Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-11

Millions of Dollars Worth of on and
Other Property DestrOyed-Six Lives
Known to be LOst-The COnfiagratiOn
Measured by the Mile-Graphic scenes
and Incidents.
JERSEY CITY. May 10.-The Standard
Oil Company's works at jersey CITY were
struck by lightning at half-past O'Clock
this morning. Up to 8 O'Clock seven tanks
of oil had exploded, and the fire was still
raging with terrible force. At 10 O'Clock
the fire was rapidly nearing the tanks of
the Jersey Central track, where 15O. 900
barrels were stored. Thus far 500. 900
barrels had been destroyed. includ-
ing 100000 barrels Of refined oil
stored in stOrehOuse At half
past eleven O'Clock the fire was still rag
ing fiercely and it was evident that the
Eagle Refinery had but little chance of
surviving the conhagration. The railroad
was on fire and adjoining oil tanks We're
covered over with dirt for protection.
Six lives had been lost up to that
hour and, OF course, none of the
bodies had been found. The excite
ment in the city was intense, and the wild
est rumors of the number killed were
atioat, serving to increase the consterna-
ton and anxiety. Even While the fire
was at its height the scene was
lent "A touch Of the pathetic by
groups of anxious wives and chill
dren who wept and trembled for the
safety of their husbands and fathers who
were in the employ of the company and
among the first to rush to the scene of the
fire. The fire burned fercely all
day long, and it was not till even
ing that the efforts of the firemen
began to make themselves apparent.
Although under control at : O'clock this
evening it was evident that the fire would
burn for some time to come, and the fire.
men settled down to their work with the
air which unmistakably betOkens resig-
nation to a long siege. In cOnversa-
tion with an Associated Press re-
porter at O'Clock one of the managers
of the company said that he estimated
that the loss would exceed $1,000, 900.
Up to that hour II large tanks, 1S cars, &
barges, dredger, docks and brick
buildings had been destroyed. The guam
tity of oil consumed was not known.
Among the losers, beside the Standard
Oil Company, are several other oil firms,
who each lose from 400 to 700 barrels of
cylinder Oil which was stored in one of
the warehouses.
The flash of lightning that started the
fire was witnessed by the fireman on
watch in an engine house in jersey CITY,
liancy. Immediately a sheet of flame
shot up in the air, with a deafening roar
that shook the neighbOrhOOd and was
heard for miles around. A canopy of
smoke rose above the oil works and spread
itself over the city like the pail of a vol
canO at the commencement of an erup-
tiOn. Then followed explosion after eX-
plOsiOn, rivaling crashes of thunder, and
the extensive Oil works were soon a roar
ing mass of flames. Before o'clock in
the morning seven immense tanks were
blazing. Rivers of fire swept around the
bottom of the other tanks, while the flames
bombarded them from above. 1t was
soon discovered to be useless |
work to play upon the flames, and all
efforts were directed to preventing them
from spreading. This was partially sue
cessful until nearly O'Clock this after
noon, when tank No. exploded with a
terrific report, and the blazing oil spread |
with lightning rapidity. Fire Chief Far |
rler and a 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 fled for their lives.
When they mustered together at Il safe |
distance SIX of their number were |
found to be missing, The smoke was so |
dense that it was impossible to tell which |
way one was going, and it is thought that |
the unfortunate men ran towards the |
water of the bay and were lost The bay |
was a sheet of flaming oil, and the trestle |
bridge of the railway, about a quarter of
a mile long, running from the works to |
Black Toms Island, was burned down to
the waters edge. Fragments of the iron
tanks were hurled half mile by the force !
of the explosion. Many people in the !
vacated their houses. The !
space burned over covers an area running |
about three-quarters of Il mile along the |
bay and a quarter of a mile inland. The |
wind blew from the southeast. A slight /
change to nOrtherly would have caused |
destruction to the Eagle Refinery works, |
and an indefinite amount of valuable |
property besides.