The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-05-19
A PETROLEUM FIRE.

Huse on-ranks Near Jersey City. n. T.,
Set On Fire by LghtninE-An Explosion
Occurs, Enveloping sir unfortunase
Workingmcn In the Fiery Lquid-~rhe
Loss to Property Placed ut $500, 900.
Partially Covered by Insurance.
JERsxx Crrr, Mayu.
The works Of the Standard OIL Company
at Communipaw, the most extensive In this
country, were burned yesterday. The fire
started during severe storm In the morning.
One Of the large tanks near thestore was
struck and exploded by lightning. The
burning oil poured out like an angry river,
and flowed down the avenues between rows
OF enormous tanks toward the river. In q
short time the flames communicated with
three huge tanks, and they exploded stimuli
taneously with terrific force. Fragments Of
iron were hurled distance of half mile,
and the burning oil was scattered in all di-
rections.
The entire fire department was summon
ed, but its services were almost useless,
as the burning streams of oil poured through
the yard, firing tank after tank on the east
side and licking up the buildings. The store
house, solid structure where barreled OH
was kept, was attacked by the flames and
succumbed. The engine-house went next,
and the oil and water pump-houses, sunken
tanks, and the machine-shop quickly fol-
lowed, and the whole easterly side Of the
works Is seething mass Of flame. Despite
the tremendous heat and binding smoke,
the firemen worked valiantly in the hope
of checking the progress Of the flames.
1t is estimated there were SOC, 900 gallons
of oil in the tanks and the loss of prop
erty will reach 81, 100000.
The shaft of lightning, of unequaled
brilliancy, that struck the first tank, was
seen by fireman of engine No. 10, in Halli-
day street, Jersey City, mile away, and an
engine at once started for the scene. 1t was
soon discovered to be useless work to play
upon the flames, and all efforts were Dr.
rected to prevent them from spreading.
This was partially successful until nearly
five O'Clock, when tank No. exploded with
a terrific report, and the blazing oil spread
with lightning rapidity.
Chief Ferrier and number of men were
within ten yards of this tank when it ex-
ploded, and were saved almost by mir
acle.
Dropping the hose, which was soon
burned to ashes, they fled for their lives.
When they mustered together at safe dis
lance six Of their number were found miss
ing. The smoke was SO dense that it was
impossible to tell which way one was
going, and it is thought that the unfoItu-
nate men ran down to the river and
were lost. Their names are: John Her.
bert, Superintendent; Joseph jenkins
foreman cooper; Joseph Davis, engineer;
Henry Kegler, laborer; Dick Conklin,
labOrer; and William Curry, boiler-maher..
The property destroyed consisted OF
eleven tanks filled, or partly filled with oil;
two brick storehouses six barges, loaded
with oil; steam dredging machine, several
cars, machine-shop, a cooperage, black
| smith-shop, a pump-house, several steam
pumps and the entire equipment of the es-
Enlistment except sixteen tanks. The
burned works extended about three-fourths
of mile along the bay, and one-lourth of a
mile inland, were erected about fifteen years
ago, and cost in the neighborhood of $780,
600. The entire loss, including the de-
struction of oil and the contents Of the
buildings, is believed to be about$1 500, 900.