New-York tribune., 1890-06-06
A TANK STEAMER ABLAZE.
THIRTEEN MEN INJURED, SOME FATALLY
BY THE SMOKE AND BURNING OIL.
THE VESSEL, WHICH HAD CAPACITY OF
1000 600 GALLONS OF OIL, AND HAD 100000


100000 GALLONS OF OIL AND HAD 100000
ABOARD, DEsTRoYED-Loss, sl5oOoo.
Philadelphia June 5.-About O'Clock this afternoon
an explosion occurred on the German tank steamer
Hans and Kurt. lying at the works OF the atlantic
OH Refining Company. at Point Breeze, on the Della
ware River in the OIL district Of Philadelphia. Tie
explosion set fire TO the vessel and wharf property,
almost destroying the former, and burning brick
storage building.
Joseph II. Quinn. age thrty.six. shipping clerk
for the refining company, was on the steamer when
the explosion occurred. lie was covered with burn
ing oil. and ashore. Every effort was made
to quench the flames, but lie was burned so badly
that he died soon after being removed TO
-. Agnes Hospital. Harris Shonholn. age thirty.
seven, hoseman of Engine No 4. while at work on
the steamer was overcome by heat and inhaled smoke
He was taken to the hospital in an unconscious con
dition and the physicians there have slight hopes Of
saving his life John Karl Wuent, age forty two
carpenter of tho steamer. badly burned, and dis
located an while making his escape from tho
burning vessel His condition IS serious. Henry
Campen, age forty, stcamtter at the oil works, had
both feet and portions of his body badly scaded by
burning oil and may die. John E. stoncy, William
Quinn and Henry SpOud, employed about the works,
were more or less seriously burned by the flying OIL
The Others injured were Roocrt pactct. cook Of the
steamer, both feet burned samuel Lynn, engineer OF
No. l company, scaldeh about the DOdy James
Dcvnc, engineer of No. IL Company scaldcd William
Black. foreman Of Engine Company No. l. both hands
burned seaman named BlcrbOn, scaldod about the
legs, an unknown man burned by oil. All OF those
seriously injured inhaled smoke and the fumes OF
burning OIL did also some of the less seriously
injured men.
The force Of the explosion was tremendous. The
crew ran from the ship It occurred but the
members Of the city Fire Department, who responded
to two alarms sent in went aboard the burning steamer
and threw lines 10 the tugs which came to her as
sistancc. The lines were quickly made fast; and,
a. the tugs tOwcd the doomed steamer out INTO tHc
stream, heavy streams Of water were thrown on her
from their pumps After getting her clear OF the
surrounding shipping the steamer, now mass oI
flames, WAS lowed about mile down the Delaware,
where she was aground. Here for lDur hours
water was poured 10 her from all sides by INC
tugs which surrounded her. The vessel is almost
burned out, and she will virtually have TO be rebuilt:
The Hans and Kurt Is n tramp steamer, owner
By ID. ~cmeres, Of Hamburg. She i $50 feet long, OF
G3j tons burden. fitted with iron tanks FOR carrying
oil In bulk. and has "A capacity OF 100000 gallons
She arrived hero recently from Hamburg. and had
taken, about 100000 gallons on board when the eX
poson occurred In Tank 40. 3. The cause Of the eX
plOsOn j., not Known. There was fire OF any Kind
on board. Tho theory Of spontaneous combustion i
advanced. The damage to the ship and cargo l.
estimated at $4,000. The Atlantic oil Refining
Company's loss the storage building and $50 bar
rels Of oil contained therein. Is estimated At $1,000