The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-24
FLOODS or BURNING OIL.
A Magnificent Spectacle at Parker City A
Terrible Explosion.

Dispatches from Parker City, Pa, deseriL'
| tho scenes ut the great iii tire ~ That plae'
| hast week as terribly grand and impressive
fhe 7imcs special thus describes the occur
| renee.
| For three days Parker has been In n STATE
| nf excitement. Since daybrnak on Thursday
morning, when the great 10000 barrel tank 81
oil was set ON fire by the lightning, fires have
bpen raging incessantly When the tan,
| burst streams of flame ran down the ravinea
Several houses in Kellyville We're destroyed
| aud when the oil reached the river the flames
| leaped upward Of three on four hundred feet
| The sight was n grand one, but no one
| Thought OF that. Parker City was In danger.
Happily, however the fire was stayed in that
direction, although the work OF destruction
among the oil still went on The first tank
destroyed belonged to tho VIM. Munhall Com
pany, of Pittsburg. Later in the day 1000
barrel tank, owned by the Graham Oil Com
pany, WAS destroyed
EARLY yesterday morning q third tank was
fired. This was the immense tank owned by
Chafant q Robinson, OF kttaH3ng. II held
"a 900 bbls Of oil, and was situated In the steep
ravine oppositat Oil Exchange. The flames
were partially smothered, but again broke
ont, and then. with an awful report, the top
blew off and the fire ragged erceIy In the tank
The excitement throughout Friday night was
Intense, Everybody waited for the end to
come When the oil should boil over it was
expected to tire tank containing 10000 bblS
In the direct lins which the burning oil run
were expected tn cross the river. The lower
portion Of Parker was in danger. People
moved their goods toplaces Of safety. The
remen We're ready at g moments notice.
No one slept that night. No one could with
danger 80 near at hand. The best WAS hnped
for, but no one dared expect it. All that could
be done to watch and watt
At IL - Saturday the oil overilowed, but
not SO heavily as was looked for. A solid
sheet of Hume ran down the ravine to the
river Great clouds Of black smoke arose In
the air The flames rolled over tho ground
and eaped many feet Into the air. The heat
was most Intense 1t generated gas in the
United Pipe Line Tank No TO- known as The
Grartt, Weller X Co tank. situated 300 feet
nni$4. most terrific explosion followed,
f,ilatterng the heavy plate glass ia btlc VIII
dowS and stores Of the city, and shaking the
houses to their very foundations. The explo-
sion was heard for ten miles. The roof OF the
tank was scattered around the country for n
long dlstancc. One piece weighing fifty pounds
was found four miles away. The scene that
followed was appalling. The tank contained
$4,000 barrels, and the explosion !aid it level
with the ground. Solid waves of burning
oil rushed down tho hillside. They reached
the river, bat did not stop there. For awhile
the CONSERVATION was cnmplate. Every one
looked for the flames to strike directly across
aud lire the city. The anxiety was intense
Everything depended upon the current and
the wind. The scene mt this time was grand
beyond description, The river ofe,urning oil.
with Its faIneS and black smoke rolled it's
folds upward until the heavens were dark
ened. The ctizans, teIroT-strirken. rushed III
wild dismay III all directions. Their faces
were banched Women and chitdrea were
crying, aud strong men were paratyaed with
fear. Happily the wind was strong enough
to change the course Of the flames before the
city. til half ali hour they began reGedng.
Then they divided. hnggiug both banks Of
the river. The coming was overwhelming
and sublime. The reccding was o sitting |
finish to picture that never has been trans
ierred to canvas.
By this flow two dwellings on the hillside
were swept away and also several small |
wooden tanks Of oil of the United Pipe Line I
When the flames subsidized it was discovered /
that tank No. 4 Of the United Pipe Line was
on fire, containing 1900 barrels OF oil. Tanks
5 and are still burning, and will continue to
burn during the night. No further damage I
Is apprphended. The total amount Of oil lost |
In the destroyed tanks Is 10000 barrels. The /
total loss GA the oil, dwellings and other
is $4,000.