Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-07-10

TERRIBLE RESULTS OF AN Ex-
PLOSION AT LOUISVILLE, KY.

PLOSIoN AT LOUISVILLE. KY.
The Intense Heat Generates Gas In n + nix
Car of OIL, which When Opened ExpIodes
with Fearful Rcsuits-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. Tho 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 M'DoNALD. aged 12, badly injured
about the breast and face but will recover.
JOHN M'DoNALD, aged IL, literally roasted
alive. can't live but short time.
DAN O'NEIIA aged II, burned almost to n
crisp and will die.
JOHN KLINE, aged % frightfully burned
all over the body and can't recover.
eByERHH e m \; islsa,S sKEEE aged A. ierrihlv hnrn-
s.. PErTiGo, aged As. badly though not
fatally burned about the head and breast.
ARTHUR YoNKERs, aged 18 slightly
burned.
1t was at first reported that seven had
lost their liyes and later that three
were killed and thirty-five wounded,
but it is now believed that the above
will cover the casualties,
The fire broke out at S:45 o'clock and
was in many respects remarkable one.
The refinery is on the cast side OF the
Louisville g. Nashville railroad track,
but the tanks are scattered along IL on
both sides. On last Saturday a tank of
crude oil came in on fiat car from
Cleveland and ii 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 1t was postponed In the
hope that the weather Monday would
be cooler. 1t did not prove to be, and
1t became necessary to run the oil out
OF the car tank into another one In the
yard.
Inspector Skene took John Pettigo
and another workman and climbed on
the car. They mounted the mani head and
were about TO unscrew the cap
when they felt that there was q
tremendous pressure from the inside
against II. AT first they decided not to
open 1t, but they finally did so. In an
instant there was dull puff as tho
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 fash as
the inflammab!e vapor ignited, and inn
mediatcly after there was o tremendous
explosion.
The tank was blown to pieces, and
the hundreds of gallons OF burning oil
werc scattered all over tho great works.
A wall OF fire 300 feet high and nearly
$50 feet long, moved with lightning
rapidlty to the other buildings In less
time than 1t takes to relate It., the can.
ming house, filled with thousands OF
cafpcnteff shop, Jump ana engine
houses, the filing aud lubricating
houses, the storage houses, the paint
and glue houses, and 900 feet OF plat.
form were all ablaze and burned furi-
ously.
At the first ntlmaton OF the existence
Of the fire all the men who could started
20 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 extingulshed until ho
had been frlghtfuly burned.
Three little boys, Daniel O'Neil,
Andrew and John Mcdonald, were walk
ing along the railroad track when tho
seE,loson occurred. Thcv were slight.
ly to the east Of the tank, and the wind
blew the blaze directly down upon
them. Shrieking with pain they inn
Dulsively jumped backward and Into tho
clear space OH the western side OF the
track Their clothes were on fire
and thew ran down tho track with
the bright blazcs steaming after them.
AS soon as tho bystanders recovered
from the hUrri6ed sH0vk uccasloncd by
their awful condition, they pursued tho
three boys. Covering them with coats,
they soon extingulshed the flames and
laid them under tree near by. When
an attempt was made to remove O'Neifs
clothes great piece OF his flesh peeled
of his face and oody at the slightest
touch. lie was conscious and never
uttered cry.
The buildings and stocks so far as
burned will be a total loss. There Is no
insurance, according to the statement
| of Edward l.. GOODWIN. vice president
OF the Standard OIL company.