Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-11
A BIG BLAZE.
Lightning's Fatal Freaks Striking
at Monopoly.
The Standard Oil Works at Jersey City
Destroyed and Many
Lives Lost

JERSEY CITY, n. j., May lO.-The works
OF the Standard Oil Company at Communi-
paw, the most extensive in the country,
are on fire, AMI about one.half of the prop
Frty is now destroyed. The lire started
during the severe storm this morn
ing. One of the large tanks near the shore
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 towards the river. In a
short time the flames communicated with
those huge tanks, and they exploded sim
ultaneously with terrific force.
People are DESERVING Their Homes
and moving out what is valuable OF their
effects. 1t is estimated there were 100000
gallons of oil in the tanks, and the loss OF
property already destroyed will reach
81 100000.
The shaft OF lightning of uneqHalled
brilliancy and vividness that struck the
first tank, was seen by fireman OF engine
No. IL, in Holiday street, Jersey City, a
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 ef-
forts were directed to prevent them from
spreading. 1t was partially successful until
nearly five o'clock, when tank No. ! eX-
plOded with terrific report, and the blaz.
ing oil spread with lightning rapidity.
Chief Ferrier and a number of men were
within ten yards OF this tank when 1t ex-
plOded, and were saved almost by mira.
Gle. Dropping the hose, which was soon
burned to ashes, they fed for their lives.
When they had mustered together at a
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 were lost. The names are John Her
bert, Superintendent; Joseph Jenkins,
foreman cooper; George Davis, engineer; ;
Henry kegler, laberer; Dick Conklin, la.
bOrer; Wm. Curry, boiler maker. The
waves of flaming oil had rolled in upon the
engine house, carpenter shop, machine
shop, boiler and pump room, TWO ware
houses, cooper shop and blacksmith shop,
and they were heap OF ruins in an hour.
Tank After Tank was Caught
by the flames, until seven out OF the 26
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 sheet of liam.
ing Oil, and the long trestle bridge OF the
railway, about a quarter of mile long
running from the works to Black Sons
Island, was also burned down to the wa
ter's edge.
At the boarding house of the Eagle re-
tinery close by, the scene was painful in
the extreme.
Newly-Made widows
cOngregated in one of the rooms, hope and
espsir alternating their distracted minds,
and lamenting the terrible fate OF the
loved ones from whom they had parted
hut few hours before.
No bodies have been found, for the heat
renders close approach TO the ruins i'm
possible. The burning works extend, with
those of the Eagle refinery, about three
quarters of mile along the bay and about
a quarter of mile inland. The buildings
that have been destroyed were situated in
the midst of tanks. rhe wind is southeast,
blowing Off the sea- and therefore there is
no danger of the other tanks exploding.
Had the wind been northerly boarding
house and the Eagle House would have
certainly perished also.