The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-10
Loss of Property $1,5O0OOO,
Quantity of Oil Consum-
ed is not known.
Fire at Vienna, Ohio.
AN OIL FIRE.

JERSEY CITY, N j., May 10, II a. m.
The works of the Standard Oil Co. ut
Communipaw the most extensive in this
country, are on fire and about half the
property is now destroyed. The fire.
started during the severe storm this morn
ing. One of the large tanks near the
shore was struck by lightning and explod
ed burning oil poured out like an angry
river and flowed down the avenues be
tween rows of enormous tanks, toward
the river In a short time the flames
communicated with three huge tanks and
they exploded simultaneously with terrific
force Fragments of iron were hurled
the distance of half mile and burning
oil was scattered in all directions. The
entire fire department were summoned
but their services were almost useless, as
burning streams of oil poured through
the ward, firing tank after tank on the
east side and licking up buildings; u store
house, Il solid structure, where barrelled
oil was kept was attacked by flames and
succumbed. The engine house went
next, and the oil and water pump
houses. sunken tanks and machine shops
quickly followed and the whole easterly
side of the works is q seething mass of
flames Despite the tremendous heat and
binding smoke the firemen are working
yaliently III the hope of checking the
progress of the flames, but it appears at
this hour that the vast works will be de
stroyed, and it is feared the flames will
reach out and consume property in the
neighborhood. People are deserving their
homes and moving out what is valuable
of their effects 1t is estimated there
were 800. 600 gallons of oil in the tanks,
and the loss of property already land IN
ashes will reach Sl0OO,O 900 The shaft
of lightning was OF nnequalled brllllancy
and brightness that struck the first tank,
and was seen by the fireman of engine
No 10. in Halliday street, Jersey City, a
mile away, and the engine at once started
for the scene. 1t was soon found TO be
useless to play upon the flames and all
efforts were directed to prevent them from
spreading This was partially successful
until nearly o'clock: when tank No. q
exploded with terrific report. and blaz
ing oil spread with lightning rapidity. At
i 80 a IN the oil fire was still raging, the
Eagle Refinery is in 1angar Ii winds
continue in the south east the remaining
buildings may be saved. Six lives are
lost Chief Ferrier aud number of men
were within ten yards of this tank when
it exploded, and were saved almost by a
miracle. Dropping the hose which was
soon burned to ashes they mustered to-
number were found to be missing. The
smoke was 50 dense that it was impossl-
BILE to tell which way one was going, and
it is thought the unfortunate men had run
down to tae river and were lost. Their
names are John Herbert, Supt., Joseph
jenkins, foreman cooper, George Davis,
engineer Henry KegeleT, laborer, Dick
COnl1lin, laborer, and Vim. Curry, boiler
maker Waves of flaming oil rolled in
upon the engine house, carpenter shop
machine shop, boiler and pump room, two
ware houses, cooper shop and blacksmith
shop, and they were heap of ruins IN an
hour. Tank after tank was caught by
the flames until seven ont of twenty six
nn the ground were blazing The tracks of
the Pennsylvania railroad caught fire and
several r0lliog tanks on rails were only
saved bv having earth piled on top of
them rh,. bay was sheet of flaming
oil and long tressle bridge of the rail
way about a quarter of IA mile long, run
ming from The works to Blacktons island,
was also burned To the waters edge. No
bodies are found vet. for the heat renders
IA close approach TO the ruins impossible.
The burning works extended with those
of the Eagle refinery. about three quarters
of mile along the bay, and about
quarter of mile inland. The buildings
that have been destroyed were situated in
the midst Of tanks The wind is south
east, blowing off the sea and therefore
there is no danger of other tanks explod-
ing.
LAIER-
The fire IS now under control it is
thought the loss will exceed million and
half Twelve large tanks, eighteen cars,
six barges and dredges, three docks and
five brick buildings are destroyed The
quantity of oil consumed is not known.
among the losers besides the standard oil
Co. are several other oil firms. who each
lose from four hundred to seven hundred
barrels Of cylinder OIL which was stored
IN one of the warehouses