New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-13
TIE FIRE RECORD.

THE Loss ESTIMATED At s2j0O0O-10,OOO BARRELS OF
OIL Observation-Disclosures TO BE RESUMED Id
MEDhTELY
The fire at the Weehayken Oil Works con-
unued to burn yesterday, but all danger Of the flames
extending the village OF Weehavken ceased after
about midnight Saturday, although the possibility
was so great during the whole Of that day that few OF the
residents OF the place felt safe, until nearly daylight
Yesterday. The sudden and peculiar origin Of the ire
it having been caused by stroke Of lightning on Friday
evening" was on Saturday the topic OF conversation
among all those who gathered about the scene OF the
disaster One OF the neghbOrs who had witnessed the
bolt descend into the tanks asserted that as quick as
the fash itself and oug before the reverberton OF the
thunder had ceased the flames from the tank IN
a column Of several hundred feet, the descend
ing ram apparently aggravating the haines'
In very few moments other tanks ighltedi
but before they were fairly on uFe
number Of workmen had managed, By means OF the
tank caps &C. 10 smother the hames aud It was then
hoped that the fire would be confined to the one tank
the oil in which, however burned with great fury Tho
works covered space 81 ground OF about Ave acres Cd
which iron tanks, containing about 65OO barrels
Of OIL two large brick warehouses; one 2s5 feet square
the other somewhat smaller the engiuerooD. feetby
"a feet the Offices, the crude oil wharf $50 rect ongi
the refined oil wharf feet long; the north refined
oil wharf 325 feet l0ng-al being covered by sheds
feet to the point OF the gabe-roo and few small sheds
about the yard, all OF which were Enclosed Wind
wooden fence. The heat 80 intense and the tanks
30 near each other that II impossible to coune the
fire 20 the place at which had originated and long be-
fore midnight Friday several OF the large reoeptaces
OF OH were IN flames illuminating the whole Of the
surrounding country and sending into the sky heaVy
rolling columns smoke which left the tanks with great
rapiditv but after rising few hundred feet, hung
like a thunder cloud the scene and then lazhy
moved toward the south The flames as they left the
omen tops OF the tanks produced roaring sound that
aFnlr "
smoke ulumined IL in such manner as TO mako 70
appesr for few seconds Ike rolling masses OF molten
rou changing into gray and then black THIS con-
dit on Of affairs continued until O'Clock on saturday
morning. the first real alarm arose Tor the saiey
of the viage-a number Of small stores drinking places
and tenement dwellings. principally OF wood and onl.'
for the accommodation OF the men employed at inc
vorks beng designated as the village. The Super'n-
tendent and workmen, during the early stages OF the
fire. had taken tho precautiOn 20 remove nearly al he
Trolling stock OF the Erie Railway Company, consisting
OF OIL and freight &c. 10 a side track under tne
HILL and far removed from the fire, and but SIX coa
cars remained on the track, three being laden Win
coal and three empty They subsequently, de-
stroved AT about o'clock a. N. a tank WHICH
was on fire, and containing about 100 DaItels Oh o"'
burst with thud and scattered the blazing OH IN every
direction driving of every person VINO was engaged
upon the other tanks setting fire TO those tanks In the
vicinity that had get become ignited causing me
ties OF the railroad the fences and everything within
reach that could burn take fire, and spreading over
the ground wide OF blazing OIL which ran ourh-
ing toward the river. Within short time, thud AFTER
thud told the anxious crowd that number OF tho
smaller tanks mad also burst and the Inhabitants OF the
houses then thought look after their house
hold effects, as there seemed no hope OF SAVING the
works and but little OF preserving the village The
efforts OF the fremen totally unayans except 20
throw water upon the dwellings, TO prevent them
iguiting from the heat; but the supply OF the lmpd
element from any land source was 80 small In that
vicinity that little could De done even In this direction
while the bursting of the tanks drove away those VINO
had been engaged drawing water from the river Inc
inhabitants therefore removed their furniture into tie
fields AZ far from their dwellings as possible.
About a. NJ another tank burst, and soon the large
brick warehouse 2S5 feet square was on IRE The gfaVe
covered roof fell Hat upon the burning umber ana 70
great extent smothered the fame and tits supposed that
by this alone the fire prevented from eXtendingto
the second warehouse with which was connected oya
she'd The office two-story building at one corner Of
this warehouse secured with iron shutters prevent
sad 10 he stored All the important books OF the works,
ncosed in safe. The wind beng IN favorable ufee-
ton. every hope was entertained early on rit,urdsy
Of saving the two large tanks AZ the northwest
Corner OF the works each OF which contained 900 gal
ions of Kerosene oil. and which mad up that time
ped the fury OF the flames shortly after 10 o'clock
ent Of tue Enc Railroad and H. sweet, the supern-
tendent OF the OIL Works, were waking over the
grounds making al INSPECTION OF the property
10000 barrels. aud containing at the time ABOUT
1860 barrels suddenly and unexpectedly burst
and scattered blazing oil over the grounds the rail-
road swamp outside the works. etc. 10 the depth OF
over a foot. several narrow escapes OF men, women
and children occurred, many men risking their
lives the little ones. Mr.. sweet was cut on rom
his companion by the blazing OF OH and neither
OF the men able state how he escaped or from
what point he left the grounds. The large tanks OF
Kerosene shen gnited, aud the perils OF the village
increased rapidly the oil burned with fearful fierce
Fortunately the wind was blowing from Doth the
saved warehouse and the village, ana continued TITS
The shipping had been towed away from the docks
during preceding night and although tine piers,
sheds &C. we're destroyed during the progress OF tho
fire nothing except some OLD Darges on when had Dech
about 1900 cords Of wood, were burned ana these only
because IL would not pay 10 tow them out into the
stream, charging $50 for each vessel they
The quantity OF oil DESTROYED is said by those con
nected WIN the works 70 &c ,ot aoS" S P'ge' Us
ported belong 20 the Standard OIL Company, Messrs
Neyhart Gusteuberger Of tA.s city, and Others The
damage 20 the works, including the pumping engine,
piers, ling stock &c, Is estimated al about SDe1
Messrs Br gs have lost about 5000 empty barrels which
on one OF the piers walng TO be nled Win OH.
There other Losses the details OF which could not 20
ascertaned making total Oh ABOUT $500. aas
days There we're runors OF loss OF lie ana
injury TO Tie workmen put the reports are not
Late on Saturday evening arrangements made 10
M o today one OF the TANKS and several barrels con-
tanning refined oil having been saved from the destruc
OF business to-day, especially as the Office ono
large warehouse &C. have been saved About 40 feet
business will prevent much suffering among the hund
reds OF VINO would have been otherwise thrown out
VI employ ment.
ELSEWHERE
A fire at Toronto Saturday morning, on
Daly-st, DESTROYED two Large dwelling houses aud out
buildings. Loss $4,000.
The sash, door and blind factory of A. Reed,
West Depree, near Green Bag. Wis., destroyed by
IRE saturday morning Loss $4,000; insurance 5000
iii IL. NJ