Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-09

tiiHtly NHIulilEs he WIS near Illt Ill0fltl
on the Lake Shore road, when the pungent
odor of benzine In the air attracted his at
tention. Knowing that some accident
must have happened up stream or that
volume of oil was flowing down the creek,
he recognized at once the fearful result
that would ensue II it should catch fire.
Put out your iires,n
AND RUN FOR YOUR LIVES"
he shouted, running with all the speed he
could muster, from house to house. Many
took warning and fled to the shelter of the
hills, but he had not goue far before
flash as IL from some great storm illumi-
mated the valley and in an instant flames
arose from the creek, envelopng every
thing within the compass of the rushing
waters in its awful grasp.
OIL Cry, Pa, June 6.-Eighteen miles
of death and desolation is the story in
brief of the awful catastrophe which has
decimated the borders of Oil creek from
Titusyille to this point. On both sides of
the creek flood and fire have left ruin and
wreck, and it will take days before the
record of death and destruction can be
completed.
This is the most awful disaster which
has come to this vicinity, and has no rival
IN the United states, except the Johnstown
flood. raging torrent, u tank of oil UNI
dermined and toppled into the Hood a coal
dropped from n locomotive passing over
the bridge in the city, Il series of explo-
sions along the surface of the creek, and
houses, men, women and children were
instantly wrapped i'll flames.
These are the causes and effects of the
disaster, so far as this place is concerned
The inmates of the houses had but to
choose how 10 die-either drowned or be
burned to death. There was no escape,
and many chose the easier death and
jumped into the water; but even there tho
tire found them, and everybody so far re-
covered shows that fire helped the work
of destruction.
THE FLAMES ENTINGuIsIED.
At O'Clock this morning the fire had
burned itself out and the flaming oil had
passed away The creek and river, how
ever, are rising, and much Of this place
will be still further flooded. But there is
little left now along Oil creek which the
flood can damage. The fire has left practi
cally nothing on which the water may
prey. The rising waters interfered with
recovering the bodies OF the victims in Oil
City proper.
The fiery food 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 standing between
the creek and the hill, and not a vestige OF
life can be seen, except the many searchers
for the dead.
Along the east side, from the mouth OF
Oil creek, for distance of three quarters
of u mile, every building, except one along
the creek, has been destroyed. This strange
monument to the death-laden flood is a
frame dwelling house standing among the
ruins. IL was in the midst of the Hood
and fire and yet it was passed by. The cur
tnins are on all the windows and the noon
meal stands on the table. but the former
occupants Of this lonely house are among
the dead. They attempted to escape and
were caught in the sea of flame on the east
| side.
The searching for thedead was stopped at
| midnight, but was resumed ut duybreak.
At u. m. to-day 63 bodies had been found,
OF which 30 had been identified. They are
| lying in the city hall and temporary
morgtie on the south side.
| PROBABLY TWO HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
The scene is almost too much for endur.
ancc. Burned out of all semblance IL
| human beings, i'll positions showing the
terrible agony before death came, are Il
few of the victims. 1t is safe to say the
loss in this city alone will reach 200. Many
have been swept away and will never be
found, though when the flood subsidies il
| will reveal scores of bodies.
! At one point alone ten are known tc
| have give i'll to the burning flood. None
! of them have been found.
| The financial loss to this place is hard te
estimate ut present, but il will be ovei
Sl,00O0OO.
Most Of the houses destroyed were owned
| by the occupants, and were worth from
5000 to $4,000. There were between Isl
and 800 houses destroyed, besides til,
various hotels, works and manufactures.
| Tho building occupied by the Derriel
| was abandoned, but the paper came ou
this morning.
THE HOMELESS.
Over 300 homeless people are beinl
taken care of, and the PRESBYTERIAN
Church is being used as temporar,
house. lleart-rending and pitiful sight.
meet one everywhere, and tales of heroisn
and desperate fights with the town
destroying elements are told. Dayiigh
showed the scene in all its horrors, an,
strong men turned away sick at heart q
body after body was found, even with til,
water at its present height. A dreadful
tale will be told when the flood subsidies.
SCENE OF THE DISASTER.
Oil creek the scene Of the great disaster
rises in the northern part of Crawfor,
county and flows i'll generally southerl,
direction to Titusville and from Their
almost due south to the Allegheny river a
Oil City. Just below Titusville it is joine,
by East Oil or Pine creek Between Titus
VILE and Oil City there are nine hamlets
where oil wells have been sunk, whicl
have attained the dignity of post-ofiices
Altogctherthcse hamlets have a population
Of about 700. From Titusville towar,
Oil City in order the towns are: Titus
vile, s,Os3; Boughton, about 100; Mile
Farm, about 100; Meredith, about 2OL
Pioneer, about 100; Petroleum Center
about 200 Columbus, about $40; Ryn
Farm, about 3OU; housewife, about 3Ot
McCllntock, about 100 and Oil City, 10. %.
The Is miles between Titusville and vi
City probably represent population q
from ~, w to $4,000. Oil City proper lie
between the Allegheny river and Oil creek
just US the old city of Pittsburg lies be
tween the Monongahela and Alleghen
rivers.
Oil City was incorporated us u boroug
in 1862 and us u city in 1870. 1t has
churches, three public schools, six bank,
two oil retineries, a mandatory G
engines and engine boilers, IA barrel fa,
tory and other industries.
Iitusville is OH Oil creek and on III
! Allegheny Valley railroad and the te
minus OF the Dunkirk 81 Allegheny Vale
/, and Union & ritusyille railroads, 1t Is .
miles south of DunkrlS and about 20 mil,
east OF Meadville. Ii is the most populol
, town OF Crawford county. 1t mas mir
i churches, several banks, an opera hou:
. Nht Hibh "NHooii nptciS! priHtlllR OIHct
7 and newspapers. Titusville has several o
, wells oil relineries, steam saw mills, larl
/, iron works, which produce engine
boilers, tubes and other machinery an
manufactures Of barrels, wagons and ,
tools for oil wells.
! STILL SEARCHING FOR LOVED ONES.
I A day full of excitement and harrowir
! scenes has closed here, and thousands WI
) have been seeking for the dead and aidir
/, the sufferers have gone TO rest. All aloI
4 the burned section can be seen groups ,
4 persons still hunting for their loved one
) They do not seem to worry or despair, bI