Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-19
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. RIVERS OF FIRE. Disastrous Explosion in an
 Oil Refinery. GREAT FLOODS OF, BURNING OIL. The Fiery Liquid Running Through
 the Streets.
 Hearing on the Ganaf Project. Arguments For and Against the
 Panama Canal.
Hearing on the canat Project.
Arguments For and Against the
 Panama Canal.
FIRE RECORD.

An Oil Fire-ExplOsion of Loaded Tanks The Burning Oil Running in all Di-
 recttons-s Shedding and Shipping in
 Flnmes-Serious Loss of Property.
 PHILADELPHIA, Jan. IS. The inhabitants of the tower part of this city were started from their sleep about 2:30 a. m. by shock which filled them with dismay and consterna- tion. The frightening sound came from Point Breeze and was the result of the ex. plosion of one of thesIarge oil tanks oD the property of the Atlantic refinery, the same which was destroyed by fire at great loss during the month of July, 1879. There were some 25 or 30 oil tanks standing within the area occupied by the Atlantic Refinery company, having capacity ranging from 5,
 GOO to 10000 gallons. The burning oil was scattered in every direction and in an instant all the country whereabouts was illuminated by the flames. The concussion with the ex- plosion shook the houses to their foundation and shattered the window frames within miles of the area. Owing to the frozen con dition of the earth, which instead of absorb ing the oil left it to roll on the surface, the imminent danger of disastrous and incalcu- lable conhrgration was perceived by those re- siding in the vicinity, Attaches of the works, whose homes are near by, at once set about making arrangements for battling with the flames. Sheets of fire rolled in every direc- tion, licking up every combustible thing that stood in it's paths, ahd soon the great wood en shedding that hangs over the river front, serving for storehouses. were on fire. By this time several engines of the fire depart ment were on the ground and with two or three tugboats belonging to the refinery were dnirrr kbai,. hoef fo fbo five A1fho11oh in the morning hours none of the substantial buildings on the premises were attacked by the destructive element, toward noon it was making it's way to several of these properties. The losses cannot be estimated at this time.
 The fire at two o'clock was considered as under control, although the oil in the three tanks that caught fire was burning fercely, with the flames leaping many feet in the air and terminating in volumes of black smoke. The destroyed property consisted of three tanks, twenty feet in depth each, and con- taining in the aggregate IS, 900 barrels of re- fined petroleum the storage sheds, with about 1000 empty barrels; the storage ware house, one-story vacant structure used by the Atlantic Petroleum Storage company, which was recently constructed at cost of $S, ,00O and the storage warehouse of the Atlantic Refining company, with 10,0 07S cases of oil each containing two five gallon cases. The loss will probably amount to over $15O, GOO and is fully covered by insurance by means of the Standard Oil company reserve fund About 100 yards south of the works on Pow der Mill lane is situated an old dwelling occu- pied by family named Brooks. When the explosion took place the concussion was so great as to throw one of the inmates named Lizzie Brooks out of the bed in which she was sleeping and fractured her right hip. Every light of glass in this building and the property was demolished by the