The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-07-09
ACRES OF BLAZING GAS.
TERRIBLE RESULTS OF AN Elk
PLOSION AT LOUISVILLE, KY.

The Intense Heat Generates Gas I'm n Tank
Car on, which when Opened Expiodes
with Fearful Resuits-The Casualties
Detailed.
Louisville Ky.) dispatch: Five acres
OF fire was the awful sight witnessed at
the Standard Oil refinery at Fifth and @
streets Monday. The immense struct-
ure was blazing at every point, and the
heat was so intense that even two hun
dred wards away persons were overcome.
The following is the list Of the casual
ties:
ANDREW MDoNALD. aged IL, badly injured
about the breast and face, but will recover
JOHN MDoNALD, aged IA, literally roasted
alive. can't live but short time.
DAN ONEIL. aged IL, burned almost to
crisp and will die.
JOHN KLINE. aged %. frightfully burned
all over the body and can't recover.
SEvEREN SKENE, aged IL, terribly burn
ed but will recover.
j. 5. PETTIGo, 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 ii is now believed that the above
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 IL Nashville railroad track,
but the tanks are scattered along il on
both sides. On last Saturday tank of
crude oil came in on fiat car from
Cleveland and it was to be turned into
the refinery watts. Some of the men
thought the iron tank was too hot for
such thing to be done in safety. After
consultation it was postponed in the
hope that the weather Monday would
be cooler. II did not prove TO be, and
it became necessary TO run the oil out
of the car tank into another one in tho
yard.
Inspector Skene took John Pettigo
and another workman and climbed on
the car. They mounted 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 it, but they finally did So In an
instant there was n dull puff as the
vapor escaped, filling the air all around.
The gas is heavier than the air, and
1t sank TO the ground, spreading out all
over the locality, and moving with the
the wind. Almost in twinkling IL
reached one of the sheds under which
there was fire. There was a flash as
the inflammab!e vapor ignited, and i'm
mediately after there was tremendous
explosion.
The tank was blown to pieces, and
the hundreds of gallons OF burning oil
We're scattered all over the great works.
A wall OF fire 300 feet high and nearly
SEQ feet long, moved with lightning
rapidity to the other buildings. In less
time than il takes to relate it, the can
ming house, filled with thousands OF
gallons of canned oil, the cooper shop,
carpenter shop, pump and engine
houses, the filling and lubricating
houses, the storage houses, the paint
and glue houses, and 900 feet OF plat
form were all aolaZe and burned furi-
ously.
At the first intimation OF the existence
Of the fire all the men who could started
to run. Johnny Kline, however,
stumbled and fell and his clothes caught
fire. The men bravely returned to his
assistance, but the fire that enveloped
him could not be eXtinguished until he
had been frightfully burned.
Three little boys, Daniel ONeil.
Andrew and John Mcdonald, were walk
ing along the railroad track when the
explosion occurred. They were slight
ly to the east Of the tank, and the wind
blew the blaze directly down upon
them. Shrieking with pain they i'm
pulsively jumped backward and into the
clear space on the western side OF the
track. Their clothes were on fire
and thew ran down the track with
the bright blazes steamine after them.
As soon as the bystanders recovered
from the Mortified shock occasioned by
their awful condition, they pursued the
three boys. Covering them with coats,
they soon extingushed the flames and
laid them under tree near by. When
an attempt was made TO remove O'Neil's
clothes great piece OF his flesh peeled
off his face and cody at the slightest
touch. He was conscious and never
uttered a cry.
The buildings and stocks so far as
burned will be total loss. There Is no
insurance, according TO the statement
of Edward L. GOODWIN. vice president
of tho Standard OiI connapy