The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-14
Al Portions Position.

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Those who work among the oil wells
are often exposed to dangers. One %
these oihmen, whose hair turned white
during night of terror, related his ex-
perience to a correspondents of the Phil
adelphia Times. He said there had
been storm one night at about mid
night, and as usual with the oil-country
residents. he arose and looked from the
window to see if any tanks had been
struck by lightning. A bright glare in
the sky convinced him that a large tank
of oil was on fire q few miles distant,
and he went back to sleep, determined
to 60 to the fire at noon and see the
first overflow.
Z You know that when TWENTY-FIVE
thousand barrel iron tank of oil has
been on fire for twelve or FOURTEEN hours
the burning oil will boil up and flow
over the sides just like kettle of soap.
At two o'clock the first grand over
flow occurred. As I stood on the hill
side, heard man shout. ''She's COM
ing" and saw pipeline men running
away from the tank for their lives.
heard rumbling sound inside the
tank and didn't know what it meant,
but few seconds after saw fully five
hundred barrels of burning oil shoot up
1t was grand beyond description, and
/ stood and watched it in silence. The
burning oil fioated down creek for a
snile, burning a saw-mill. numerous oil
wells and tanks, buildings, and every
thing within reach of ITS devastating
breath.
When the flow had partly subsidized.
1T was found that a second twenty-five
thousand barrel iron tank had been set
on fire by the overflow of burning oil.
/ ventured down behind the burning
tanks to get better view of the lower
side.
While irving to avoid pool of burn
ing oil, fell into mud hole, or sor.
of quicksand, and stuck fast My ut
most endeavors were of no avail in ex-
Treating myself from the hole. Iyelled
at the top of my voice, but so great was
the roar of the burning tanks that my
voice sounded weak and far away.
1 struggled until exhausted, and then
lay back and rested. How beautiful
the great pillar of black seemed in the
clear blue sky.
Great pillows of smoke would go
surging upwards hundreds of feet, and
float away into space, their sombre hues
turned to snowy whiteness.
thought the boys would miss me
and search for me. Suddenly l heard
the sound of cannon, and saw q col
umn of smoke and flame shoot up from
one of the tanks.
The truth came upon me like bolt
of lightning, and was almost stricken
senseless by the thought. The United
Pipe Line men were firing cannon-balls
through the first tank TO draw off the
oil and prevent second overflow.
What conviction came upon me !
1t was matter of seconds. I tried 10
shout, but the words would not come.
With the strength of despair strug-
gled to get free. The quicksand held
me with the grip of death.
All at once I saw a little stream of
burning oil running slowly down to-
ward me. My time had come, thought,
and I must be burned to death by inch
es. The earth was dear to me then
dearer than ever beforehand 1 turned
to get a look at the sunlight and the
bright world once more.
The stream of burning oil, now grown
larger. was almost upon me. The
earth and all things earthly faded
away. and all was dark.
When I came back to consciousness,
/ was lying in my own room with my
friends around me. The boys said that
In following the supposed course of the
overlooked oil they came upon me and
rescued me just as the burning stream
was about to dash upon me. L was
sick long while, and when | got we'll
/ found my hair as wi.ite us you see it
nov. s-