Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-14
DIED In THE FLAMES.
Lives and Property Are Destroyed at
Coleman Station.
A STILLMAN BURNED TO A CRISP,
While Foreman and Boy Are Probably
Fatally Injured.
THE BAD WORK OF A BENZINE STILL

An oil fire which involved the destruction Of
at least two lives and possibly third. and also
some property, occurred yesterday afternoon
at Coleman station, on the Allegheny valley
Railroad, and just within the city limits.
The refinery at which the catastrophe oc-
CURED is owned by the Bear Creek Refining
Company, Of this city. in its way an extensive
plant. 1t borders close to the Allegheny Val
ley Railroad. the Allegheny river and the base
of the abrupt hill. About 2:30 o'clock in the
afternoon one of the benzine stills which is To-
Gated in a ravine a short distance from the
railroad, was being filed. This was ac-
complished safely, to all appearances; but it
was only few minutes until there was an over
flow, a loud explosion, the quick ignition of
the volatile fluid followed, and the destruction
of life and property had commenced.
Gus Jack, who was employed at the refinery
in the capacity of stillman. was caught at the
instant, and in very few minutes his life was
gone. He was standing on thehillside just be-
low the still when the
RUSH OF BURNING BENZINE
caught him. There he lay for fully half an hour
in the blazing fluid, in full sight of all the work.
men who had come to endeavor to quench the
flames They were powerless to aid him until
the ferceness of the flames had been spent.
Then one or two men rushed through the
place and pulled out poor Jack, but he was
burned to a crisp.
The remains were taken to the Office of the
company and were placed ina coffin later in
the evening and were then taken to his home,
near the works. Jack had worked for the COM
pany about eight years. He leaves.a wife and
son.
John Kirkpatrick, of Verona, the foreman Of
the works, was also caught in the fire. He was
fatally burned and was removed to his home,
where DR.. Hamilton of Oakmont, attended
him. The doctor said that he thought Kirk
patrick would hardly live through the night.
ever since it was started and was also married
man, having wife and family.
A POSSIBLE THIRD VICTIM.
Charles Dun, boy who lived at Coleman
and who worked at the refinery, will probably
be third victim of the fire. He was seriously
burned about the head 80 much SO that he was
at once brought to the West Penn Hospital.
At midnight telephone message from the hos
pital stated that Dur was in a precarious con-
dition, and that his injuries might prove fatal.
Just after the fire broke out an alarm was
telephoned in, and Engine Company No. re-
sponded on an Allegheny Valley train, reaching
the fire about o'clock. 1t at once did good
work, and at o'clock had succeeded in extin-
gushing the flames. having confined them to
the one still and small outbuilding.
The loss to the company could not pc ascer-
tanned last night but it will reach several thou
sand dollars. Allegheny Valley trains were
not delayed by the fire.
Coroner Mcdowell was apprised of the acci-
dent about o'clock and Immediately went to
the scene, where a Jury was impanelel and
viewed the remains of the deceased, after
which the inquest was adjourned until to-
morrow morning.