Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-07-04
A GREAT OIL FIRE.
Forty Thousand Barrels Burned In wash
ington County.


ington County.
The Little Washington papers OF last
evening had long accounts of the great oil
fire occurring at Johnson's Station, Tues
day night. The tank, containing 10000
barrels, was struck by lightning at 5:1O
Tuesday evening, and yesterday at 8
O'Clock it was still burning. When the
oil was first igpited the flames rose 1875
feet in the air, making great spectacle.
An immense crowd of people, including
skilled fire fighters from all over the oil
regions, soon gathered at the tank, and
the cannon was brought out. There were
five other tanks of 40, 900 capacity, full of
oil, in the immediate vicinity, and it was
necessary to make great exertions - save
them. A 4-inch pipe connected with the
tank and leading to the creek was turned
on, and the oil allowed to escape. AT half
past nine the first shot was fired at the tank.
The 3-inch solid shot struck the tank
about eight feet from the ground. The
amber fluid Immediately poured out of the
orifice, and flowing down the trench pre-
pared, to Joined the waters of the creek.
Quite crowd WAS gathered around the
common and crowds OF sightseers occupied
the surrounding hills, the railroad bridge
at the base of the abutment of which the
oil was flowing into the creek, and even
the loading rack along the railroad
track between the bridge and tank.
At $50 another shot was fired. 1t
struck the tank at point near the
former one. What followed was not alto
gether unexpected. The oil issuing from
the tank was seen to ignite and pour like a
burning avalanche into the trench leading
10 the creek. The scene that followed
beggRred description. The crowd around
the cannon fled for their livee. Persons
on the railroad bridge sought higher ground.
A number of young men who had been
stationed on the loading rack fled across
the lowlsnd, swan the creek and gained
the high ground beyond. The scene was
one of wild confusion. Ladies screamed
and clung tearfullY to their husbands,
brothers or escorts. Horses plunged
and several buggies were overturned.
Leaving the tank the burning torrent
swept down the trench. covering the low
part of the corn field. As the fiery fluid
reached the creek a muffled report was
heard. On il ragged down the creek filling
the valley with flames and SNAKE, Great
ing scene fit 10 iival the Inferno. II
continued in this manner for probably
| half an hour. The fires along the creek
were afterwards found at bridges and al
eddys and curves where considerable
quantities of oil would accumulate and
become ignited. The fire at the johnson
railroad bridge ragged fiercely for hours.
Shortly after midnight the oil ceased to
flow so freely into the creek, being con-
sumed near the tank. At two a. m. yes.
terday the tank appeared to be still hall
full of fluid and long after daylight it was
still burning
From Houstonville to Canonsburg the
creek is lined with willows and other trees
and standing in advance of the fire and
looking back one could see the mighty
volume of flame and smoke swiftly pas
sing thl 1ugh the trees and brush ignitine
and consuming many of them cs it came.
At the upper end of Canonsburg there Il
large dam and the water is forced back
about 300 yards. Here most of the uncon-
sumed oil had collected and the flames as
cended higher than ever. The people OF
Canonsburg, had been warned by two men
who had started from Johnson's as soon as
the oil began to descend the creek and
we've very much excited. The members 0l
the Hook & Ladder Co. were out in
force and were busily employed pouring
water on the houses near the creek.
A short distance above tine breast of the
dam the creek is crossed by another wood
en- bridge, also erected by the county. A
large crowd gathered at this point and
witnessed the destruction Of the bridge.
The flames here formed in the shape of a
rapidly moving pillar of fame, and in a
few minutes the bridge was destroyed.
This happened at about a. m. The fire
had now consumed the larger portion Of
the oil which had escaped from the tanks,
end soon died out. If the oil on the creek
had extended much further, the flame
would have swept through Canonsburg
and would have done much damage. As
it was, the people we're greatly alarmed,
and many living near the creek were
already moving out.