The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-04
pETROLEUM-GAS EXPLOSION.


Kerosene Oil still Blown Up-The Building
Set ON FIre-The Ruins and the Loss-Tbe
Cause of the Catastrophe-Weak Old IRON
work. ti-,h
sudden and terrific explosion occurred on Tues
day night at nine O'Clock at the village OF Bliss
vile, q small cluster Of factories and tenement
houses, about mile distant from Hunters Point
Most OF the factories are buildings which comprise
the extensive oil works OF Mr.. Howard W. Burke
The counting room or the establishment is at No.
Cedar street. New York.
The builuing IN which the accident occurred
stands near the Newtown Greek, little way from
the street which leads from the ferry at hunters
Point. It Is now o scene OF almost
INDEsCRIBABLE RUIN.
The walls OF great thickness ana built OF brick,
were dslntegrated into fragments-lfted from their
firm foundations and hurled II Of pasteboard into
sorry heaps OF confused, unsightly DEBRIS Those
which are still standing are blackened and shattered,
with the cement, melted like wax from the intense
heat, CONCEALED In dark, tur6ld corrugated sheets
on their Sides OF these portions OF The building the
roof Is gone, either blown of or burned by the
flames the windows are broken and the floors
fallen. On the west side OF the range OF stis IS q
desert OF ruins and portions or the ROOF 0I the part
or the building which was
UTTERLY DEMOLISHED
fell upon the railway SO that II 1t were not branch
that ID used very seldom some Inconvenience might
have been accustomed TO the company. Within a
few steps OF the exploded still IL gasOmeter,
Cured, having been distnsed for some Tune. the
other buildings Of the works, In which are large
quantities. OF oil, are also very near but none were
fne ruins were attacked yesterday BY workmen,
directed ny Mr.. Owen McCair0n, the engineer, aud
they labored cheeriully in removing the debris.
THE LOSS
Is said to be very large, but no certain estimate has
yet been made. and the refining process cannot DO
resumed In several months, although the masonry
Is TO be promptly rebuilt.
construction OF the stills In which the crude coal
Oil or petroleum. Is heated with the requisite tenn
rslaa nom Inc pe,roem passes through pipes 10
q cOndensing vat In which are vessels surrounded
by cold water, and III these 1t becomes again
some of which are sunk in the ground. 1t Is then
refined OIL supposed 70 bear the test OF 100 degrees
OF heat Farenhelt without explosion. That The oil
manufactured at these works Is 80 refined was
proved by thus event, as there was no explosion,
accident originated although I'LL the other petro-
leum, whether crude or otherwise, IN that vicinity
In this division OF the building there are six Stills
ranged IN row, with furnaces under them. 1he
station OF the who attend 10 Inc stills, however,
| seems to be on the opposite side. Heat indicators
are placed az both cnds OF each still, and 1t Is certain
THE TEMPERATURE OF TIE OIL
at the moment at which the explosion occurred was
not above that ordinarily used, eighty degrees.
defective. Like the Inflated boiler OF the West6ed
| IL mad been patched many times In many places,
and In these it still leaked somewhat. The aper.
lures out OF which the gas formed within escaped
| To the air were on the sides, the top aud under
meath. There Is u
| GREAT DANGER
always In the possibility OF it reaching the nre
| The attending worknen, little before nine
O'Clock, were on the west side OF the stills
| and noticing the gas was escaping, both
climbed up on the TOD and shovelled sand over The
holes IN tue iron shell They then Went 10 tue Iur
| mace doors on tho other side for the purpose Of
"hauling the fires. In that moment they heard
THE TERRIBLE DETONATiON
as Of an earthquake within few feet OF them, and
| were daZzed by an Illumination brighter and more
| Intense than that produced by an instantaneous
nash Of lightning The west end Of the still was
HURLED THROUaH THREE HEAVY WALLS,
| which interviewed between It and the side OF the
| building, producing the destruction which has been
described. 1t Is probable that The gas, continually
escaping, caught DIRE from the furnaces, and the all
being full or II, instantly communicated the
flames to the Interior OF the still, which
exploded In an instant. The other tanks ana yes
sells containing oil instantly caught ire, and the
whole blazed high up IN the sky. like the vomt OF
volcano.
THE LIGHT WAS INTENSELY BRILLIANT,
filling the heavens, and was the only thing visible
In the horizon for miles around.