The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-07-02

LOUISVILLE, KY, June 3O.-Five acres
of fire was the awful sight witnessed at
the Standard oil refinery at Fifth and q
| streets this morning. The immense
| structure was blazing at every point and
the heat was so intense that even 200
/ yards away persons were overcome.
HOW IT STARTED.
Tie fire broke out at 8:45 a. m. and was
in many respects a remarkable one. The
refinery is on the east side of the Louis
vile Il Nashville track, but the tanks are
scattered along It on both sides. Last
Saturday a tank Of crude oil came IN on
a fiat car from Cleveland, Ohio. The oil
was tt be turned into the refinery watts.
On opening 1t today in an instant there
was a dull pun. as the vapor escaped fill
ing the air all around. The gas being
heavier than the air, 1t sank to the ground
spreading out all over the locality and
moving with the wind. Almost in a
twinkling 1t reached one of the sheds
under which there was fire. There was
a flash as the ihflammable vapor ignited
ard Immediately after there was a tre-
mendous explosion. The tank was blown
to pieces and hundreds of gallons Of
burning oil were scattered all over the
great works. The wall of fire 800 feet
high and 900 feet long moved with light
ming rapidly to the buildings.
THE FLAMES SPREAD.
In less time than It takes to relate 1t,
the canning house, filled with thousands
of gallons Of refined oil, the cooper shop,
the carpenter shop, the pump and engine
house, the filling and ~lubricating houses,
storage houses, paint and glue houses and
80 feet of platform were all ablaze and
burned fiercely.
At the first intimation Of the explosion
oil the workmen who could do 50 started
to run. John Kline. however, Stun
bled and fell and his clothes caught
fire. Men bravely returned to his as
s%istance, but the fire that enveloped him
could not be extinguished until he had
been frightfu:ly burned. Three little
boys, Daniel O'Neill, Andrew and John
Mcdonald, were walking along the rail-
road track when the explosion occurred.
yhe were slightly to the east of the tank
and the wind blew the blaze directly up
on them. Shrieking with pain they i'm
pulsively jumped backward and into q
clear space on the western side Of the
track. Their clothes were on fire and
they ran down the track with thu
bright blaze streaming after
them. As o o as the bystanders
had recovered from the horrifying shock
occasioned by their awful condition, they
pursued the boys, covering them with
coats, which soon extinguished the flames.
The buildings and stocks 90 far as burn
ed will be q total loss. There ia no insur-
ance, according to the statement of Ed.
ward l.. Goodwin, vice president of the
Standard Oil company.
SAD CASUALTIES. .
Following is the list of the casualties
Andrew Mcdonald, aged 10, badly
burned about breast and face, but will
recover.
John Mcdonald, age IA, literally roast.
ed alive, a live but short time.
Dan O'Niel. aged IL, burned almost to
crisp and will die. F
John Kline, aged 23, frightfully burned
all over body and cannot recover
Zeveren Skone, aged Al, terribly burned
but will recover.
j. =. Pettige, aged 20, badly though moi
fatally burned about head and breast.
Arthur Yonkers, aged IS, slightly
burned.