Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-11
Great Oil Fire.

of the Standard Oil company at Commu-
nipaw, the most extensive in this country,
are on fire and about one-half the property
is 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. The burning oil
poured like an angry river and flowed down
the avenues between the rows of enormous
tanks toward the river. In short time
the flames co mmunicated with three huge
tanks, and they exploded simultaneously
with terrific force. Fragments of iron
were hurled distance of half mile and
the burning oil was scattered in
all directions. The entire fire
Departments has been summoned but
their services are almost useless, as the
burning streams of oil poured through the
yard, firing tank after tank on the east
side and licking up buildings. The store
house. solid stone structure, where bar
relied oil was kept, was attacked by the
flames, and succumbed. The engine house
went next, and the oil and water pump
houses, sunken tanks, and machine shop
quickly followed, and the whole easterly
side of the works are in a seething mass
of flame. Despite the tremendous heat
and binding smoke the fremen are work
ing valiantly in the hope of checking the
progress of the flames, but it appears at
this hour that the east 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. It is estimated
there were 1000 gallons of oil in the tanks
and the loss of property already laid in
ashes, will reach 100000. A shaft of
lightning of unequaled brilliancy and
brightness, that struck the first tank was
seen by the iremen of engine No. 20 in
Halliday street, Jersey City, a mile away,
and the engine at once started for the
scene. 1t was soon discovered to be use
less work to play upon the flames, and all
efforts were directed to prevent them from
spreading. This was partially successful
until nearly 1 O'Clock when the tank ex-
| ploded with terrific report and the blaz-
ing oil spread with lightning rapidity.
| Chief Terrier and number of men were
| within 10 yards of the tank when it explod-
| ed and were saved almost by a miracle.
| Dropping the hose, which WAS soon burn
1 ed to ashes, they fed for thon, lives. When
they were mustered together IL safe dis
/ tance, six of the number we're found miss
ing. Smoke was so dense that it was i'm
| possible to tell which way one was going,
and it is thought that the unfortunate men
ran down to the river and we're lost Their
names are John Herbert supt., Joseph
Jenkins foreman cooper, Geo. Davis en-
gineer, Henry Kegler laborer, Dick Corklin
laborer, VIM. Quincy boiler maker. Waves
of flaming oil had rolled in upon the ca
CINE house, carpenter shop, machine
shot, boiler and pump room. Two ware
houses, coopershop and blacksmith shop.
and they were heap of ruins in an hour
Tank after tank was caught by the flames
until seven out of twenty six on the ground
were blazing. The tracks of the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad also caught fire, and several
rolling tanks on rails were only saved by
having earth piled on top of them. The
bay was a sheet of flaming oil and the
long trestle bridge of the railway about
one-fourth of mile long running from
the works to Black TOMS island was also
burned down to the waters edge.
At the boarding house of the Eagle Re-
finery close by the scene was painful in the
extreme. The newly made widows congre
gated in one of the rooms hope and despair
alternating in their distracted minds ant
lamentlng the terrible fate of their loved
ones from whom they had parted but ;
} few hours before. No obdies are yet
found, for the heat renders close approach
to the ruins impossible. The burning
works extended with those of the Eagl,
refinery, about three-quarters of a mill
along the bay and about a quarter of ;
mile inland. The buildings that have beer
destroyed were situated in the midst of tn
tanks. The wind is south east and blow
ing off the sea, and therefore there is ne
danger of other tanks exploding. Had tn
wind been northerly the boarding house O
the Eagle works would certainly have
persisted also.
7 The fire is now under control, and it i
thought the loss will exceed $1,50O,00O
: twelve large tanks, eighteen cars, si2
: barges and dredges, three docks and fiv
: brick buildings are destroyed. The guam
tity of oil consumed is not known. Among
| the losers besides the Standard Oil com
I pany are several other oil firms who eac
l lose from 400 to 700 barrels of cylinde
oil which was stored in one of the ware
| houses.