The record-union., 1892-06-07
Special to the REcoRp-UN1oN.

OIL CITY, June 6.-Eighteen miles of
death and desolation is the story in brief
of the awful catastrophe which deci-
mated the borders of Oil Creek from
Titusville to this point.
On both sides of the creek food and
fire left ruin and wreck, and it will take
q day before the record of death and de-
struction can be complete.
The fire burned itself out this morning,
and the burning oil passed away. The
creek and river, however, is rising.
Much of this place will be still further
flooded, but there is little left along the
creek which the flood can damage, as the
fire Swept everything away.
The rising water, however, is interfer-
ing with recovering the bodies of the vic
TINS. The fiery flood destroyed one mile
of property along the creek on the west
side. Across the creek from the main
portion of the city not house is Stand
ing between the creek and hill, and not
Vestige of life is visible, except the many
searchers for the dead.
Along the east side from the mouth of
Oil Creek, Il diStance.of three-fOurths of a
mile, every building except one was de-
stroyed.
Few spectators watching the flood
when the explosion occurred can give
good idea of what happened. All agree
that there was a terrible explosion, and
the whole air was filled with flames,
quickly followed by two other eXplo-
slons. Three gasoline tanks exploded
almost simultaneously, the oil on the
creek blazed up, gas in the air burst into
flames, water, land and air were all liter
ally ablaze; men, women and children
were knocked PROSTATE, and many never
rose. Some who did found themselves
in lake of flames. The multitude
fled with screames of anguish for the
higher ground.
In the rush many were trampled
upon and badly injured. Some were
hurt by horses, others ran or leaped into
the water and were drowned. The flames
in the air quickly burned out, but left
huge volumes of smoke beneath which
rOared the fierce flames of burning oil on
the water. Many submerged houses and
shops were soon IN flames. Many people
confined were unable TO escape from the
ire. Within sight of thousands who
heard their piteous cries they were
burned TO death or leaped into the river
and perished by both flood and fire. 1t
is marvellous that from this valley Of
death any were saved alive. 1t is strange
that out of the commingling fire and
flood any houses escaped. Many of those
who will live had better be dead they are
so tearfully burned and disigured.
One OF the heroes of the occasion is W.
L. Stewart, who after spending an hour
in boat rescuing imperiled people, went
down to his death under falling blazing
house.
AT Z o'clock this morning sixty-three
bodies had been found, of which thirty
were identified. Mayor Hunt places the
loss of life in this city alone at $50. Many
bodies were swept away and will never
be found.
The financial loss will be over 81, 900, 900.
Between go and SEQ houses were de-
stroyed, beside the hotels, works of
manufacturers, etc.
over 300 homeless people are being
cared for.
All along the burned sections are seen
groups of persons still hunting for loved
ones. They do not seem to weary or de-
spair, but dig into the accumulated filth
and rubbish with bare and bleeding
hands. For many the work would be
without results, as many bodies were
either burned to cinderS or swept away.
At a late hour tonight sixty-seyen
bodies had been recovered.
Those acquainted with the locality
where the greatest damage was done say
the loss of life must reach $50, and many
put the figure at 200.
The greatest loss undoubtedly occurred
in the section occupied by foreigners en-
ployed in the tube works. No one knows
the names, and it will be impossible ever
TO know how many are missing. In the
same section were vast numbers of chill
dren, and as only ten bodies of children
have been recovered, the great question
arises: What has become of the remain
der?
Undoubted gratitude is felt and ex-
pressed by the Relief Committee for the
generous subscriptions received and
offers of aid from the outside. Tonight
the committee has over $4,000, and by
tomorrow the sum will be swelled to
double that amount. Three hundred
have requested aid already, and the num-
ber is being Swelled.