Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-03
AWFUL EXPLOSION.
The Standard Oil Warehouse at
Louisville Burned.
An IMMENSE WALL OF FLAME.
Terrible Burning OF a Number of Persons
Peculiar Manner in Which the Fire
Broke Out-Ffve Acres of
Flame.

Flame.
LOUISVILLE, KY, July Five acres
at the Standard Oil refinery at Fifth
and streets yesterday morning. The
immense structure was blazing at every
point and the heat was so intense that
even 200 yards away persons were over
come. The following is a list of the
casualties:
Andrew Mcdonald, aged II, badly
burned about the face and breast, but
will recover.
John Mcdonald, aged IA, literally
roasted alive; can live but short time.
Dan O'Neil, aged 12, terribly burned
and will die.
John Kline, aged 20, frightfully
burned all over the body and can not
possibly recover.
Severn Skene, aged Al, terribly burned
but will probably survive.
J. s. Pettigrew, aged As, badly. though
not fatally, burned about the head and
breast
Arthur Yonkers, aged Is, slightly
burned.
1t was at first reported that seven had
lost their lives and later that three were
killed and thirty-fve wounded, but it is
now believed that the above will cover
the casualties.
At the first intimation Of the explo-
sion all the workmen who could do so
started to run. Johnnie Kline, how
eAy 1aI nd FOL I'd fc o1A ~
caught fire. The other men bravely re-
turned to his assistance, but the fire
that enveloped him could not be extin-
guished until he was frightfully
burned.
Three little boys, Danny O'Neill and
Andrew and John Mcdonald, were
walking along the railroad track when
the explosion occurred. They were
slightly to the east of the tank, and the
upon them. Shrieking with pain, they
impulsively jumped backward and into
the clear space on the western side of
the track. Their clothes were on fire
and they ran down the track with the
bright blaze streaming after them. AS
soon as the bystanders recovered from
the shock occasioned by their horrible
condition they pursued the boys. Gov
ering them with coats they extinguished
the flames and laid them under tree
nearby. When an attempt was made to
remove O'Neil's clothes, great piece of
flesh peeled off his face and body at
slight touch. He was unconscious and
never uttered cry.
The buildings and stock, so far as
burned, will be total loss. There is
no insurance, according to the statement
of Edward L. Goodwin, vice-president
of the Standard Oil Company. Mr..
Goodwin said: ut is almost impossible
to estimate the loss. We will first have
to find our bearings. And while at
this hour we do not think the
fire will spread any more, there is no
telling. 1 should Judge, from present
appearances, that the loss on stock and
all would be between $50, 900 and S4O,-
OOO."
The fire broke out at S:45 o'clock and
was in many respects remarkable one.
The refinery is on the east side of the
Louisville & Nashville railroad track,
but the tanks are scattered along 1t on
both sides. Last Saturday tank of
crude oil came in on fiat car from
Cleveland, and it was to be turned into
the refinery vats. Some of the work
men thought the iron tank was
too hot for such thing to
be done with safety. After
consultation it was postponed in the
fhof 70 hn
cooler. 1t did not prove to be, however,
and it became necessary to run the oil
out of the car tank to another one in
the yard. Inspector Severn Skeene took
John Pettigrew and another workman,
whose name could not be learned, with
him and they climbed on the car. They
mounted to the manhead and were
about to unScrew the cap when they
felt that there was a tremendous
pressure from the inside against it
At first they decided not to open 1t,
but finally they changed their minds
and did so. In an instant there
was dull puff as the vapor escaped,
filling the air all around. The gas, as
it is known, is heavier than the air and
it sank to the ground, spreading out all
over the locality and moving with the
wind. Almost in a twinkling it reached
one of the sheds under which there was
a fire. There was flash as the inflam~
able vapor ignited, and Immediately |
there was tremendous ex- |
plosion. The tank was blown to pieces |
and the hundreds of gallons Of burning |
oil were scattered all over the great |
works.
wall of fire 800 feet high and nearly |
300 feet long moved with lightning rap
idity to the buildings. In less time |
than it takes to relate it the canning |
house, filled with thousands of gallons
Of canned oil, the cooper shop,
the carpenter shops, the pump and en-
CINE house, the filing and lubricating
house, the storage house, the paint and
glue houses and 900 feet of platform
we're all ablaze and burned furiously.
EAPMEoIS PEVIEW