The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-05-18
PETROLEUM ABLAZE.


Set On Fire by Lightning-.An Explosion
OecUrs, Enveloping Six Unfortunate
WoHSingmen in the Fiery LiquId-The
Loss to Property Placed at $500, 900.
Partially Covered by Insurance.
JERSEY CRY, May IL.
fireworks of the Standard Oil Company
at Conmmipaw, the most extensive in this
county, were burned yesterday The fire
started during a severe storm in the morning.
One OF the large tanks near the store was
struck and exploded by lightning. The
burning oil poured ont like an angry river,
and fbwed down the avenues between rows
Of enormous tanks toward the river. In
shorttime the flames communicated with
three huge tanks, and they exploded stimuli
taneolsly with terrific force. Fragments of
iron we're hurled distance of half mile,
and tie burning oil was scattered in all di-
rectidns.
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 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 the machine-Shop quickly fol-
lowed, and the whole easterly side of the
works Is seething mass of fame. Despite
the tremendous heat and binding smoke,
yad +lxyi in 4bn hon
of checking the progress of the flames.
II is estimated there were 100000 gallons
of oil in the tanks, and the loss of prop
erty will reach 81, 50O,O00
The shaft of lightning, of unequaled
brilliancy, that struck the first tank, was
seen by fireman of engine No. TO-. in Hali
day street, Jersey City, a mile away, and an
engine at once started for the scene. 1t was
soon discovered to be a useless work to play
upon the flames, and all efforts were di-
rected to prevent them from spreading.
This was partially successful until nearly
five O'clock, when tank No. exploded with
terrific report, and the blazing oil spread
with lightning rapidity.
Chief Ferrier and a number of men were
within ten yards of this tank when it ex-
ploded, and were saved almost by mir
acle.
DDpping the hose, which was soon
burned to ashes, they fled for their lives.
Whm they mustered together at safe dis
tance 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 unfortu-
nate men ran down to the river and
werA lost Their names are John Her
ha1s CIIrNn -ixe30 Innfs TOcn IL llyita
foreman cooper; Joseph Davis, engineer;
Henry Kegler, laborer; Dick Conklin,
laborel; and William Curry, boiler-maker.
Thewayes of flaming oil had rolled in
upon the engine-house, carpenter shop, ma
chine ihop, boiler and pump room, two
warehouses, the cooper shop and blacksmith
shop, and they We're heap of ruins i'll 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 OIL the
| rails were only saved by having earth piled
on top of them. The bay was a sheet of
flaming oil. and the long trestle bridge Of
| railway, about a quarter of a mile long, rum
ming from the works tor Black Toms
| Island, was also burned down to the waters
edge.
| At the clearinghouse of the Eagle Re
| fnery, close by. the scene was painful in
| the extreme. The newly-made widows con-
| gregated in one Of the rooms, hope and de-
| spair alternating in their distracted minds,
and lamenting the terrible fate Of loved
ones, from whom they had parted but few
| hours before No bodies have been found,
| for HE heat renders a close approach to ths
| ruins impossible.
The burning works extended, with those
| of the Eagle Refinery, about three-quarters
of amile inland. The buildings that have
| been destroyed were situated in the midst of
| tanks. The wind is southeast, blowing off
| the sea, and therefore, there is no danger Of
other tanks exploding. Had the wind been
nmtherly, the clearinghouse and Eagle
| Works would certainly have been destroyed
| also.
The property destroyed consisted of
| eleyen tanks filled, or partly filled with oil !;
| two brick storehouses, six barges, loaded
with oil; steam dredging machine, several
| cars a machineshop, q c0operage, black
! siQith-shop, pump-house, several steam
| pumps and the entire equipment of the eS-
| Enlistment, except sixteen tanks. The
| burned works extended about threefourths
| of amile along the bay, and one-fouth of a
mile inland, were erected about fifteen years
ago, and cost in the neighborhood of $780,
| 000 The. entire loss, Including the de-
| struction of oil and the contents of the
| buildings, is believed to be about 81. 800, 600