Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-19
A PHIL4DELpHIA ExPL0s ION.
A MAN Killed and others Injured
A Delnwarean Fatally Hurt.
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A MAN Killed and others Injured
A Delnwarean Fatally Hurt.
Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18.-An explosion
of tank of oil ut the Philadelphia Lu-
brio Company's works ON the Delaware at
the foot of Moore street this morning re-
suited in the death of a man, the probable
death of boy, the serious injury of four
others aud the partial destruction of the
establishment. The victims are Alexan-
der Banks, aged forty, living Mt 119 Milf
DIM street, burned to a crisp. He was
superintendent of the gang of workmen
and bud recently come from Pittsburg.
Charles Marshall, a boy aged IL, livingin
,lifliin, ii work with the men under the
ink, cannot be found. Joseph Robinson
If Delaware, married, aged So years, boiler
maker, entire body terribly burned. Can.
not possibly recover. Patrick Boyle,
single, aged 26 years, laborer, head, trunk
and extremities frightfully burned. Will
die. Charles Mclean of this city, aged "a
years, single, burned about head and ex-
tremities. Probably will not recover.
Arthur Grueber of England, aged 28
years, single, entire body terribly burned.
Will die
For some time past the works have
been running to their full capacity, and
early this morning gang of men, num-
bering about Is, was set at work to repair
stone foundation under a large iron
still, which contained $50 barrels of crude
oil. The repairs had been partially COM
pleted and several of the men were en-
gagged 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 burning oil to fall on
the men below. The explosion wasfollowed
few seconds later by second report
and dense volume of smoke, and the ut
most CONSERVATION ensued among the
workmen, several of whom ran in differ
emit directions to sound an alarm, while
the remainder assisted in caring for those
who had been injured. In q remarkably
short time after the explosion the works
were surrounded by large crowd of men,
women and children, and when it became
| known that n number of men had been
either killed or badly injured, great ex-
citement existed Considerable time
elapsed before any of the fire apparatus
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 fiercely.
Within q few minutes after the ex-
plosion Superintendent Z. w. Strain
called all the employees together, and the
work of rescuing those who had been
injured was begun. An elderly man,
whose name could not be learned, was
found lying against the fence which sur
rounds the works about rs yards from
the exploded tank. He was uncon-
scious and was terribly burned about
the head and face. Joseph Robinson was
discovered lying on the ground close to
pool of burning oil. His clothing was
saturated with oil, portion of which
had been burned off. He was terribly
burned and, when picked up and carried
to the company's works, portion of the
flesh of the right leg came off while q
surgeon was engaged in cutting OF his
pantaloons.
HEROIC, BUT HORRIBLE EPISODE.
Alexander Banks, aged 40 years, living
at No. 119 Miffiin street, had charge of the
gang and was working Immediately under
the tank when the explosion took place.
While the rescuing party was searching
around for the victims lis ~ was
observed as the wind carried the smok
1
the foundation wall and surrounded with
blazing oil. One of the men named
Michael Cavanaugh volunteered to rescue
him, and, Notwithstanding the protests OF
his companions, crawled along on the
ground after one of the firemen had sat
urated his clothing with water. When
within reach of the unfortunate man he
grasped his right foot, and when he made
an effort to draw the body out the mans
foot parted from the body. Cavanaugh
dropped it and hastily reached place
of safety, leaving the body to the flames
II was very heroic act and Cavanaugh's
face and hands were badly burned by
coming in contact with the blazing oil
A few minutes after Cayanaugh escaped
the tank fell, and Banks body was bidder
from view.
Charles Mclean and Arthur Gruebei
were also found lying close to the burn
ing still, the former being unconscious
and both terribly burned. Several othel
men who were working close to the still
at the time of the explosion were alst
burned, but their injuries were compare
lively slight. The injured were taken Il
the Pennsylvania Hospital, where thei
wounds were dressed.
) Soon after the explosion occurred tn,
burning oil which had run from the still
when it careened flowed along the grounc
and coming in contact with two woodel
tanks partially buried in the ground Sc
: them ON fire. These tanks contained 60
and 500 barrels of oil respectively and
notwithstanding that the tiremen directe'
7 water and threw earth on tn
: tops, the flames spread and sool
communicated with the oil. Once ignited
: they were doomed to destruction. TIL
. tiremen next directed their efforts toward
+ preventing the flames from spreading to
large iron tank which contained 50
barrels of tar. Five streams of waite
e were directed on it to keep the sides coo
u but their exertions were fruitless as th
contents took fire and at one tim
. threatened the destruction of the entir
L eastern end of the works.
AT o'clock the fire was well under col
= troll. The loss will reach about $3.50, 900
6 insurance, $4,000.
Is The body of the missing boy, Charlie
Marshall was finally recovered from IL
. ruins and removed to his late resident
on Miffiin street.
Two more victims, Joseph Robinso
and Arthur Greuber, did this Afternoon