New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-19
ROASTED IN BLAZING OIL.
THREE MEN AND A BOY BURNED TO DEATH.
DISTRESSING SCENES AFTER AN EXPLOsIoN-A
HEROIC ATTEMPT AT RESCUE,


PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1S.-An explosion of a
tank OF oil occurred at the Philadelphia Lubrc Com
panys works, the Delaware at the foot of MOore-st
TINS morning For some time the works have been run
ming TO their full capacity and early this morning a
gang of men, numbering about fifteen, was set at work
to repair stone foundation under aarge iron still which
contained 50 barrels Of crude OIL The repairs had been
partly completed aud several of the were engaged
In plasterng up the interior walls. when the
mnnhOle OF the still was blown of, setting the oil
Oil fire. tilting over the STILL and causing the burning
oil to fall the below. The explosion was fol.
lowed a few seconds later by second report and a
dense volume OF smoke. and the utmost CONSERVATION
ensued among the workmoD, several of whom ran In
different directions to sound alarm while the re-
mainder assisted in caring for those who had been in-
jnred In short time after the explosion the works
were surrounded by large crowd OF men, women and
children, and when 1t became known that number or
men had been either killed badly injured there was
great excitement Considerable time elapsed before
any OF tho fire apparatus rachel tho sceno. by which
time the oil which still remained In the tilted tank
ana the portion which had flowed to the ground was
burning Hereby
superintendent f. W. Strain called all tho employees
together and the work OF rrscuing those wao had been
injured was begun An ederly man, whose name could
not bo obtained, found lying against the fence
yards from the exploded tank He was
and face. Joseph Robinson discovered lying
on tho ground close to pool 81 burning OIL
clOtDlng
which had been burned OIL He was severely burned,
aud when picked mp nd arried the cOnpanys works
portion Of tho flesh OF the right leg came of while
surgeon was engaged Ia cutting eff his trousers.
Alexander Banks had charge of the gang, and was
working Immediately under the tank when the eXpl0-
sion took place While the roseung party was searchng
around for the victims his body seen, as tho wind
the foundation wall, and surrounded with blazing oil.
Michael Cavanaugh volunteered to rescue him, and,
Notwithstanding tho protests OF his companions,
crawe1 along on the ground, after OF the flremen
bad saturated his clothing with water lie grasped
Bankss right foot and when he made an effort to draw
him out tho mans foot parted from tho Dody;;
Cayanaugh dropped and hastily reached place OF
face aud hands badly burned by coming in contact
with the blazing oil. few minutos after he escaped
the tank fell and Banks's body was hid from view
Charles Mclean aud Arthur Grucber were also found
lying close 10 the burning sti tho former being unc3n
conscious, and both seriously burned several Other
men who were working close to the suH at tDe
time OF tho explosion we're also burned, ,rnnd 6m1
taken to the Pennsylvania Hospital where their
wounds were dressed
from the stll when II careened, nOwed along tne
ground, and coming IN contact with two wooden tanks
tanks contained GOO aud 300 barrels Of OIL respectively
aud notwith tandIng tbat the bremen lre;,1a M wr o
and soon communicated with the OIL. once lsnltct
they we're doomed 10 destruction. Iho hremen ncIt
directed their efforts toward preventing the flames from
spreading large iron tank which contained zoo par
res OF tar Five streams OF water directed t TO
kcon tbe sdes cool but they were useless, the
tents took nro and time threatened the desruc-
will reach $4,000; Insurance, $1,000.
Besides several persons who were more or less seriously
burned the following the nancso OF tho victims OF the
explosion:
BASxs ALKIAyprR-No llo MlGlin g. a. forty burned
crisp lie was superint 1dent oi gang OF wosnen
MARsGAu Cn,ELfs-II MIMI st age twelve burned
RonissoX JosErH-IIomc IA Delaware thrtyaye' mar
red burned all over dcd late In the aernoon. NJ, ,,v
and eTIsmtes burned; viii dc. , .,.
McLtAS. CAmHs single. age tweaiyiGu ou'n"l about
head AgH T atG 95oS-eS entire body
burned. about y. NJ.