The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-11
BLAZING OIL.

OBSTRUCTION OF THE ATLANTIC OIL REFINERY
IN SOUTH BRooKLYN-Loss BETWEEN THIRTY
FIVE AND FORTY THOUSAND DcLLARs-oNE
MAN BADLY BURSED-NARRow ESCAPE OF
SEVERAL FIREMEN
The extensive oil works known the Atlantic Oil
Refinery, situated Smith street, between Hamilton
avenue and the Gowanus Canal, South Brooklyn,
were destroyed by fire yesterday morning About
half past SIX O'Clock, just before the Gay workmen
were about to commence their labors, Nathan Marks,
the engineer In the act of cooling the 'agitatora
portion of the machinery used the creating" room
10 refine the oil, the gases emitted from it be-
came ignned. The unfortunate man was severely
burned about the head arms and legs He ran out OF
the factory and plunged into the canal, from which
he was by his fellow workman exhausted
condition. Inc ambulance was summoned and Marks
was removed to the Long Island College Hospital,
where condition was pronounced Serious but not
necessarily fatal.
SCENE OF THE FIRE
AS soon the EXPOS took place in the agitator
lhe flames immediately communicated TO the nve
great tanks, which rise TO Inc height OF about
iorty feet and which contained from hve hun
ured TO Thousand barrels OF oil each.
The oil works several lots. and have frontage
OF 1I3 eet ON Smh street, 20 ieet on Hamilton ave-
and extend back the Gowanus Canal for "A dis
100 feet. The structures oil one and Two
built OF brick and frame, and all the
surrounding oil My combustible character.
When the II ines reached the oil tanks u colossal
umn oil fire snoI up into the clouded morning sky TO
the neigut OF 100 ieei, and then follow
OF heavy black smoke which derpened almost to
Intense darkness the immediate surroundings OF the
place.
The bells OF The Guy Hall tower and the Sackett
street sounded The ularm and in less than len
minutes stearners Nos. anu were on the ground,
and duder direction OF Cnie Engineer Nevins and As
slsiant Engineer Dale were soon hard at work Flame
followed fame, and The smoke was binding and ma u
seaiing Tho extreme Adjoining the Atlantic
WORKS, on The north side, are the HUDSON OIL Works,
whore quantities of fine oils arc manufactured
mud refined, the flames beat heavily stead
lily against the solid orck walls of that factory, winch
take fire. The damage done to the latter works was
slight, however. and the property is iuily insured
second and tnird alarm signal was Sounded which
hao the elect OF bringing engines Nos. l, B, 4
10, bes dies three truck companies OF tue West
The tremen bent their energies 10 save
The surrounding property. several streams We're
brought bear upon lumber piled on boats and In
yards bordering on the burning premises, and also
upon the coal sheds OF the Metropolitan Gas Com.
pany's works across The canal
NARROW ESCAPE
While the fire WAS AZ ITS heigut party OF hremen,
about Twelve IN nrmber under the direction OF Chief
Engineer Nevns were Standing the root OF one
story BRICK structure, near one the large tanks,
when the corner of Ire tank blown off win great
force and tell H. The conclusion was great that
Two OF lpe uremen ware blown OF the roof put Tor
tuuatey they injured Inc chief engineer had
b is cap blown of intoth fire. Several thousand spec
iators assembled about the burning WORKS. hronging
The Streets par.lv interruptng for short while
travel the Smith street ano on the Hamilton ave-
nue. llre OF horse cars Sections OF men OF the
mana OF Captain MsKeiiar kept actively en-
poyed IN diving back the surgng crowd.
BY uine A. VI. the fire well under subsection
several OF the engine companies we're sent uack
10 their stations but the oil continued to burn until
eleven o'c'ock, mad beco exhausted, alter
totally destroying the structures, stock anu ma
chinery.
THE LOSSES
The property destroyed, which was valued at from
S35 goo $40, 900, owned by James Donald Z
CO., OF No ia Maiden lane, this city, ane was not
insured The loss of James snaug hnessy, of No. 142
Pearl street, this city, the Hudson OIL Works Will
not exceed $500.