained until change OF rniment was
provided for them.
A domestic employed in DR.. Twecddlc's
family was so badly frightened by the
storm that she took refuge in the cellar OF
the house, and when the building caught
fire it was with the greatest difficulty that
she succeeded in escaping from the Inst
increasing flames. Mrs DR.. Twecddlc and
the other inmates OF the house made II
narrow escape, and indeed most lucky
one. as they had scarcely reached the road
when the entire building was a mass Of
flames. Nothing whatever was saved Of
the furniture Of the house.
About the time that DR.. TwcedulcS
house took fire the burning oil rushed
madIy down the car track on the road
lcading.to the Sharpsburg bridge. Just
before the entrance to the structure the
burning mass separated to each side
of the bridge, and the flames shoot
irg upward soon gruspcd tho
bridge within their fiery embrace,
and It at once became evident that Osave
the bridge was beyond human power.
Notwithstanding the heavy fall Of rain
which, it would be supposed, had satura-
ted the bridge, it burned like so much
finder, and span byspNn the ruins fell into
the waters OF the Allegheny and tlOAted
away,
4 puddlcr who was on the bridge cross
ing to the opposite side Of the river from
Sharllsburg, when nearing the eastern end,
discovered the burning oil making quick
time over the foot path. As the indivi-
dual expressed himself to our reporter,
ABE CORA, and it was quick time made
back to SharpSburg to bate that oil
While the bridge was being consumed
the burning oil ran down the track of the
Allegheny Valley Railroad, setting sever
al tank cars on fire and subsequently com
muncatmg the element to the National
oil works, which were the last to join in
the general Contlagration. At this mo-
mcnt no less than five distinct oil works
were on fire.
The mir was perfectly black with smoke
while here and there tOngucd fork of
fire would ascend toward the sky. The
scene was also varied Rowand then by the
explosion ola tank, which would happen
with dull heavy sound like that produC.
ed by the firing Of distant cannon. AS
the great volumes Of flame would roll up
amid the black clouds Of smoke, seeming
TO grasp the eNvens in their fiery embrace.
The scene was truly grand.
When the flames were ut their height
and the Conilagration ragged the widest, Il
TulHOT OUluluCu EICu'IlCC tuAt ouC VI lIlc
clerks employed in the office Of the
Eclipse" works had not succeeded in
making his escape. At once party Of
brave hearts determined to visit the burn
ing building and see if they could discover
the missing individual. The fierce raging
OF the fire, however, intcrlered for some
time with the accomplishment of
the mission, and the party was com
PEELED to loregO their visit of mercy for II
short time. Az soon us the flames had
partially subsidized in the neighborhood Of
the Office, The gentlemen again pressed
forward, and from haSty glance ut the
apartment were convinced that the gentle
man, Henry Foster, had made his escape
Turning from the door OF the Office,
:. .L.... Ed