The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-08-22
HEAVY EXPLOSION.
A Large Oil Reservoir DESTROYED
by Fire.
Over Twenty Five Thousand
Barrels Ablaze.
President Harrison and Party
Arrive at Cincinnati.
A Terrible Railroad Disaster
Near Scranton, Pa.

and then flame and smoke shot up in
vast volumes from the Allegheny side
of the Ohio river. Lieutenant Holmes
of the Allegheny police force, who was
on Beaver avenue at the time, at once
realized that an explosion, and one of
great magnitude, had occurred, and he
quickly sounded the alarm. He then
hurried to the location of the flames
and an instant's glance was sufficient
to show that the large oil reservoir of
"A. ID. Millhy was doomed to deStruc-
ton. When Lieutenant Holmes ar
rived on the scene he found Perry
Heuck, the night Waterman of the re-
tinery, lying in an injured and daZed
condition on Washington avenue.
With the assistance of another officer
he was taken to the drug store at the
corner of Beaver and Washington and
his injuries attended to. Heuck could
tell nothing of the explosion, or how he
escaped. Martin Miller, the engineer
of the establishment, was also miss
ing, and it is thought he persisted in
the flames. In the meantime the de-
vouring element was sweeping all
before it. Starting from the gas
oline still, which swas the cause
of the explosion the flames spread in
all directions. The flames of water
white oil was the first to ignite, but it
was soon followed by a large recepta-
Gle of the ordinary brand, and $4,000
barrels were ablaZe at once. Alarm
was sent out from fire headquarters.
and soon every engine in the city was
at the scene and streams of water were
pouring in from all directions. But
the greedy flame seemed to accept the
water merely as fresh fuel and it ap-
peared to aid in the work of destruc-
ton. Near the corner of Preble ave-
nue. and Adams street stood cooper
shop in a long low brick building
stored with empty barrels and rows
of them standing on the outside.
These latter were soon on fire, and it
| seemed to be a question of a few
minutes when those inside must
| follow. Within fifteen minutes the
entire square, except narrow
strip along Preble avenue was one
mass of flames. The roofs of the
neighbOring residences were smoking
and the occupants, many of them half
| clad, were standing around half stupe-
| fed with the fear that their homes
were to be devoured. In a short time
nearly all of the residents of Lower
| Allegheny were Oh the scene pressing
as close to the grandly awful sight as
the intense heat would permit. Quite
/ sensation was Great ed among them,
however, by the announcement that in
the building at the corner of Washing
ton and Preble avenues which was on
the verge of the fire, was stored l, 800
barrels of benZine. The result of this
alarm was general scatter for short
time, but the crowd soon again sur
rounded the dangerous spot. While
hard at work, Fireman Mulvehill OF
the Eureka engine company had his
foot badly crushed and was taken
home in patrol wagon. At hall
past five o'clock the fire was under con
troll so far as combining the flames with
in their original limits was concerned
but the fire was still burning at
o'clock this morn. By playing on the
houses most in danger the spread in
that direction was avoided, and by
hard work the lumber yard at one enc
of the property was saved. The de-
struction of the refinery property how
ever, is practically total and the fire is
still licking up what little remains
No trace of the engineer has yet beer
secured and there is no longer yes
tige of a doubt that he met his doom
at his post of duty. The plant was
valued at 1925. 900. The insurance if
any is light, as oil Tefineries are not
usually taken by insurance companies
Harrison I'm ClncInnatti.
CINCINNATI, Ohio Aug. 21.-AmiG
the booming of cannons and the cheer
from vast multitudes gathered at the
central station the president of the
United States arrived there at quar-
ter after 10 o'clock over two hours and
half late, owing to an accident to the
engine of a train in front OF the Yves
tern Express between Baltimore and
Washington yesterday. Mr.. Harrison
retired at midnight last night and slept
rather soundly, sleep being interrupted
| by noise made by joining the coup
ling of the vestibule cars to that of the
private car Baltimore. Mr.. Harrison
with Secretary Rusk, Attorney Gener.
al Miller and Private Secretary Hal
| ford took an early breakfast this morn
| ing. The meal was cooked and served
| by the old colored servant of the late
John w. Garret. Robert Carrot and
the successive presidents of
the Baltimore & Ohio road.
This same man accompanied ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland on his wedding tour.
Crowds were at every station as the
train came running down this morning
and gave cheers when the train stopped.
The president was, as usual, beseiged
by eager patriots to shake his hand.
at Greenfield, Ohio, card was handed
Mr.. Harrison with the words. I'VE
wish you health and a safe journey. -
A crowd of several Thousand stood and
cheered themselves hoarse while the
general SsDod hat in hand waving his
greeting. 20, Mr.. Harrison, please
say word, y cried a woman. but the
train carried him away too soon. OuI
chief chief magistrate spent part of the
morning reading the Cincinnati morn
ing papers aud was from time to time
interrupted by some members o.
the party calling Oh him
Daniel NJ. Rausdell and Hon. VIM
NJ. NJ. Meredith, who were members
of the generals own regiment, talked
over old events with him. The car is
divided into four compartments, the
rear room is used as the president 4
Office, the next as a waiting room, then
the sleeping compartments, and in
|, front the kitchen. The entire party
consisted of President Harrison. At
tOrney General Miller, Private Score
tarv HalfORd, Secretary Rusk, Hon
John Z. Elan, Col. j b. Block, Gen
Thomas G. Morgan, commissioner OF
Indian affairs; Hon. j. /. IRWIN of In
diana; Hop. Daniel NJ. RausdelI, mar
shall of the District Of Columbia: J. b
, Cochran, assistant district attorney
of Indiana; Hon. VIM. N. Meredith
chief of engraving and printing, and
|, Press reporter. Marshal Of ths
District of Columbia Rausden handed
the private secretary a request brought
by man all the way from JohnstowT
TO Washington from the Red Cross
society of that place, asking the pres
ident to return by way of Johnstown
that he may see for himself the terri
bic condition of things there. J.. w
Heron of Cincinnati. an old school
friend of Harrison at Miami Uniyersi