Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-19
Additional Details

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, November 1S.-An
explosion of a tank of oil at the Lubric
Company's works, at the foot of Moore
street this morning resulted in the death
of a man, the probable death of a boy, the
seriously injuring of four others and the
partial destruction of the establishment.
The victims are:
Alexander Banks, aged forty, residing
at 119 Mifiiin street; burned to q crisp. He
was superintendent of the workmen, and
had recently come from Pittsburg.
Charles Marshall, a boy, aged twelve;
cannot be found.
Joseph Robinson of Delaware, aged thir-
ty-five, entire body terribly burned
Patrick Boyle, aged twenty-six, head,
trunk and extremities fr~ightfully burned;
will die.
Charles Mclean. sged twenty-four,
burned about the head and extremities;
will probably die.
Arthur Grueber, aged twenty-eight, en-
tire body terribly burned will die.
For some time past the works have been
running to their full capacity, and early
this morning a gang of fifteen men were
set at work to repair a stone foundation
under a large iron still which contained
1900 barrels of crude oil. The repairs had
been partially completed, and several Of
the men were engaged in plastering up the
interior walls, when the manhole of the
still was blown off, setting the oil on fire,
fitting over the still and causing the burn.
ing oil to fall on the uen below. The ex-
plosion was followed a few seconds later
by a second report and a dense volume OF
smoke, and
THE UTMOST CONSERVATION
ensued among the workmen. Considera'
BILE time elapsed before any of the fire ap-
paratus reached the scene, by which time
the oil which still remained in the tilted
tank and the portion which had flowed to
the ground was burning 6ercely. Within
a few minutes after the explosion the work
of rescuing those who had been injured
was commenced. An elderly man, whose
name was not learned, was found lying
across the fence which surrounded the
works, about seventy-five yards from the
exploded tank. He was unconscious, and
was terribly burned. Joseph Robinson
was discovered lying on the ground close
to a pool of burning oil. His clothins
was saturated with the oil, a portion Of
which had been burned off. He was ter
ribly burned, and when picked up anc
carried to the company's works a portion
of the flesh of the right leg came off while
a surgeon was engaged in cutting off hi:
p~antaloons.
LhAANDE BANKS
was working Immediately under the tank
when the explosion took place. Whils
the rescuing party was searching for the
victims his body was observed, as the
wind carried the smoke away, lying or
the ground close to the foundation wal
and surrounded with blazing oil. One OF
the men, named Michael Cavanaugh
volunteered to rescue him, and, notwith.
standing the protests of his companions
crawled along on the ground after one O
the firemen had saturated his clothing
with water. When within reach Of thu
unfortunate man he grasped his right foot
and when he made an effort to draw thu
body out the mans foot parted from tn,
body. Cavanaugh dropped il and hastily
reached q place of safety, leaving the body
to the flames. C~avanaugh's face and hand!
were badly burned. Just after Cav
anaugh escaped the tank fell and Banksi
body was hidden from view. Charles Nc
Lean and Arthur Gruber were also found
lying close to the burning still, the forme
being unconscious and both terribly
burned. Several other men who wer,
working close to the still at the time of thu
explosion were also burned, but their in
juries were comparatively slight. The in
jured were taken to the Pennsylvania
Hospital, where their wounds wer
dressed. The loss will reach about $50, 900
insurance. ST. 1000. The body of the miss
ing boy, Charles Marshall, was finally re
covered from the ruins.
Two MORE DEATHS.
Two more victims of the explosion thi
morning, Joseph Robinson and Arthu
Gruber, died this afternoon.