Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-22
! FOUNTAIN Or FLAME.
Erbssling Gas COmpany'S Well at
Mcdonald Taxes Fire
ryDANGERING THE VILLAGE.
v,.v Tanks and Freight Oars Destroyed BY the
:, Of Frs-Ths Company Loses SIPS an
gour by the Disasisr-Msssures Taken
70 sxunguish the COnasgratiOn.

PrrsBURe, August 21.-A half acre
If b.azing oil. Great crude tanks on
sra and burning petroleum shooting
sf,v feet into the air. That is the con-
t,.ou Of affairs at Mcdonald to-day,
and that the entire town was not de-
,,royad lies in the fact the cinder
hanks protected it, The danger is still
alarming.
The famous we'll of the Wheeling Gas
Company is the cause of the fire. The
well is on the Cook farm, across the
railroad and the creek from Mcdonald.
I, was flowing 100 barrels an hour yes
.sriay. according to the National Tran
st Company, and was worth SIPS an
hour TO the company. Because OF 1t
-be stock Of the Wheeling Gas Company
advanced from Sl6 TO S23 in the last
TWO days.
About midnight heavy freight train
on the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago
and st. Louis Railroad came labOrously
up the grade through the mist. When
oDDosite the well a number of sparks
few from the locomotive, and one of
them crossed the 100 feet to the well
and ignited some gas which hung low
around the derrick.
The gas exploded and set on hre the
derrick. In an instant the flames licked
ND the high greasy ScaffOld and sent
warning through the town. The in
habitautS Sprang from their beds, but
none had left their homes when ter
rife explosion Jared the earth. The
intense heat had set on fire the flowing
petroleum in the oil pipe and IL had
exploded. The burning oil raced TO a
large 25O-barrel tank and set it on tire.
From there il flowed in fiery stream
to TWO other tanks OF the same dimen-
sions. which were set on fire also. Then
the blazing torrent started toward the
town. while the inhabitants from the
other side OF the creek gaLed in helpless
terror.
A small siding was first reached by the
OIL Four freight cars were on 10. The
on consumed them in three minutes
,aiCk OanR, from W. T.. kends mines.
That bank alone stood between McDOn-
a.d and destruction. Once past that il
would overflow the Panhandle tracks,
cover the creek, climb the opposite
bank, and Mcdonald was doomed.
Would the cinder bank stop the flaming
fire? Mcdonald citizens aSkGt each 9TH
er that question in terrOriZed DOUBT.
Was il ,arge enough? The oil was so
great iu It's combustion, and the cinder
bank, 30 feet high and POO long, seemed
so small against the blazing oil Surging
against 10 aud Seeping into it. The
b ank caught fire, and huge sheets Of
flame rolled from il over against the
hillside. II the wind changed the fire
would cross the bank and the creek and
destroy Mcdonald anyhow. The oil
flowed into the huge cinder bank and
soaked il, but not enough was left To
continue It's course of destruction.
The derrick fell with a splash into the
burning oil, and in three minutes not
veStige of 10 was left. The oil pipe melt
ed To the ground, and then the lOO-bar-
rel-an-hOur we'll Spurted into the air
veritable fountain of flame. 1t kept up
the quantity of oil which was fast Seep-
ing through aud burning up the cinder
bank. IL was seen that it was but
question OF hours before the bank would
cease TO be a bulwark of safety and the
Oh would flow 10 the town.
The National Transit Company and
Wheeling Gas Company were reached
at o'clock, and at gang OF 200 men
were on their way 10 Mcdonald 10
fight the fire. When they reached the
scene of the fire, the heat was almost
sitting though they were 100 feet from
the well. They took of most OF their
clothes and tying wet cloths around
their heads began to dig ditch behind
the cinder bank. IL was hard work.
Every once and again a labOrer would
have 10 Quit and retire TO cool off. But
they perSevered, spurred on by the
townSDeople, high wages and the
knowledge that the safety of the town
depended upon their labOrS.
Al daylight the Cook residence was In
imminent danger of destruction and
Jhe family began 20 move out the furni-
turc With change OF wind during
t4c day the house cannot be saved.
The loss 10 the company is estimated
az SIPS an hour. There is no way OF
quenching the blazing we'll until the OIL
from the tanks has been burned out
which will take several days. Then
boilers wia be placed around the well,
and 10 will be smOthered In steam.