The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08


iron and wooden bridge of the city connecting
the Third ward and the city proper.
On the east side of the creek is Trinity meth
odist church on one side OF Center-st.. aud the
Derrick Office and Oil exchange opposite.
Across the creek and built up s1uarely from
the waters edge was the hotel and livery
stable of J. L. Reinhold and the furniture
house of Paul & Sons. These buildings were
built on q narrow strip between the creek and
the hills, which rise precipitously Immediately
back of them.
The First Explosion.
About half a mile from the postofice, north
ward from here, on the W., N. Y. & p. railroad
tank filed with gasoline was standing on
siding. Some young men passing noticed that
the tank was leaking, and knowing its ex-
plosive nature and seeing shifting engine APP
preaching, ran up the side of the hill where
they turned and, looking down as the engine
passed. witnessed fearful sight mass OF
flame shot hundred feet into the air and the
earth seemed TO shake with awful tremor.
| The engineer and fireman were seen jumping
from the cab. and il is supposed at this writing
| they were burned to death or killed by the
| force of the explosion.
In an instant the flames swept madly over
the entire upper part of the city, which is
flooded by the oily waters of the creek. And
men, women and children who were moving
from their houses were caught by the deadly
flames. and, if not burned 10 death outright,
were drowned in the raging flood.
seven GhAstly Bodies.
At this writing seven CHASTITY bodies have
/ been taken from the flood and are lying on the
railroad track unreoognized, waiting for their
friends to come and claim them. AT this end
4 OF the city was another iron and wooden bridge
which went down five minutes after the fire
started, the huge iron structure being broken
and swept away like so much kindling wood.
From this bridge southwark for quarter Of
a mile the entire town is destroyed aud the fire
/ is still raging The fremen making heroic
efforts TO stop the flames and risking their lives
/ every instant as IL is not known at what mo-
ment many Of the immense oil tanks above
here will burst and send their burning contents
down upon them.
The Imperial refining oompany's large tanks
are visible from here, and all burning. ana
/ il is greatly feared that the burning oil will
again come down the creek. and II it should
little of the business portion OF the city will re-
main standing.
Paul & Sons furniture house, fourstory
immense building. was swept away with $780,
/ GOO worth OF stock, furniture, etc, Reinbold's
| hotel and livery stable were destroyed in few
minutes, aud Mr. Reinbold and two others who
have not been identified were burned to death.
These three bodies have been recovered and
/ II is not known how many more are lost at this
destroyed and the fire is still doing its awful
work In this part OF the city.
The People PNnic-stricken.
People are panicstricken all over town and
all afternoon mothers have been running
madly about looking for their lost children.
Fathers Of families searching for their
children and endeavorinR to get them all to-
gelner IN place of safety.
| In - almost innossihla 70 find words IN ia
scribe this awful calamity and at this time no
one has any idea OF the number OF lives that
| have been lost. For miles up the creek on
| both sides everything is in ruins and hundreds
Of families have been rendered homeless. The
fire came so suddenly and so Unexpectedly
that very little. if any. property has been saved
| along this stream, and the sky for miles around
| is still black with the smoke from burning
dwellings and oil tanks. When the
! two explosions occurred this morning
| people were knocked down by the force OF the
shocks and every window for two blocks along
Center-St was broken. Falling glass added to
the danger and several people were slightly
cut. One young girl was picked up out OF the
mud on this street after the crowd had passed
over her. She was badly bruised and cut but
not seriously injured, it is thought. The panic
at this time wes simply awful and il was re-
markable that none were killed by the horses
ana the wild mob, as il was a case of every one
| for himself. The flames and smoke covered
that the entire city was doomed to destruoti on.
/ The water in Oil creek is falling slowly at this
time and il 10 hoped the worst is over and o
more lives will be lost. The creek is about
/ fifteen feet deep and about one hundred yards
wide, and in the memory of the Oldest inhabit-
ant has never been so high before.
Hundreds of Dwellings Destroyed.
In the upper part OF the town, about one
hundred dwellings have been destroyed by fire,
and owing to the depth of the water the fire
| department can do little to stop the flames.
This part of the city cannot be reached at all
| and Seneca-st, MP TO within fonr squares OF the
post office. is boeaded with lumber, sheds and
roofs OF houses which have floated down from
above. Nothing seems to be exaggerated and
affairs are appalling.
Will Skaters body has been taken TO the
undertaking establishment on the South side,
where many Franklin people have visited 1t.
The body is hardly recognizable except from
the name on his watch charm.
John Reinbold's body has just been rec0v-
cred and is but slightly mutilated.
An Awfnl sight.
The sight from the hill above town is awful,
and almost beyond description. The loss of
property is estimated from $4,000 to 81, 000,-
O00 Up TO 8 p. IN. from fifteen TO twenty bod
| les have been recovered and identified, and the
death list will figure up much larger, some
placing il as high fifty.
within nearly square Of the Lake Shore de-
pot, is as level field.
The Dead.
The following is list OF the dead so far as
identified:
WILLIAM SHAFER, franklin.
JOHN REINHOLD, Oil City.
CHARLES MILLER Oil City.
Miss MINNIE RUSSELL, Pottsyille, Pa.
DANIEL SULLIVAN, engineer. Oil City.
JAMES HOLMES, barber, Oil City.
Mrs. WILLIAM BRIGGS. Oil City.
Miss EMMA BRIGGS. Oil City.
WILLIAM MORAN, Oil City.
FRANK WATSON, aged fourteen years.
Mr.. EAKIN and two sons.
ID. KOPLIN, wife and two
S. w. WICKS.
Two sons OF Mr.. HAZENFRlTZ
| ED HEATING, section boss W., N. Y. & p,
Oil City.
Mr. TERWILLIGER.
Mr.. BAKER.
SHERIDAN WICK.
At midnight searchers are still finding bod
les. The following bodies have been recov-
cred and are in improvised morgues:
WILLIAM ATKINS and his TWO sons,
| FRANK and EDWARD.
| Mrs BRIGGS and three dau0htera