Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-09-27
EXPLODING OIL TANKS.

49, I0''NN@ 49, 'FN'N'N0s
Di.nstrens Fire in Cleveland Refinery
Nearly Score OF People Injured by the
Burning Fiuid-Loss Estimated at over
100000. M
CLEVELAND, o., Sept GA spark
from locomotive was the cause of
largo fro at tho Excelsior oil works, on
Bessemer avenue, Monday morning. II
was at about $3.50 o'clock. when the night
employees, who were just leaving the
works, noticed smoke issuing from tho
warehouse. An investigation showed
that the whole building was on fire.
The alarm was given and pending the
arrival OF the engines hand apparatus
was used by the employees, but to no ef-
feet In the meantime the flames had
spread to the bleaching house and from
there across switch track to the car
tanks. Two engines we're soon on the
ground, but before any water had been
thrown their hose broke in several
places and by the time it was repaired
1t lacked only few minutes of being
eight o'clock and other engines had ar
rived.
At $3.50 three OF the car tanks ex-
ploded, throwing the burning oil every
WHoE0 anu Ol
people. Pieces of the tank, which was
constructed OF iron an inch in thickness,
weighing 100 pounds, were thrown a dis
tance OF several hundred feet. One
piece went through a shed and another
crashed through bystander's hat, just
grazing his head. Within the next two
hours several other tanks exploded.
The tanks contained from fl fly to 800
barrels of oil each, and there were thir-
teen on the grounds, a majority OF which
exploded. The tanks we're located on a
hill, down which the oil ran in rivulets.
The fire was thus extended to the paraf-
fine lighthouses, which burned like tin
der. An underground pipe, leading from
one tank to another, exploded. Several
firemen, who were standing near by,
were thrown violen tly to the ground by
the force of the conclusion, but escaped
uninjured.
At noon tho fire was under control,
but it will be several days before the
flames can be extiuguished. Two large
tanks CD aiming 400 barrels of gasoline
escaped the flames. The following is a
list of the injured:
Albert Darrow, pumpman, back and
arms burned, 1t is thought he can not
recover; John Rheinhardt, fireman,
back, head and hands burned; Frank
Black, hands very badly burned;
Thomas Davis, hit on the head and back
with flying pieces of the tank: Henry
Schneider, hands and face burned; Joe
Mather, hands and arms severely
scalded; George Schneider, hands and
arms burned; John Bloch, hands and
face burned; James Tracy, face and
scalp scalded; Joe Flanagan, face bad
ly burned; Harry Francis, face and
hands badly burned. A large number
of others whose names could not be OBJ
tanned, were slightly injured.
The buildings and machinery were
insured for S35,Ooo, of which about
S25, 600 was upon the burned portion.
Concerning the loss to the company,
nothing like a correct estimate can be
made. In conversation with reporter
the superintendent said: "Our plant
was worth about $3.50, 900, and believe
that it has for the most part been de-
stroyed and rendered valueless." Con-
tinuing, he said, 81 have no doubt but
that a spark from Cleveland & Pitts
burgh locomotive caused the fire. The
track runs close to tho warehouse, and
an engine had passed by but few min
utes before we discovered the fire."