Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-12
TERRIBLE OIL FIRE.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

BRADFoRD, Pa, May 11.-This morning,
at o'clock, lightning struck 7O,000-barrel
iron tank of oil of the Tideoute Pipe COM
pany, located on an eminence above Titus
vile. The oil Immediately took fire and
later the fire communicated to another tank
of the same size owned by the same COM
papy. At o'clock the burning oil over
flowed and ran down the hillside, consuming
everything in its course. The Octave re-
fining and Acme oil works, one of the largest
refineries in the world, is now burning. The
oil ran into Oil creek and threatened
destruction to a large amount of property
In the city. Pesons residing in the neigh
borhood, have, without their household
goods, gone to places of safety. At
O'Clock the fire was still increasing, having
reached Franklin and Washington streets.
and threatened the destruction of the rail
road bridge. The fire departments from
Cory, Oil City and Warren are in the city
in answer to telegram from the mayor for
aid, acting with the fire department of Titus
vile. At o'clock the buildings along both
sides of the street were burning and about
100000 barrels of oil. There is great ex-
citement in the city, but the business portion
at this hour is believed 10 be safe, being
mostly composed of brick buildings.
TITUsvIILE, Pa, June 11.-A most
disastrous petroleum fire has
been raging here all day, and has per-
haps not reached Pits height. 1t started
about Z A. NJ. One of the tanks of the
Tideoute and Titusville pipe line company
being struck by lightning, two other tanks
of the same line also took fire and exploded.
The oil ran down in streams Of fire to oil
creek, the location being the south side of
the hill at the head of Perry street. The
Acme oil company refinery No. 2 followed,
and has been burning all day. The loss is
estimated at 100000 barrels of crude and
crude equivalent, besides tierworks. The
flames spread over the hill, reducing to ashes
al the dwellings on Breed street.
The Roberts hotel, close to the bridge, had
not burned up to o'clock, but several in
ferior dwellings were consumed. The
Franklin street bridge is now on fire, and
the railroad bridge below has hitherto been
saved by great exertions. Franklin street
and Washington street and Parry are full of
drays and furniture from the houses desert
ed by panic stricken tenants. If there was
a southwest wind it would threaten the Oil
Greek railroad depot, and the machine shops
and the morning Herald block. But little
apprehension is felt of such q catasprophe,
at present, unless the wind
should take an unfavorable turn.
The fire departments of Cory, Warren
and Oil City are here. There is plenty oi
| water, and the men are working like heroes
and are refreshed and relieved from time to
| time.
The refining business is the principal
prop of our industry, offering employment
| to thousands, and the calamity is therefore @
severe one, and felt by all the business and
laboring classes. Mr.. Archibald, president
of the Acme Oil company, is now in New
| York city. The total loss so far in works
| and crude, and crude equivalent, is
estimated at 100000. The
principal losers being the Tideont & Titus
vile Oil Pipe line and the Acme. The Key
stone Rectifying company is also destroyed
which belongs to Pickering, Chambers
Co., and is valued at $4,000. They lose
besides their works, $4,000 barrels crude and
distlllate. Active refinery No. 3, north side
of the creek, has SO far escaped. The fire ii
still raging, and will probably last for day
or two longer, but unless the wind blows
from the southwest it will not extend norti
| of the creek nor attack the depot.
Ten o'clock-Another iron tank burst snt
F, Set fire to Franklin street. bridge. The Octave