Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-07
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1srArcH.1

h
PHILADELPHIA, June 6.-Eleven fire.
men were burned, probably fatally, By an
explosion of gasoline to-day at the
storage house of the Penn Globe
and Gas Light Company, situated
on the northeast corner of Almond
and Adams streets. The fremen had been
called in answer to an alarm, and the flames
were under control when the explosion
came.
When the excitement had subsided 10
was found that the following were
the sufferers: William Mcconnell,
seriously burned; William Hetrick,
seriously burned; John Hillman; John
Warne, badly burned about the body, will
probably die; Thomas Grogan, body
burned; Thomas Smith, seriously burned
about head and body; James Russell.
injured and burned about face and
body; Samuel Graham, foreman, seriously
burned; David Patterson, body injured;
Robert Burns, badly injured and burned
about face and body; Joseph McWade, dam
gerously burned.
THE FIRST ALARM.
It was shortly after IL o'clock when boy
came running out of the building shouting
Fire! fire." An Eighteenth district police
man saw that the building, which was .
oue-story frame structure, was all ablaze and
sent out an alarm. The apparatus was
quickly on hand, and while it was impossi-
BILE to save the storage house, the efforts to
restrain the fire to it were successful.
In the rear of the burning building was
blacksmith shop, and streams were directed
to it. 4 number of fremen were stationed
near the shop. 1t was at this time believed
that all danger had passed, when three
loud explosions followed in rapid succession
from the storage house.
With the explosions came the dense black
smoke incident to oil fires, and the cries of
pain and shrieks of anguish were heard. Sim
ultaneously with the explosions the oil burst
from the casks and the burning fluid was
scattered about in every direction. The
roar of the flames and the loud reports
heard attracted large crowd and it was
feared that the number Of the injured might
reach score or more.
DIFFICULT WORK OF RESCUE.
The heat and the fumes of the oil made
it difficult to approach with safety the
building, which was now burning iercely.
There was a double duty now for the unin-
jured fremen. Adjoining property had to
saved, and the burned men to be cared for.
1t was battle of love and duty, and was
DraVely 1ougnt Oy tne nremens Ine HILLS
in the neighborhood were in danger,
but fortunately the wind was light
and did not carry the flames. One
by one the II fremen were removed and
with tender care placed in the Episcopal
Hospital ambulances and patrol wagons.
They suffered terribly, but every attention
possible was given them until the hospital
was reached.
The fire is said to have been caused by .
small boy named John Stewart, who, in
company with q number of other lads, were
in the storage station smoking q pipe.
Young Stewart is the son of Thomas Stew
art, who for long time had charge of the
storage house, but who was discharged yes
terday morning for drunkenness.
The boy has been in the habit of playing
in the building, and it is thought that while
lighting his pipe to-day he dropped the
match, which Ignited the waste and thus
ca used the fire.