The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-11
FIERCE FLAMES IN JERSEY CITY,
THE STANDARD OiL~WORKs
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
Twelve Large Tanks, Eighteen Cars. SIX
Baraes, Three Docks, Five Brick Buildings.
and Much Other Property Destroyed-sey-
erai Lives Reported Lost-Loss, One Nil.
lion and Half Dollars,
TBy telegraph to the Dispatch.I


NEW YORK, May l0.-The Standard OIL.
Works, In Jersey CITY. was struck by
lightning at half-past o O'Clock this morn.
ing. Up to O'Clock seven tanks of oil
had exploded. The fire is still raging
with terrible force. The works have been
abandoned, and more disaster H. feared.
At 10 A. NJ. the fire was still raging. The
iire is now near the tanks OF the Jersey
Central track, where 100000 barrels are
stored. Thus far 500, 900 barrels have been
destroyed, including 100000 barrels OF re-
lined stored In the storehouse. The Eagle
refinery Is in dagger. n the wind contin-
ues from the southeast the remaining build
ings may be saved. The railroad is on
fire, and the oi-tanks are saved by shovel
ling dirt on them. Six lives are lost, and
none OF the bodies have been found yet.
THE LOSS ESTIMATED AT s1,50O,000.
JERSEY CITY, May 10-Ereninq. The
fire Is under control. but it will burn for
some time before all the material is con-
sumed. IL is thought that the loss will ex-
ceed Sl,500,00o. Twelve large tanks, eigl-
teen cars, six barges. dredger, three
docks. and five brick buildings were de-
stroyed. The quantity of oil consumed is
not known. Among the losers, besides
the Standard Oil Company, are several
other oil firms. who each lose from 400 to
700 barrels OF cylinder oil, which was
stored in one Of the warehouses.
THE FLASH OF LIGHTNING
that started the fire was witnessed by n fire.
man on the watch in the cngine-house in
Jersey City, mile away. Ii was OF blind
ing brlliancy. Immediately huge sheet
OF flame shot up in the air with dcafening
roar that shook the neighborhood and was
heard for miles around. A canopy Of
smoke rose above the oil-works, and spread
itself over the city like the pail OF volcano
at the commencement OF an eruption.
Then followed explosion after explosion,
rivalling crashes Of thunder, and the eX-
tensiye oil-wOrks were soon
ARoARING MASS OF FLAMES.
Before O'Clock seven immense tanks
were blazing. and rivers OF fire swept
around the bottoms of other tanks, while
the flames bombarded them from above.
1t was soon discovered 10 be useless work
to play upon the flames, and all efforts
were directed to prevent them from spread
Ing. This was partially successful until
nearly O'Clock, when Tank No. Z eX-
ploded with n terrific report, and the
blazing oil spread with lightning rapidity.
Fire-Chief Farrier and number OF men
were within ten yards OF the tank when it
exploded, and were saved almost by Il mi
racle.
SIX FIREMEN LOSE THEIR LIVES.
Dropping the hose, which was soon
burned to ashes. they fled for their lives.
When they mustered together at n safe dis
lance six Of their number were found to
be missing. The smoke was so dense that
it was impossible to tell which way one
was going, and it is thought that the unfor-
tunate men ran towards the water OF the
bay and were lost The bay was a
sheet OF flaming oil, and the long
trestle bridge OF the railway, about
a quarter Of mile long, running
from the works to Black Toms island,
was burned down to the waters edge.
Fragments OF the iron tanks were hurled
half mile by the force OF the explosions.
Many people in the neighborhood vacated
their houses. The space burned over
covers the area of about three quarters OF
mile along the bay and quarter OF mile
inland. The wind blew from the SOUTH
east. A slight change to northerly would
have caused the destruction OF the Eagle
Refinery works and an indefinite amount
Of valuable property besides.