Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-11
A RIVER OF FLAME.
The Works Of the Standard Oil Com.
pany, at COmmunipaw, n. j.,
Struck BY lightning,
Set On Fire, and Totally Consumed
Loss Estimated at Over $780,
OO0-Six Firemen Killed.

Standard Oil Company at Commpnipaw, the
most extensive in the conn.Ty, we're on fire
at IL o'clock this morning, and about one
half the properly Ia now destroyed. The fire
started during a severe storm this morning.
One OF the large tanks near the shore was
struck and exploded by lightning. Tie
burning oil popfed out like AT angry river
rows CT enormous tanks toward the river.
In shon time :he flames comm unicaled with
three huge tanks, and they exploded simul-
tap<ously with great force. Fragments Of
ton were hurled a distance Of half a mile,
and the burning oil was scattered in all d.
rections. The entire fire department has
| been summoned, but their services are al
most uselesp, as the burning streams OF sff
poured through the yard firing -'ank after
| tank on the east eide, and licking up the
bulldogs. The slorehopse, a selid structure
where barreled oil wss kept, was attacked By
the flames and suceumbed. The enginehouse
| went next, and the oil and water-pump
| houses sunken tanks and machine shop
| quickly followed, and the whole easlerly
side Of the works is Il seething mass OF fame.
Despite the tremendous heat and binding
smoke the fremen are working valianily
Ia the hope Of checking the progress
OF the fumes, but it appears at this
hour that the vast works will be destroyed,
and it is feared that the flames will reach
out and consume properly in the neighbour
hood. People are deserving their homes and
moving out what is valuable OF their effects.
1t il estimated that there were 100000 gall
Ions of oil in the tanks. The loss of the
property already laid 10 ashes will reach
IL 900, 900. The shalt Of lightning, Of IN
equsled brilliancy aud brightness, that struck
the first tank, was seen by the fireman of en-
CINE No. 10, in Halliday street, Jersey City,
mile away, and the engine at once started
fo- the scene. It was soen discovered TO be
useless work to play upon The flames, snd oil
efforts were directed 10 prevent them FROM
spreading. This was partially successful
until near 5 O'Clock, when tank No. ex-
ploGsd with a terrific report, aud the blazing
oil spread with lightning rapidly. Chief
Fsrrier and a number of men we're within
ten yards Of this tank when it exploded, and
were saved by miracle. Dropping the hose,
which was soon burned to sshes, they
fed for their lives. When they mus
tered together at a safe distance, six
Of their number were found to be missing.
The smoke was so dense that it was impossi-
bic TO tell which way one was going, and it
| 10 fhanuhf 3baf ba ,nfN to
| down TO the river and were lost Their
names are, John Herbert, superintendent
Joseph jenkins, foreman cooper; George
| DaviP, engineer; Henry Kesler, laborer
Dick Conkllp, laborer; VIM Curry, boiler
maker.
saE WAVES or FLAMING OIL
bad rolled in upon the enginshouse, carpen
ter shop, machine shop, boiler and pump
room, two warehouses, cooper chop and black
smith shop, and they were heap Of ruins in
one hour. Tank alter tank was caught by
the flames, until seven out OF The tweniy-six
on the ground were blazing. The tracks Of
the Pennsylvania railroad also cAug hit fire, and
several rolling tanks on the rails we're
only saved by having earth piled on
top of then. The bay was a sheet
Of flaming oil, and the long trestle bridge Of
the railway, about quarter of mile long,
running from the works 10 Black Toms L.
land, was also burned down to the waters
edge. AT the clearinghouse OF the Eagle
Refinery, close by, the scene was painful in
the extreme. The newly-mRde widows Goa
gregated in one OF the rooms, hope and des-
| pair alternating in their distracted minds,
and lamentipg the terrible fate OF their
loved ones from they had parted but few
hours before. No bodies have been found,
for the heat renders close approach to the
ruins impossible. The burning works eZ-
tend, with those of the Eagle Refinery,
about three. quarters of a mile along the
bay, and about quarter OF a mile inland.
The buildings that have been destroyed we're
situated in the midst of the tanks. The
wind is southeast, blowing of sea, and there
fore there is no danger Of the other tanks
exploding. Had the wind been northerly,
the ',oardinghOuse and Eagle works would
certainly have persisted also.
THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL.
-Four O'Clock PM-The fire Is now under
control, though the loss will exceed $780,.
600. Twelve large tanks, eighteen cars, six
barges, one dredger, three decks and five
brick buildings, were destroyed. The guam
tity OF Oil consumed is not known. Among
the losers, besides the Standard Oil Com
pany, are several other oil firms, who lose from
400 to 700 barrels OF cylinder oil, which was
stored 10 one of the warehouses.
-