The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-28
A Big Kerosene Fire.
PARKER, Pa, August 16.

Parker city has just marvelously escaped
destruction. The lightning on THURSDAY
morning at five O'Clock, struck what is
known as the Munhall tank, located at the
conjunction of two small ravines. leaving
the river on the east side about q quarter Of
a mile apart, directly opposite Parker, and
inclosing Kellytown in a semi circle extend
ing back half a mile. The lightning split
the tank, which contained 20, 900 barrels of
oil, and sending two rivers of fire into the
Allegheny, destroyed quite a number of
dwellings and oil rigs that stood in their
paths. On the ravine south stood the Cha
jant Il Robinson tank, containing 90, 0
barrels Of oil, which took fire and promised
q lively blaze. A force of men at once
mounted the tank, and, by the application
Of wet blankets, smothored the flames.
They could not kill the smouldering fire.
which continued until eight O'Clock last
evening, when a number of holes were cut
in the tank. under the impression that q
direct application Of water would prevent
any further outburst. The contact of fresh
air with the smouldering oil Sc: it ablaze,
and in fifteen minutes afterward a terrific
explosion followed, which blew the top of
the tank forty feet in the air, carving with
it ten men who were drilling the holes.
Their names and injuries received have al
ready been published. The oil burned
gradually until ten o'clock. when an over
flow took place and the burning fluid ran
down into the river, but in SO small a guam
tity that it did no particular harm.
ANOTHER EXPLOSION.
About twelve o'clock a forcible overflow
took place, throwing the oil upon the
which was full, located just north. The
h urni,n oil ooTCoH tho ronarof1on of % ~,
the Crawford in sufficient quantities to
cause an explosion such as has never before
been witnessed or heard. There was not 4
moments warning, and the destruction was
wholly unexpected. Pieces of the iron were
whizzing in all directions for q distance of
three full miles, while the conclusion was
50 great that nearly all the windows on Riv-
er avenue were shattered in small fragments,
not excepting the French plate glass a
quarter of an inch thick, in the windows of
some of the large stores. The conclusion
wa. distinctly felt within a radius of five
miles. The oil in the tank caught the flame
and one solid sheet of fire rolled into the
river and then spread over the water for 3
distance of 400 feet across the river and a
half mile down the stream, sending the
flame in serpentine curves 400 feet in the
air and Gaping them with a dense black
smoke. which shut out the light Of day and
placed the city in a brilliant glare.
As sooa as the explosion took place and
the people living on the fiat or business
portion of the city saw the 20, 900 barrels Of
burning oil rushing into the river with such
rapidity, they thought it had sufficient
speed to sendit to the Parker side, and
there was enacted one Of the widest scenes
ever looked upon. The people became
panic stricken in an instant and most com
pletely lost their heads. Men, women and
children frantically rushed to and fro
through the streets, the children crying,
the women wringing their hands and Civ
ing voice to the most agonizing screams and
the men-well the men were more crazy
than the women. Finally some one cried,
Make for the HILL" and then there was a
rush. Mothers picked up their little ones
and sought the most direct way up the pre-
~cipitous bluff. Men pulled their wives
along with a suddenness that seemed almost
brutal. and in some instances carried them
upon their backs. Houses were left with
out any attempt to save even Jewelry ana
such other articles of value as might be car
ried about tho person. They thought death
was shadOwing them, and were nlndtul
only of personal safety. At one time the
oGSSeS UNIV 81 Ohiy
flat, running l~engthwiss, were fairly packed
with a wild ungovernable, reasonless peo-
pie, forcing each other along and complain
ing because speedy progress was not
made.
THE V ON FIRE.
Those standing on the bluff, and safe
from all harm, describe the scene when the
river was literally on fire as one grand be-
yond human conception and beyond the
power of pen to describe. 1t was awful IN
it's sublimity, and even they were awed and
made breathless by the picture. The burn
ing oil touched the Parker side at a point
overhanging Mikes run, three-quarters OF
a mile south, and the flames ran SO high
that houses located in this point, 300 feet
down the river bank, were endangered and
were only saved by the application OF wet
blankets. In half an hour after the OIL
reached the river it was divided by the cur
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