Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-06-14

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, June6.
At about half-past seven O'Clock
Tuesday morning, ahorrible calamity
occurred at the oil works of Alexan-
der, Scofeld & Co., situated on the
south 6nk Of the canal, just east Of
Central Way, close by the Atlantic
and Great Western railway.
From some unknown cause an eX-
plosion took place in the agitator, fol-
lowed a few seconds latter by the
opening Of a tank containing eleven
hundred barrels of coal oil. The pc
trOleum instantly took fire and burned
with such fury as only that substance
can. An immense column of flames
rose high in the air, swaying back
ward with the wind, sending out great
arms Of fire a. if eager to embrace
everything in its utmost range. Dense
/ clouds of smoke reached far above the
flames, and fairly shut out the rays
of the sun for a considerable distance
around the works.
The scene was grand yet terrible.
In that vicinity lay much valuable
property, and close by were other vast
stores Of oil, all liable to destruction
unless the course of the d~evouring
element could be speedily checked.
But this was not the worst. Within
and around the agitator It was known
that several men had been at work.
The alarm was given from box 10 with
all possible haste, and every effort
was made to save, if possible, the
men.
BURNED 10 DEATH.
One man was seen to try to escape
the building, and had almost reached
the outside Of the pillar of flame when
he fell and met a horrible death. As
soon as possible his body was taken
out, when it was found that the vic
tim was q man named Kehr, a cal
penter employed there. The corpse
presented a sickening sight. The
clothing was entirely burned of; the
flesh was charred and the blaekened
bones were visible in places, the hair
on the head had been completely
singed, red blood stood on the teeth
between the shrunken lips, and save
the show Of blood, the body resembled
the hideOus mumies sometimes seen.
The remains were taken to Howland's
during the afternoon. The deceased
leaves q wife and two children.
Just-previOus to the disaster, Mr..
Alexander, one of the proprietors,
went TO the refinery, and had tied his
horse by the agitatOr. After the fire
broke out il was impossible to unite
the horse, and the poor strangling
animal was burned alive. The buggy
was also destroyed.
OTHER CASUALTIES.
William Vail, foreman Of the works
was badly burned, but not fatally It is
thought. he was sent to his home.
John Flynn, a plumber in the em-
ploy Of Cosby & Mathivet, sent to the
refinery to work, was also burned
seriously and was sent to his home.
A young man named Booth, st the
time pouring water into the agitator,
was painfully burned about the arms
and elsewhere. he was sent TO the
hospital on the Heights, but was sub
sequently taken home by his father.
Thomas Henderson, boss carpenter,
vas standing near the Office talking
with Mr.. Alexander. He was pros
trated by the conclusion when the
explosion occurred and was slightly
injured. Mr.. Alexander was un-
harmed.
Il Is thought that none were fatally
injured except the unfortunate man
who was burnt 10 death.
THE CAUSE.
Of the explosion Is q mystery. There
was no FIRE about, and since Monday
men had been pouring water In the
Rgitator 10 cool the oil. The Their
mometer az the time OF the explosion
indicated that the temperature OF the
oil was seventy-six degrees, and II
was Intended 20 reduce the tempera-
ture only six degrees more.
THE Loss,
Mr.. Alexander informs u.s., will be
from $4,000 TO 500, 900, including the
destruction Of oil and buildings.