Daily Republican., 1883-05-11
EDITION,
TERRIBLE OIL FIRE.
A Fearful Scene Of Destruction
Several Lives and Millions Of Dol.
lars In Property Lost.

lars In Property Lost.
| JERSEY CITY, N. j., May lO.-The
works of the Standard Oil Company at
Communipaw, the most extensive in
this country, were struck by lightning
at 3.3O o'cl ,ck this morning and set on
fire. One Of the large tanks near the
shore was struck and exploded by the
lightning. The burning old poured out
like An angry river, and flowed down
the avenues between the lows of en-
Ormous tanks toward the river. In u
| short time the flames communicated
with three huge tanks, and they ex-
ploded simultaneously with terrific
force. The fragments of iron were
hurl led distance of half mile, and
the burning oil was scattered in all
directions.
The entire fire department had been
summoned, but their services were al
most useless, as the burning streams of
oil poured through the yard, firing
tank after tank on the east side and
licking upthe buildings. The store
house, a solid structure where the bar
relied oil was kept, was attacked by the
flames and succumbed. The engine
house went next, and the oil and
water pump-houses the sunken tanks
and the machine shop quickly followed,
and the whole easterly side of the works
is seething mass of fam.
Despite the tremendous heat and
binding smoke, the tiremen are working
valiantly, in the hope Of checking the
progress OF the flames. This was par
TALLY successful until nearly five
O'Clock, when tank Not exploded with
terrific report, and the blazing oil
spread with lightning-like rapdity.
Chief Ferrier and number Of men
were within ten yard II this tank at
the time and were saved almost by n
miracle. Dropping the hose, which
was soon burned to ashes, they fled for
their lives. When they mustered again
SIX OF their number were found to be |
missing
The smoke was SO intense that it was
impossible TO tell which way one was
gong, and il is thought that the unfort.
unate men ran down to the river and
were lost. Their names are John
Hubert, superintendent Joseph Jen-
Kihs, foreman cooper George Davis,
Engineer; Henry Keyler, carpenter
DICK Conklin, pipe filter, and VIM.
curry, boy helper in the blacksmith $
sh'p. Engines Nos. and and No, )
truck arrived shortly after Engine 10,
anu found plenty Of work to be done.
The waves OF flaming oil had rolled
in upon the engine-house, carpenter
shop, machine-shop, boiler and pump
room, two warehouses, cooper-shopl
and blacksmith-shop, and they were
a heap Of ruins in 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 Pennsylvania Rail
road also caught fire and several rollingI
tanks on the rails were only saved by
having earth piled on top of them.
The bay was a sheet Of flaming oil, aud
a trestle bridge ofthe railway, about a
quarter OF n mile long, running from the
works to Black Toms Island, was also
burned down to the waters edge
No bodies have as yet born found, for
The heat renders close approach 10 the
ruins impossible. The burning works
extend, with those ofthe Eagle refinery,
about three-Iuarters Of a mi .e along the
bay anu about quarter ut "a lnllc M
land. The buildings that have been
destroyed were situated in the midst OF
he tanks The wind is southeast, blow
ng of sea, and therefore there is no
LANCER OF other anks exploding. Had
he wind been nOrlherly the b0ardingj
louse and Eagle works would certain
y have pcrished also.
LATER.
The fire is now under control. 1t is
hought that the loss will exceed 81
100000. Twelve large tanks, eighteen
;ars, six barges, dredger, three dorks,
md five brick buildings were destroyed. =
The quantity Of oil consumed J., not
Known. Among the losers besides the
standard Oil Company are several
,ther oil firms, who each lose from 400
o 200 barrels Of cylinder oil which
vas stored in one Of the warehouses;, II