The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-11
A LIGHTNING STROKE.
STANDARD OIL coMpANWs WORKS


4Llllon and hAlI DouArs-Alx Lirhh LosE.
A ,sssthisr Sea OF Firs-DIstrssalsr
Sesnes-ssvsral Other Pirts. 2
JERSEY CRY, N. j., May 10.-l1 a. NJ
The works OF the Standard Oil Compan
at Communipaw, the most extensive i
this country, are on fire, and about one
half Of the property is now destroyed. Th
fire started during the severe storm thi
morning. one'of the large tanks near th
shore was struck and exploded by light
ming. The burning oil poured out like al
angry river, and flowed down the avenue
between rows OF enormous tanks toward
the river. In a short time the flame
communicated with three huge tanks, ab'
they exploded simultaneously with terrif
force. Fragments Of iron were hurled
distance OF half mile, and the burning oi
was scattered in all directions.
The entire fire department has beer
summoned, but their services are almos
useless, as burning streams oi oil poufet
through the yard, firing tank after tank Eot
the eastside and licking up buildings. Th,
store house, a solid structure where bar
relied oil was kept, was attacked by thl
flames and succumbed. The engine house
went next, and the oil and water puml
houses, sunken tanks and machine shop
quickly followed, and the whole easterly
side OF the works is q seething mass o.
fame. 0g rftj Et|t Il
Despite the tremendous heat and blind
ing smoke, the firemen are working val
iantly in the hope OF checking the pro
gress OF the flames, but III appears at thi:
hour that the vast works will be destroyed
and 1t Is feared the flames will reach ouI
and consume property in the neighbor
hood. People are deserting their homes
and moving outwhat Is valuable Of theii
effects. 1t is estimated there were 5000,
900 gallons OF oil in the tanke, and the Loss
Of property already laid in ashes will reach
THE CAUSE or THE FIRE.
The shaft Of lightning Of unequalled bril-
liancy and vividness that struck the tirs
tank, was seen by a fireman Of engine No
II, in Holiday street, Jersey City, mile
away, and the en. ,ine at once started fol
the scene. 1t was soon discovered to Ibe
useless work to play upon the flames, and
all efforts were directed to prevent them
from spreading. 1t was partially successful
until nearly five o'clock, when tank No. I
exploded with terrible report, and The
blazing oil spread with lightning rapidly.
Chief Ferrier and number Of men were
within ten yards OF this tank when Il ex-
ploded and were saved almost by miracle.
Dropping the bose, which was soon burned
10 ashes, they fed for their lives. When
they mustered together at 20 safe distance
six OF their number were found missing.
The smoke was so dense that it was im.
possible 10 tell which way one was going,
and 1t ia thought that the unfortunate men
ran down TO the river and were lost. The
names are: John Herbert, Superintendent;
Joseph Jenkins, foreman cooper; George
Davis, engineer; Henry Kegler, laborer;
Dick Conklin, laborer; VIM. Curry, boiler
maker. The waves OF flaming oil
had rolled in upon the engine house,
carpenter shop, machine sAop, boiler
and pump room, two warehouses, cooper
shop and blacksmith shop, and
they were heap OF rulesin an hour. Tank
after tank was caught by the flames, until
seven out Of the twenty.six on the ground
were blazing. The tracks OF the Psnnsyl.
yania railroad also caught fire, and several
rolling tanks on the rails were only saved
by having earth piled on top Of them. The
bay was sheet Of flaming oil, and the long
trestle bridge OF the railway, about quar-.
ter Of mile long, running from the works
to Black Toms Island, was also burned
down to the waters edge. Six lives have
been lost, - - rr- n: ~ b
y A PAINFUL SCENE. Si:l /.
At the boarding house Of the Eagle re.
fhery, close by, the scene was painful in
the extreme. Newly made widows con.
gregated in one Of the rooms, hope and de.
spair alternating their distracted minds,
and lamenting the terrible fate OF theloved
ones from whom they had parted but a
few hours before. 6lEd3ia lSIlt
No bodies have been found, for the heat
makes close approach TO the ruins impos.
sible.' The burning works extend, with
those Of the Eagle refinery, about three
quarters OF mile along the bay and about
a quarter OF mile inland. The buildings
that have been DESTROYED were situated In
the midst OF tanks. The wind Is southeast,
blowing off the sea, and therefore there Is
no danger OF the other tanks exploding.
Had the wind been northerly a boarding
house and the Eagle House would have
certainly persisted also, ,.,
The fire Ia now under control. It Is
thought the loss will exceed million and
a.half dollars. Twelve large tanks, eighteen
cars, six barges, dredger, three docks and
five brick buildings were destroyed. The
quantity Of oil consumed Is not known.
Among the losers besides the:Standard Oil
Company, are several other oil firms, who
each lose from four hundred to seven hun.
dreds barrels OF. cylinder oil, which was
stored in one otthe warehouses. u j..
Othec Fires. .....,..,
BALTIMORE, May 1o.-A Gre occurred
this morning in the back building OF the
residence OF the Miss Adams, on Madison
street. Mr.. Adams, an old gentleman who
was paralyzed, was suf Jcated, and color.
ed cook was burned 10 death. A colored
house girl jumped from third story. win
dow, and broke an arm and was otherwise
severely injured. s'''n 80
7 ST. ALBANs, W., May l0.-The Baptist
Church here, o fine. brick structure, was
totally burned early this morning. Loss
eon mn, inunr n 20 Z IN nnn