The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-05-11
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
Oil Fire.

New YORK, 1J.-The Standard Oil
Works, Jersey City, were struck oy
lightning early this morning. Seven OIL
tanks have already exploded and the fire
is still raging with terrible force. More
disasters are feared. Estimated loss,
$500, 600.
10 sm.-The fire at the Standard Oil
CoKpany'g works, New Jersey, is still
raging and is now near the tanks of the
Jersey City track, where 100000 barrels
are stored. Thus lar 100000 barrels of
oil are destroyed, including 250, 600 barre
of refined stored in the warehouse. It Is
now thought the loss will reach $3.50, 600.
About the New Jersey Central track
1900 barrels are stored.
1la.m.-The works of the Standard
Oil Company at CommunepaW, the most
extensive in this country, are on fire, ara
about enc, half the property is now de-
stroyed. The fire started during severe
storm this morning. One of the large
tanks near the shore was struck and ex-
ploded 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
short ii 4e the flames communicated
with three huge tanks, and they exploded
simultaneously with terrific force. Frsg-
ments of iron were hurled n distance Of
half mile, and burning oil was scat
tered in all directions. The entire fire
department has been summoned, but
their services are almost useless, as burn
ing streams of oil poured through the
yard, firing tank after tank on the east
side and licking up buildings aud store
houses. A solid structure where bar
re!ed 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 essterly side Of the works
is q aeething mass Of flames. Despite the
tremendous heat aud binding smoke,
hremen are working vallisntly in the
hope Of checking the progress of the
flames, but it appears at this hour that
the vast works will be destroyed, 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 we're 500, 600
gallons Of oil in the tanks, and the loss
of property already laid in ashes will
reach 81, 600, coo.
11.S0 R.m.-The oil fire is still raging.
Eagle refinery is in danger if the winds
continue southeast. The remaining
buildings may be saved. Six lives are
lost.
Chief Terrier and o number of men
were within ten yards Of the tank when
it exploded. and were saved almost by
miracle. Dropping the hose which was
soon burned to ashes they fed for their
lives. When they mustered together at
9 safe distance, six Of their number were
found missing. The smoke was SO dense
that it was impossible to tell which way
one was going, and it is thought
that the unfortunate men ran down to
the river and we're lost. The names are
j, Herbert, superintendent; Joseph
Jenkins, fireman; George Davis, en-
gineer; Henry Kegler, laborer; Dick
Conkling. lsborer; VIM. Curry, boiler
maker. The waves of the flaming oil
had rolled in upon the engine house,
carpenter shop, machine shop, boiler and
pump room, two warehouses, the cooper
and blacksmith shops, 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 grounds we're
blazing. The tracks of the Pennsylva-
MA Railway also caught fire and several
rolling tanks on the rails we're only saved
by having earth piled on top of them.
The bay was q sheet of flaming oil and q
trestle bridge on the railway about
quarter ola mile long running from the
works to Black Toms Island, was also
burned down to the waters edge, No
bodies have been found for the heat rem
ders close approach to the ruins impossi.
BILE. The burning works extended with
those Of the Eagle refinery about three
quarters OF ME along the bay and
quarter Of mile inland. The buildings
that have been destroyed were situated
IN the midst Of the tanks. The wind is
blowing of The sea, and therefore there
is no danger of o.her tanks exploding.
Had the wind been northerly the
boarding houses and Eagle, works
would certainly have persisted also
The fire is now under contfoll. Il ia
thought the loss will exceed a million
and half dollars. Twelve large tanks, |
eighteen cars, six barges, dredger, three
docks and five brick buildings were de-
stroyed' The quantity Of oil consumed
70 not known. The losers besides
the. Standard oil company ara sev-
eral other oil firms, who each lose from
tour hundred to seven hundred barrels of
cylinder oil. -'- "