The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-06

excellent work kept the fire from crossing to
the central portion Of the town. except in one
instance. when Trinity Church caught fire. but
the department succeeded in saving the build
ing as we'll as the two bridges.
Notwithstanding the assurance that no dam
ger will result from the fire at the tanks up the
creek. few people will sleep tonight Mayor
W. G. Hunt has sworn in the members OF Com
pany d Of tho National Guard to serve as
special policemen until further notice. The
list OF the dead so far is rs follows:
Select Councilman J. B. REINBoLp.
F, v il. PLANK.
n. LYONS and VILE
SHERIDAN WICK.
Peddler named BAKER
JAMES ROGERS and wife.
FRANK GoopRICH
EDWARD.
CHARLES MILLER.
EDWARD MILLS and four children.
Mrs. JOHN ROACH and child.
CHARLES FISHER
JOHN O'LEARY and mother.
Mrs. COPELAND and baby.
Mrs. LEVI FETTERs
DANIEL SULLIVAN.
EDWIN KE.TING.
E-GESE FRITZ.
WILLIAM MORAN.
II. W. SHAFER Of Franklin.
HENRY HOLMES OF jamestown. N y.
A meeting Of the Relief Association has Just
was subscribed for the homeless.
When tho flood rcarhed here thick coating
Of OIL presumably from bursted tanks in tho
region OF Titusville. covered the surface Of the
creek. Floating along were three tanks OF
naphtha.
Tho sun was shining hot and caused vapor
OF oil fumes to rise from the wide surface OF
the creek Several thousand people seemed to
simultaneously recognize their peril. and Just
as they began to move the calamity came.
Eye witnesses say sheets Of flames and
volumes of smoke shot upward to a height Of
100 feet in the vicinity Of bridge crossing Oil
Creek. 500 yards above the junction with the
river. In two minutes the fire had spread UP
and down the stream for over two miles.
In less than ten minutes between two and
three hundred buildings were in flames. The
thousands Of witnesses were thrown into q
state OF the widest panic. Men. women. and
children ran through the streets screaming
and beseeching each other to be conducted to
q place Of safety
Clouds OF smoke obscured everything When
the darkness was most dense three frightful
explosions in succession shook tho very earth.
These were the floating naphtha tanks in tho
creek. The cause was not then known. and a
feeling that some horribly uncertain fate was
impending added to the other tcrrors.
A strong wind spranG up. partially removing
the veil Of darkness. blowing directly toward
that part situated on the south bank OF the
creek. and this is all that saved the entire city
from destruction.
The terrorized masses by this time partially
regained self possession. 1t was then evident
that tho whole OF the Third ward and n large
number OF buildings on both sides Of the
creek further UP were doomed.
Lower down. where the buildings wore above
the waters surface. the fire was swept directly
in among them. Many Of tho persons who lost
their lives were overtaken in the streets as
they fled for safety.
An almost perpendicular wall OF stone
hemmed the victims in on ono side. the river
on the other. tho devouring flames behind
them Others wero burned in their houses
and many were drowned. One rescunG party.
with largo skin load OF persons taken from
flooded houses. was overtaken by the blazing
oil and all persisted
Four OF n party who stood on the Western
New York and Pennsylvania Railroad bridge
are known to DO dead.
The widest stories OF the magnitude OF the
loss of life are afioat to night. one report being
that 100 bodies have been recovered. Tho
probability is that this city Is the heavier suf-
feror, for here it is claimed that so persons
have been burned or drowned. and the num-
Der may exceed lOo.
WASTE or FIRE ALONG THE CREEK.
A strip at least forty rods wide along Oil
Creek is burned and flooded. In addition to
those dead large number arc injured. and
probably q thousand people arc homeless.
Some of the people Of the city were apprscd
Of tho Titusvile flood early this morning. and
the whole town was out watching the rising of
the waters.
The entire upper end OF Oil City on both
sides Of the creek was under water at tho time
OF tho explosion. which caused the awful con-
Migration The town consists OF four prnc-
pal parts. The south sldo is on the ops
posite side OF the Allegheny River. and
WAS at no time in danger. In tho acute
angle formed by tho confluence Of Oil Creek
and the Allegheny River lies the business Sec
ton OF the city. and across Oil Creek and on
down the west bank OF the Allegheny Is the
Third ward. which Is the district entirely
burned. Tonight 1t is smouderlng mass OF
ruins.
Cottage Hill. the high ground Of the city,
lies back Of tho business section between the
two streams. 1t Is there the oil rcnnerics and
a great many residences are located. and to-
night tho skies are red in that direction with
light from several huge oil tanks that are
burning.
There 10 considerable peril to what 10 left Of
tNs sitt Jss,a aunthss - tAate SSystisB ssa
blazing oil streaming down the geek Hun.