The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-05-16
WORKS OF THE STANDARD co.
STRUIK BY LIGHTNING.
5000 barrels Of OH Destroyed.


STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
5000 Barrels OF OIL Destroyed.
JERSEY Cry, May 1O.-Amid the
rush and roar of q fierce storm that
swept over the city at half past three
o'clock this morning, ar oil tank in
the National Storage Company's
works at Communipaw, Jersey City,
was struck by lightning. A huge
sheet of flame shot upin the air with
a deafening report that shook the
neighborhood and was heard for
miles around. A canopy of smoke
like q colossal balloon rose above the
oil works and spread itself over the
city like the pail of a volcano at the
commensurate of an eruption. Then
followed explosion otter explosion,
rivaling the crashs of thunder, and
the extensive oil works were soon a
roaring mass of flames. Before six
o'clock seven immense tanks were
blazing rivers of fire, sweeping
around the bottoms of the others,
while the flames bombarded them
from above. One of the largest and
most destructive oil fires ever known
in this vicinity was inaugurated.
The shaft Of lightning of u~nequaled
brilliancy and vividness that struck
the first tank, was seen by a fireman
of engine No. 10 in Holiday street,
Jersey City, a mile away, and the
engine at once started for the scene.
1t was 500 discovered to be a useless
work to stop the flames, and all ef-
forts were directed to prevent them
from spreading. This was partially
successful until nearly five o'clock,
when tank No. Z exploded with a
terrific report, and the blazing oil
started with lightning-like rapidity.
Chief Ferrer and a number of men
were within ten yards of the tank at
the time, and were saved almost by a
miracle. Dropping the hose, which
was soon burned to ashes, they fled
for their lives. When they muster
ed again six of their number were
found to be missing. The smoke
was dense that it was impossible to
tell which way one vas going, and 1t
is thought that the unfortunate men
ran down to the river and were lost.
Their names are: John Herbert,
superintendent; Jos Jenkins, fore.
man cooper; Geo. Davis, engineer
Henry Kegles, laborer (; Dick Conk-
lin, laborer; William Curry, boiler
maker. Engines Nos. s and 8 and
No. 5 truck arrived shortly after
engine 10 and 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 wear
houses, copper shop 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 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 a sheet of flaming oil and a
large trestle bridge on the railway,
about a quarter Of a mile long, run
ming from the works to Black Sans
island was also burned down to the
waters edge. Atthe boarding house
OF the Eagle refinery, closes by, the
scene was painful in the extreme.
The newly made widows oongregat-
ed in one of the rooms, hope and de-
spair alternating the terrible fate Of
the loved ones from whom they had
parted a few hours before. 20, God!
that our parting should be like this!"
moaned Mrs. Davis, a young woman
of pleasing appearance. Mr.. Chas.
A. Sterling, managero of the company
at No. % Broadway, and Mr.. Alex
ander, general superintendent, were
early at the scene. At the present
writing the whole sky is obscured by
dense volumes of black smoke, across
which bright flags ofhames are flung
upon the wind. The firemen labor
ed to save the remaining tanks and
in the ears of the vest crowd of spec
tators rang the heartrending cries of
the Door women. No bodies have
as yet been found, for the heat rem
ders close approach to the ruins
impossible. The burning works ex-
tended, with those of the Eagle re-
fnery, about three-fourths of a mile
long the bay, and about o~ne-fourth
of a mile inland. The buildings
that have been destroyed were situa.
ted in the midst of the tanks. The
wind is southeast, blowing off sea,
and therefore there is no danger of
other tanks exploding. Had the
wind been northerly the boarding
house and the Eagle works would
certainly have persisted also. The
fire was under control about dark.
1t is thought that the loss will ex-
cede 81, 100000. Twelve large tanks,
eight cars, six barges, a dredger, three
docks and five brick buildings were
destroyed. The quantity of oil con-
sumed is not known. Among the
losers beside the Standard oil Co.
are several other oil firms who each
lose from 400 to GOO barrels of cy-
clender, oil, which was stored in one
of the warehouses. No bodies haye
yet been discovered.
JERSEY CRY, May 11.-Search is
being made for the bodies of the
fireman and boy who losttheir lives
by the explosion of tank No. at
the fire which yesterday destroyed
the National Storage Company's
works. Thus far a small quantity
of charred human bones have been
found under a piece of iron. They
are undoubtedly all that is left Of two
of the victims.
Punished for His b Crime