The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-14
GREAT OIL FIRE.
Details Of the Conflagration at
Negley'e Run.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF THE TANKS.
Over Fifty Thousand Barrels
Of Crude Oil Destroyed.
THE LOSS AND INSURANCE.

PITTsBURo, Pa, June IS, 1875.
The great oil connagrasion at Negley's Run, some
six miles above this city, which commenced
yesterday afternoon, continued through the night,
and not till this morning did IL expend It's force
and It's Jury The works are called The Br1iant
OIL Refinery, are owned by Lockhart Frew, ana
are considered about the most extensive oil con-
Germ in the United states. They were first started
In 1866, and every year saw them increase by
additions till their capacity exceeded almost any
two renneries In this section OF the country. tho
nre originated In the tank on the hillside, con-
tanning some %. 900 barrels OF distilled OIL, which
is crude, ready for the stills In the refinery. How
IL caught IL profound mystery; but, once on IRE,
IL roared like . furnace and soon after the iron
rivets let go ana the boiling oil down on to
the track OF the Allegheny Valley Railroad ana
across the little stream OF water 70 the bleaching
house, the warehouse and she barrel house
OF the werks. These are all wooden buildings,
and the wind sprevailing at tho time caused
the flames TO run along them ike wildfire, and In
q brief time they were aoaze from one end 10
the other. In the barrel house there were not
less than co. 900 new barrels paraffned OIL. which
were entirely consumed. The property OF tne
works extends for almost nalf a mile up the run,
and in this space was the refining carried on.
and some thirteen tanks made or boier iron
were located. all OF which contained either crude
oil, distinate benzine. refined oil or tar. The IRE
no sooner struck one tank than there would DO
an explosion, like
THE ROAR OF ARTILLERY,
and the burning oil, flowing In every direction,
would ignite everything OF an innammable nature
within reach. A row OF eight houses occupied
py laborers or the works. next took IRE, and so
rapidly did they burn that the inmates simply got
away with their lives. An effort was now made
to dam the creek ana connne the oil SO to keep
4 rrn fuar huft m nUr
a large force OF men were working jealousy In
this direction they failed, and tho burning oil
shot out into the river, reaching half way
across the stream. The IRE at this time was fear
fully grand, and thousands Of people lined BETH
sides OF the river and the hill tops were fairly
black with humanity. About hall way mp in the
run was great iron tank holding $4,000 barrels OF
crude oil, owned by Gran, Bennett Co. Several
lines OF hose played on this for some time, and 10
was thought 1t could be saved. Suddenly there
was seen arise above this reservoir thick vapor,
which, with every moment increased in volume,
and tnen loud report and the tank vomited forth
black column OF smoke and IRE which lit up stili
brighter the heavens for miles around. A truck,
steam engine and hose carriage at this moment
narrowly escaped destruction. They were uniting
their Efforts to save the bridge OF the Allegheny
Valley railroad when this lresn stream OF OIL came
upon them, and the nremen had to nee TOT their
lives. The engine and truck were saved from
destr uction by locomotive. There was
ANOTHER HUGE TANK
containing a, 600 barrels OF Crude oil at the ex-
IRENE end OF the ten acres burned over; but the
Wind, fortunately. changed about TINS lime and,
allowing the nremen to work, they saved this
stiIl houses and treating houses was saved. from
the fact that the building Is cut stone and every
reg aopu bn ron r,d ue neas Vas 30 ass
the scene or render any aid IN staying the prog
Tess OF the are.
LOSS AND Insurance.
Lockhart Erew, owners oil the works, esti-
mate their loss at 100000; but the representa-
tives OF the insurance companIes put II az lower
figure, believing tnas $780, 900 wiz cover every
on tank OF crude OIL (25.ooo barrels). owned by
Gran Bennett Co., there Is al Insurance OF
the FOLLOWING COMPANIES
Niagara, oil New YORK, $1,000; German-American.
OF New York, 81, 5O0 Hoffman, New YORK. 1900;
Royal canadian, $500; French Insurance corpo.
ration, S. 600; Western, OF PItts0urg, $1,000, and
Armenia, VI Pittsburg, s., 800
Locknart Prew have insurance only on their
bleaching mousse, barrel house and storage house,
amounting to $50, 600. in New YORK, Philadelphia,
HARTFORD Rittsourg and English companies. Many
OF the companies In which they nave policies re-
fused to renew them even at higher premium
than that paid last year. Their policies expired az
hoen csnSny ssp ,ns mi amonnt Of taeir norsas
LocEhart Frew's loss above their insurance will
be very heavy, ana, IS stated before, they estl-
mate u at higher figure than the insurance men
Will admit
Tue bridge or the Valley road, spanning Negley's
Run, was made or iron but Notwithstanding this
the ties ana tlmpers were entirely consumed, and
. large force OF workmen are engaged to-day In
relaying tue track The rails are twisted In every
conceivable shape Ii ~ expec ed that the repairs
will be 80 lar completed as 70 admit or the pas
sage OF trains Tonight.
BY the nre fully 900 barrels OF crude OIL were
destroyed. Great piles OF hoop heaped up here
and there tell OF the destruction IN the way OF
barrels.
ORIGIN OF THE FTRE
some attribute the conna9ratton TO q spark
from locomotive finding its way into the oil tank
near the railroad, but TINS tank mas been there for
years anu was wei protected from such danger
Indeed the works were about carefully con-
Quoted as was possible for men TO conduct such
innammable AFFAIR, and after its destruction the
Oh men have lost faith IN the preservation OF such
property against the ravages by nre. The con-
1agratioa was one or the largest and most severe
tnat mas visited this place for some time. and the
Dlackened valley smouldering ana emitting an
almest unbeara0ie stencn OF burning tar ana
acids, was to-uay visited Dy thousands Of curious
people.