The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-18
PETROLEUM ABLAZE.

TEIhVLEUA ABLAZEs
Hugo On-Tanks Near jersey City, n. u
Set On Fire by Lightning-An Explosion
Occurs, Enveloplng Six Unfortunate
Workingmen in the Fiery Liquid-Ths
Loss to Property Placed ut $500, 900,
Partially Covered by Insurance.
JERSEY CITY. May II.
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 tile morning.
One of the large tanks near the store 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
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 a mile,
and the burning oil was scattered in all d.
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 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 a 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 500, 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 di-
rected to prevent them from spreading.
This was partially successful until nearly
five o'clock, when tank No. Z exploded with
terrific report, and the blazing oil spread
with lightning rapidity.
Chief Terrier and a 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 unfortu-
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,
IabOrer; and William Curry, boiler-maker.
The waves of flaming oil had rolled in
upon the engine-house, carpenter shop, ma
chine shop, boiler and pump room, two
warehouses, the 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 twenty-sX on
the ground were blazing. The tracks
of the Pennsylvania Railroad also
caught fire, and several rolling tanks OH the
rails were only saved by having earth piled
on top of them. The bay was sheet of
flaming oil. and the long trestle bridge Of
railway, about quarter OF mile long, run
ming from the works to Black Toms
Island, was also burned down to the waters
edge.
Al Tile DOdTulIlS-IlOuSe VI tI1t EuSIc hc~
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 the heat renders close approach to tia
ruins impossible.
The burning works extended, with those
of the Eagle Refinery, about three-quarterS
of mile inland. The buildings that have
been destroyed were situated in the midst OF
tanks. The wind is southeast, blowing of
the sea, and therefore, there is no danger OF
other tanks exploding. Had the wind been
northerly, the clearinghouse and Eagle
Works would certainly have been destroyed
also.
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, cOoperage, black
smith-shop, pump-hOuse, several steam
pumps and the entire equipment of the eS-
adjustment, except sixteen tanks. The
burned works extended about three-fourths
of mile along the bay, and one-forrth OF
mile inland, were erected about fifteen years
ago, and cost in the neighborhood of $780,
900. The entire loss, including the de-
struction of oil and the contents of the
buildings, is believed to he about 81 800. 900.