The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1877-04-27
A SPLENDID BLAZE.
Forty-.iN Thousand barrels of Coal OIL
ON Fire.


NPbENDID BLAxE-
Forty-.ix Thousand Barrels Of Coal OIL
ON Fire.
[Choago Times.
PIrrspuRa, Pa. April 21.--The parti-
culars of the great contlagratlon at
Troutman village, In the oil region,
state that the fire was the most thrilling
and awe-inspiring ever Witnessed In that
country. The bolt Of lightning which
accomplished the work OF destruction
seems to have struck tender spot in
tho north side Of the immense tank, as
IL split perpendicularly from top to bot
tom. OF course, the entire contents,
twenty-fo hundred barrels Of oil,
rushed out clothed in sheet OF fire.
The top OF the tank was blown in all d.
rections and pieces Of strong timber
were carried hundreds OF feet from the
tank and left upon the banks OF the
creek as the first wave receded.
MThe sides were spread out Hat upon
the earth. Almost simultaneous with
the first came the explosion OF the Sec
tense heat about 1t. This, though 1t did
not overflow just then, added to the
brillianey Of the scene, and furnished q
fair proportion of the dark columns OF
smoke which were carried eastward q
sufficient distance to form perfect bow
in the heavens, the opposite ends touch
ing the horizon. Presently the gas FROM
the third tank farthest south ignited.
Then it was that the fire became fierce
ly beautiful. Hundreds Of people from
all parts OF the country fiocked to the
scene, and during the progress OF the
destructive work the hillsides were
crowded with them, and around the
burning fountain were congregated
multitudes, who stood In perfect silence
as they gazsd upon the scene.
The village OF Troulman lays but a
short distance from the exploded tanks.
on the opposite side OF the creek, and
In northeasterly direction. The first
dwelling house encountered by the fly
ing flood was that OF Mr.. Garvey, and 1t
seemed but an instant from the explo-
sion till it was wrapped In flames. He
saved nothing. Next came the office Of
Mr.. Fowler, which stood equally as near
the fire, but by some means the build
ing, given up as lost by the owner, was
left standing without anything more
serious than a scorch. Passing Fowler's
all the other buildings along the creek
bank were licked up in few minutes
time. Nothing was saved In any or
them, not even the wardrobes, except
in one or two instances.
The furious billow rolled with such
rapidity, that at Batesville, half a mile
down the creek, the hardware store Of
Fitch was consumed, with all its con-
tents, though the owner had all the
warning possible to be given. He occu-
pied the upper portion Of the building
as dwelling house, and had to fly with
his family without even saving his most
precious articles. At the mill-dam, a
short distance below Fitch's. the burn
ing oil was retained, but little passing
~ hot
being extinguished as 1t flowed over
with the column Of water. Now ap
peared grand sight. just above Is a
large pond of wafer, which was covered
with the consuming liquid. Then up the
creek to the place OF beginning, half q
mile or more, a lake OF fire without
birthstone was visible. At the foun-
tain head Of the fire there was
no particular change until
O'Clock this morning. At this time
a cannon arrived from Petrolia, and the
work Of piercing the sides or the burn
ING tanks commenced. This was done
IA order that the oil might be permitted
to pass down the creek. At the fourth
round. however, the tank Collapsed and
81. 1000 or &C, 900 barrels Of oil rushed down
over the same territory so completely
swept by the first. II anything. the
scene was now more brilliant and i'm
posing than before. Then it changed,
and over all hung a dark cloud whlch
seemed to portend the day OF reckon
ing. To-day the scene presented des-
olate appearance. The entire fat was
covered with remnants Of a dozen pipe
lines, pieces of the bursted tanks, small
portions of burned rigs, engines. boil
ers, telegraph wires, and everything the
fire could not consume rapidly. The
second tank, called the Cochrane. con-
tinued to burn till about noon. Up to
that time the wind blew the fire against
prevented from igniting by the steam
which was forced into 1t.