The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-11

A Vermont Costly House of Worship
In Ashes.
Sprays Of Sparks From Several Source,


oPiuls vi SpuThS EIOu several sources
struck by Lightning.
NEw YORK, May l0.-The Standard Oh
Works, OF Jersey City, were struck by
lightning early this morning Seven oil
tanks have already exploded, and the fire
is still raging with horrible force. More
disasters are feared, The estimated loss is
$500 200.
STILL RAGING.
l0a. m.-The fire at the Standard Oil
Works, jersey City, is still raging and is
now near the tanks OF the Jersey Central
track, where 10000 barrels are stored.
Thus far 500, 900 barrels OF oil have been de-
stroyed, including $50, 900 barrels of refined
stored in the store-house. 1t is now
thought the loss will reach $4,000.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
JERSEY CITY, May 10, III am. THE
works of the Standard Oil company at
Communipaw. the most extensive in this
country, are on fire and about one.half of
the propertyis now destroyed. The fire
started during severe storm this morning.
One Of the large tanks near the shore was
struck, and exploded, by lightning. The
burning oil poured out like angry rows of
enormous tanks toward the river. In a
short time the flames communicated with
three large tanks, and thev exploded stimuli.
taneously with terrific force. Frag-
ments OF iron were hurled the dis.
tance of half mile, and the burning
oil was scattered in all directions. The en-,
tire fire department have been summoned,
but their services are almost useless, as the
burning streams of oil poured through the
yard, firing tank after tank on the east side
and licking up buildings and s'orehouses.
solid structure, where barreled oil was
kept, was attacked by the flames, and sue.
cumbed. The engine-house went next and
the oil and water-pump houses, the sunken
tanks and machine-shop quickly followed,
and now the whole easterly side OF the works
is seething mass of flames. Despite the
tremendous heat and blindiHg smoke fire.
men are working valiantly in the
hope of checking the progress OF
the flames, but it appears al
stroyed. and tits feared that the flames will
reach out and consume property in the
neighborhood. People are deserting theil
homes and moving out what is valuable Of
their effects. II is estimated that there
were 8, 10000 gallons OF oil in the tanks
ana the loss OF property already laid in
ashes will reach $l,000,0O0. The shaft Of
lightning, of unequaled brilliancy and
brightness, that struck the first tank was
seen by the fireman of engine No. 10 In
Holiday street, Jersey City. a mile away
and the engine at once started for the scene
1t was soon discovered to be useless
work TO play into the flames, and all efforts
were directed to prevent them from spread
ing. This was partially successful, until
nearly O'Clock, when tank No. exploded
| with terrific report, and the blazing oil
spread with lightning rapidity. Chief Fer
rier and number OF men were within ten
yards OF this tank when it exploded, and
were saved almost by a miracle. Dropping
the hose, which was burned to ashes, they
fled for their lives. When they mustered!
together at "a safe distance six oftheir NUM-
ber were found to be missing, The smoke
was so dense that it was impossible to tell
which way one was going, and IL is thought
that the unfortunate men ran down to the
river aud were lost.
ll;30 a, m.-The oil fire is still raging.
The Eagle refinery is in danger, if the winds
CONTINUE southeast. The remaining build
lngs may be saved. Six lives have been
lost.
The names Of the missing are John Her.
bert, superintendent; James Jenkins, fore.
man cooper; George Davis, engineer; Hen
ry kigler, laborer; Dick Conkling, laborer;
William Curry, boiler.maker.
The waves Of flaming oil had rolled in
upon the eneine-house, carpenter shop
machinery, boiler and pump rooms, two
warehouses, cooper shop aud blacksmith
oh a tlax, 81 .
hour. Tank after tank was caught by the
flames, until seven out of twenty.six on
the ground were blazing. The tracks
of the Pennsylvania railroad also
caught fire, and several railngs, tanks, or
rails were only saved by having earth
piled on top of them. The bay was a
sheet OF flaming oil and the long tres,le
bridge OF the railroad, about quarter Of a
mile long, running from the WORKS TO the
block OF Sans Island, was also burned to
the waters edge. The house of the Eagle
refinery, close by the scene, was painful In
the extreme. The newly made widows
congregated In one OF the rooms, hope and
despair alternating in their distracted
minds.
lamentng 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 the ruins
impossible. The burning works extend
with those Of the Eagle refinery, about
three.quarters OF mile inland. The build
ings that have been destroyed were stu.
ated In the midst uf the tanks. The wind
Is southeast, blowing Off to south south.
east, and therefore there is no danger oi
other tanks exploding. Had the wind been
northcrly, the boarding house and Eagle
works would certainly have perished also.
LATER-The fire Is now under control.
IL is thought the loss will exceed 81 ,0OO,-
600; insured for $500 000 Twelve large
tanks, eighteen cars, six barges aud
dredges, three docks and live brick build
ings were destroyed. Tho quantity Of oil
consumed is not known. Among the loss
es, besides the Standard Oil company, are
several other oil firms, each OF whom lose
from LOG to 100 barrels of cylinder oil, which
was stored In one the warehouses.