The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-06-14
Thirty-fve Acres Of Fire Burning Of the
Atlantic Refinery Five Ships Destroyed
Loss Nearly a Million Dollars.

PHILADELPHIA June l1.-During n thunder |
storm about lO4, a. m, lightning struck
the pumphouse Of Che Atlantic Refining Com
pany at Point Breeze, on the Schnylkill river,
in the southern section Of the city. The
works Of the company, which, together with 1
the works of the Atlantic Petroleum Storage |
Company, both under the management Of
Warden, frew Co., occupy, with their va
rious buildings, tanks, &c., about thirty-iye |
acres Of ground. Along the river front were
stored about $4,000 cases of oil, and in |
the river by the wharyes were number Of
ships and banks loading or loaded with oil
The pump house where the lightning struck
is long frame building, in which was stored
mass Of machinery. In few minutes the
flames communicated 10 large filling ware
house where the barrels are filed. This was
soon enveloped in flames, which then ex-
tended TO the superintendent office and res
idence, thence to the cooper shop and then
TO the long line Of sheds on the wharf by
this time an immense quantity of crude and
refined oil was ablaze. The burning oil was
running in all directions, and the long line Of
wharf property was soon one continuous blaze.
BY the time the city FIRE engines reached the
scene FIVE shops on the river and 10000 bar
rels of oil and the surrounding buildings we're
burning fiercely for distance Of over a thou
sand yards, aud the heat had become so in
tense that very little Roadway could be made
| against the fire. The first Of the vessels in the
river to catch fire was the Fa, an Austrian
bark, loaded with 1900 cases Of oil, aud il
was soon burned to the waters edge. The fire
then communicated TO the +. Rech, a German
bark from Leghorn, which was empty; the
Giuseppe Quinton, an Italian bark from
Genoa, which had reached the wharf only
about an hour before the FIRE started also
empty; the lion, Russian bark, with about
1000 barrels Of oil on board, and the Had-
son, a Norwegian ship Of 1000 tons, which
was nearly ready for departure with 1000
barrels Of oil. All Of these vessels we're de-.
stroyed; but others lying near by, aud
amongst them the Norwegian bark Magnum
and the Swedish ship Edward, were lowed
out of danger by the tugs. On the opposite
side Of the river a number of other vessels
were anchored which, owing TO the tide, were
unable TO get away, and great CONSERVATION
and confusion prevailed among the crews.
At about four O'Clock the line was drawn,
and the FIRE spread no further, but at ten
O'Clock tonight the area which the FIRE had
covered was still mass of flames. II will
probably continue TO burn until tomorrow al
least, and possibly for several days. No est.
mate could be obtained from those interested
as to what the total losses Of the company
will be. II has been variously estimated
at SSOO,OO0. IL is understood the com,
pany has no insurance for this loss, but that
the Atlantic Company (which is now CONTROL
ed by the Standard Oil Company participates
in an insurance fund which is pooled by tn,
various oil companies.
The hulls Of the vessels burned were al
insured abroad. The value Of the total car
goes destroyed is estimated at $4,000. Tn,
cargo in none Of them was insured, because
, they were not fully loaded, except the Fa
! which had an insurance Of Sl4 900 in the in
, surance company Of North America AL
I though there were numerous explosions, n,
lives were lost, and no serious injuries result
. ed to anybody, but several narrow eseapei
were made. The lightning which started tn,
fire at the Atlantic Company property strucl
three other different establishments in IN
= vicinity, but no serious loss resulted to them
The Atlantic Refining Company is the man
, moth concern which was formed by the con
soldation some time ago Of the various small
! concerns which were grouped at Point Breez
just below the gas works, and about one aa,
e a half miles north Of Girard Point elevator
T. Some time ago there was grated upon it III
: adjacent works Of the Standard Oil Compan
4 and the Atlantic Storage Company, and thi
!. consolidated corporation, at the time OF tn
b fire, may be said to have embodied all the OF
d works on the east side Of the Sehuylkill, an
: covering in extent an area of four squar
: miles. The works we're of the most compre
J. hensiye character, the company being III
: virtual magnate Of the trade in refining an
{ shipping. Vast quantities of crude and refine
5 oil were kept here, and dozens upon dozens
. stills were IN constant operation. The wharye
d which are nearly mile and half in length
were ut all times-as they were this mornin
lined with sailing vessels in ballast or loade
with oil and ready for clearance.