New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-11
TIE FIRE RECORD.
OIL WORKS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.


GREAT CONFEDERATION IN wEEHAwKEN, N 1.-THE
| ERIE OIL WORKS BURNED-Loss, 100000
The Erie Oil Works at Weehawken. n. j., opposite
| West Thirtieth-st., New-York. were destroyed by
fire last night The loss cannot be definitely stated,
| but 1t cannot fall short of S6OO.000.
The origin of the fire was very remarkable. At
6:i5 p. m. Mrs. Rodgers. the proprietor of hotel
near the Erie oil yard. saw tho light
| ming strike large tank in tho
yarde, which contained 1900 barrels of oil. The
| flames shot up instantly into the air to great
| hight Those who saw them said that they must
have assembled at least 800 feet The fremen from all
| the neighborng towns were soon summoned and
hastily began operations upon the other tank.
But the flames spread with inconcevable
| rapldlty. Tho tremen were compelled
| to abandon ono tank after another
and at midnight five of the large tanks, each OF
| which contained 5000 barrels, were burning while
there was still another underground containing 90
600 barrels which was also on fire.
The flremen seemed poworess to stay the flames.
The salt water which they drew from the river did
not seem to have tho Same deadenlng
| effect rs that from our hydrants. The
| two streams that only were brought to bear upon
| the bursting and shooting flames seemed to simply
add to the intensity of the contlagrton. More help
| Kept coming up, and the department. by making
connections hoped soon to be able to bring
greater volume of water to bear. The
large number of workmen vino have
been earning livelihood in these works
stood around, unable to stay the raging flames that
were so rapidly destroying their means OF earning
| their daily bread and supporting their wives and
children The mass of flames made the
neighborboOd so hot and filed the atmosphere
with 80 dense smoke that no ono could
| nah q, lander
assistance. The entire ncighborhood was
in danger, and the owners of dwellings
near by were upon the roofs spreading wet carpets
and bedding soaked with water to prevent the
hying balls of flame from setting fire TO their hab-
tatOns.
Several smaller tanks with 125,OOO barrels in all,
were now burning; but four tanks were still I'M
touched. There was no hope of saving them
The cOopershop and number Of buildings
used for store-room, charpenter- shop and ship
ping sheds were in danger. and it was thought
that they would be destroyed, there was no
water but that obtained by suction from the river,
and as there were only two streams at work.
number of tow-boats on the scene early
in the evening and lowed all the vessels from the
docks large number of oil cars and other rolling
stock was saved The actual loss could not be ascer
tanned as the fire is likely to burn all to-day, but it
is estimated at 100000.
Great interest and excitement was created in the
city, as the western sky was brilliantly lighted by
the 1ames and it was thought that the conlagration
was the burning of one of the towns on the jersey
border.
The streets leading to the ferries and many house
tops were crowded with people watching the flames
and the reflection they made against the sky. Humid
reds crossed the ferries to witness the fire from
nearer point of view, but the almost isolated site OF
the burning oil works preventing almost every one
from going to the scene of the disaster.
The Erie Oil Works the largest if not the most
extensive works of the kind in the United States. all
the oil coming over the Eric Railway being stored
| in immense buildings at Weehawken.
| Much anxiety manifested among insurance
men, as much of the destroyed property Is insured
! in Newly ork companies No accounts of the amount
| OF insurance could be obtained last night but the
loss will fall heavily upon some OF the companies