The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-06
RIVERS OF FIERY OIL.
A FrightfuI Calamity in the Pennsyl-
vania Oil Country.
TO THE HILLS FOR THEIR LIVES.
Many Were Caught I'm the Hood and
Burned to Dcatl-An Appalling Loss
of Life and Immense Destruction Of
Property.

OIL CITY, Pa, June 6.-N bsfsre 10
the history OF Oil City and the ON cssn-
try has there been such d.ssstcr, esstts-
ment and turmoil as this city Is now wit
Messing. At 11.45 O'Clock yesterday
the city and country for miles around
was startled by two explosions occur
ring almost simultaneously. The Associ-
ated Press correspondent was standing
on Centre street In front OF the Derrick
office, and on the approach to the OIL
Creek bridge. The creek was q raging
torrent and Centre street for one square
was solid mass of humanity.
Five hundred to 1000 people had ap-
the muddy waters rolling by. At about
11.30 upon the opposite point OF the
stream a greenish fuid floating on the
waters was noticeable. This increased
rapidly in quantity and extent and at
last covered almost entirely the muddy
waters OF the creek.
A smell Of gas and oil was perceptible
and several men began discussing the
danger should the oil catch fire. Hardly
were the words uttered when about 200
yards up the stream mass OF fame was
seen to shoot heavenward. "Run," yelled
q hundred voices, and the people turned
like stampcded cattle and started for the
nlIiS. IluToly uuo tncy btdItCN Wncn
terrific explosion rent the air and the en-
tire creek for hundreds of feet on each
side seemed one seething mass OF flame
and smoke.
The psnic stricken crowd shrieked
madly in their efforts to escape. Women
and children were trampled under foot
and about 20 were severely bruised and had
to be picked up by few OF the cooler
heads and carried out Of harms way.
About half a mile from the post Office
northward from here on the Western
New York & Pennsylvania road, q tank
filled with gasolene was standing on
siding. Some young men noticed that
fluids explosive nature and seeing
shifting engine approach, they ran up
hill.
Looking down as the engine passed
they witnessed fearful sight. A mass
Of flame shot hundred feet into the air
and the earth shook violently. The en-
gineer and firemen jumped from the cab,
death or killed by the explosion. In an
instant the flames swept madly over the
entire part of the city which is flooded
by the oily waters of the creek. Men,
women and children who were moving
from their houses, were caught by the
deadly flames, and, II not burned to death
outright, were drowned in the raging
food.
So far thirty nine bodies have been
taken from the flood, and are lying on
the railroad track unrecognized. At this
end Of the city an iron and wooden bridge
went down five minutes after the fire
started. The huge structure was broken
and swept away like kindling wood.
From this bridge southward for a quar-
ter Of mile the entire town is destroyed
and the fire Is still raging.
The fire department is making heroic
efforts to stop the flames and the men are
risking their lives every instant, as II Is
not known at what moment many OF the
immense oil tanks above here will burst
and send their burning contents down
upon them.
The Imperial Refining Company's large
tanks are visible from here and nine OF
them are burning. 1t is feared that the
burning oil will again come down the
creek, and IL 1t should, little Of the busi-
ing. Paul q Sons furniture house, a
large four story building, was swept
away with $50 900 worth OF stock, furni-
ture, etc. Reinboldt's hotel and livery
stable were destroyed in q few minutes,
and Mr.. Reinboldt and two Others who
have not been identified, were burned to
death. These three bodies have been re-
covered.
About half the third ward has been de-
stroyed and the fire is still doing its aw-
full work. People are panic stricken all
over the town. Parents are running
madly about looking for lost children.
No one has any idea of the number of
lives that have been lost. Four miles up
the creek on both sides everything is in
ruins and hundreds OF families have been
rendered homeless.
The fire came 80 suddenly that very lit
tie, il any, property has been saved along
this stream and the sky for miles around
is still black with smoke from burning
dwellings and oil tanks.
The water In Oil Creek is falling slowly
and 1t Is hoped the worst is over. In the
upper part OF the town about one hun
dred dwellings have been burned. Owing
to the depth of the water the fire depart
ment can do little to stop the flames.
The loss of property is estimated from
$3.50, 900 to 81 ,000, 900.
The death list will figure up much
larger, some placing il as high as 200.
Paul & Sons loss is estimated at $780,
600, not fully insured. 1t is reported
Sam Yeager OF Housewife saved the lives
of 25 persons floating down the creek. He