Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-04
A FLOOD OF FIRE.
Destructive Connagration Caused By J.
Freshet at Clevelaud-A Stream
Of Blazing Petroleum.
Severe Raia.Storms in Ohio, Missouri and
IndiaDa-Great Damage to Prop
erty-Loss Of Life.

CLEVELAND, February 3.-FIood and FIRE
caused widespread damage here to-day.
The rain began last evening, and has been
falling continuously more than twenty-four
hours, much of the time in torrents. Cuba
hoga river and tributaries OVERLOOKED their
banks, and are still rising, and there is small
prospect of the rain ceasing. Houses, barna,
factories, etc., in the valley are inundated,
and the damage in the aggregate will be
large. No loss of life is yet reported. The
greatest destruction was by a confagration
attributable TO the freshet. Early in the
morning the water in a small creek called
KiDgston run rose far beyond its usual
hight and spread over hundreds of acres of
low land surrounding q leaky petroleum
still OF the Standard Works, located con.
siderable distance above the company's main
works. The escaping oil and refuse were
swept down the stream and carried under the
boilers of the Great Western Oil Works,
which we're nearly submerged. The oil was
ignited and aoated to the tank containing
5000 barrels OF crude petroleum, which took
fire and exploded with violence, spread
ing the blazing oil in all direc-
tiops, some being carried to Merriam
& Morgan's parafine works below, which
we're also fred. Continuing down the stream,
| the flaming flood next attacked the works of
the Standard Oil Company, located In the
valley, one after another OF which took fire,
until tonight five $4,000. barrel tanks, two
5000 barrel tanks, four stills, one agitator,
an epginehouse, 500 feet OF railway trestle
and vsrious small works were destroyed.
The tanks were not all full. Not less than
$4,000 barrels Of oil were consumed. The
speculation, and is estimated at from
$4,000 to 100000 The machinery
in the stills was worth SGT 900. Six steam
| fre.eBgines and three hook and ladder COM
panies have been working all day, and a
large force of the department will be re-
| quired all night. The oil must all burn
| when it once takes fire; throwing water only
scatters without extinguishing the flames.
| The fremen have 10 direct their efforts to
prevent the FIRE spreading. They labored at
q great disadvantage, because much of the
territory where the confsgration ragged
was covered with water six feet deep. The
huge gasoline tank, looking up like an island
| in the freshet, has been in great danger.
The escaping gas several times took FIRE, but
| was extipguished in spite of the burning oil
floating all about and large tanks burning
furiously close BY. Had this caught. fire a
horrible explosion would have followed and
incalculable destruction resulted.
| MORE EXPLOSIONS
| Late last night the large storage tank al
the Standard Oil Works exploded and took
| FIRE. Its contribution will make the loss of
| oil thus far $1,000 barrels, worth about $780,
600. A tank containing $500 barrels Of
gasoline was momeniarily expected to go,
but at mid eight the confagration is thought
| to be under control. The wind changed and
blew in a favorable direction, turning the
flames back over the burned district. Many
of the Standard Company's tanks,
the cooper shops, large buildings
and principal works are untouched. Still,
no prediction can be made about what the
fire may do. The water may at any time
break into the tank and scatter the burning
oil. Shirmer & Teagle's (Great Western OIL
Works. loss is about $4,000. Merriam &
Morgan's Parafine Works, loss small. The
standard Company's loss may rasch
S25O,000. The insurance is small.
| AT MIDNIGHT.
The river is booming aud rain is falling
steadily. Boards, shingles, laths and great
quantities OF other stuff washed out of the
lumber.ysrds and off the lowest docks are
drifting into the lake. Hemph & Co.'s lum
Der yard, being on lower ground than the
others, suffers most. Railway and telegraphit
communication has been seriously inter
rupted by the storm. Trains arriving vert
delayed from four to twelve hours. All train
en- the Valley railway but one were abau
doned. This evening a schooner was tori
from its moorings and hurled against thu
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railwa,
bridge, the draw of which was 30 badl.
wrenched that the cars cannot paes, thu
destroying Southern connections. Northern
Ohio is generally flooded, this city appar
emily being in the center of the deluge. Thu
ice, which this morning covered everything
has melted, and the freshet holds undisputet
|