The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-06
fire. and the expanse OF creek for a number OF
acres square was all solid blaze.

lire. and the expanSe OF creek LOT a nuInDer Oh
acres square was all a solid blaze.
At this writing the sky Is filled with dense
and pitchy clouds Of smoke arising from the
smouldering ruins OF reiinerles. cooper shops.
furniture factories. radiator works. hotels.
railroad warehouses. cars, and dwellings.
while the waters OF Oil Creek are rushing
through the streets with almost resistless
tide. No tongue. no pen. no language can do
| justice to the scene Of terror and confusion
prevailing in this stricken city night
CUT OFF FROM LIGHT AND WATER.
The Illuminating gas works. the electric
| light plant, the city water works are all under
| water, while the natural gas mains have been
turned of at OIL City. This leaves Titusville
without water. fuel. or light at least from the
sources from which these necessities have
been accustomed to come
Parents and children stood by without the
power to aid one another's struggles against
the clutches OF the flood until eventually they
went down to rise no more. AS sad and as
sickening scenes as occurred in the valley Of
the Conemaugh three years ago were repeated
here to-day. while thousands looked on unable
to avert them.
One father to- night is maniac over the loss
OF his whole family. wife and seven children.
one babe three days old. A brother was res
cued from burning building. whore he was
forced to leave a sister. her husband. and two
children to perish. Many are the fathers.
mothers, sisters. and brothers wandering aim
| lessly in search OF missing ones. who In all
probability will never again be heard OF.
Fully one-third OF tho business and residence
portion OF Titusvile is in ruins. The terrible
food rushes through streets never before
touched by floods with about as great fury as
when the FIRST tidal wave broke over the
no lv nj
Brave men with ropes tied about
their waists arc breastIng the terrible
current rescuing the unfortunates who from
last midnight until now have patiently awaited
their turn 4 little l. year old boy. Just brought
to shore from the wreck OF a handsome resi-
dence. was placed in the hands OF friends.
When asked where his parents were lie replied
with sob. Papa and mamma bof drowned"
Gagged IN THEIR DWELLINGS,.
The people do not realize the enormity OF
the calamity. 1t is too full OF horror to be
grasped They did not have the slightest idea
that tho flood. dangerous as it was was to DO
soon augmented by fire. Immediately follow
ing the three terrific explosions. which shook
the city to its centre. tho great light that
went up from the Crescent refinery
showed tho entire plant to be ono vast
sheet OF solid fame. and revealed to
the extent OF the calamity that had befallen
the beautiful city. The tongues OF flame
shooting 200 feet and moro straight into the
heavens, tho shrieks and agonizing cries OF
tho helploss human beings Gagged IN their
dwellings, like rats in a trap in tho middle OF
the rushing and mighty water and within the
very shadow OF death from burning oil.
benzine, and naphtha that threatened at
any time to engulf them. the shrlll
whistlng OF a hundred and one steam
whistles. the jangle OF the iire bell. tho
CHATTER Of tho steamers hose carts. and nook
and ladder trucks tho crackle, roar. rush, ana
rumble OF the huge body OF water and sky
niercino flames, all went to strike terror to
the strongest heart. The people. in their eager
haste to get some place out OF danger-thny
knew not wherein many cases rushed pell-
nell over each other. and scores were injured
by being knocked down and trampled on.
OH Creek. now swollen to 300 times Its
natural size and reaching from ono hillside to
the other. presented an appalling picture
Floating swiftly by on its bosom were al
sorts. manners. and kinds OF animate ana IN
animate objects-tanks. stills with the steam
in them and blowing of house. barns. horses
COWS, chickens-eyerythng almost being
| born onward with rush.
ACRES UPON ACRES AFLAME
clinGing to various objects. such rs uiit-
wood, pieces of boards timbcrs' ana any other
object they could lay hands on. were scores OF
human beings. their white and terror-strlckeh
o"Intona@'rs. dc. rcrnto struggles, ana PAIN
tive. soul pIocrlng cries Tor aid all combining
10 create IMPRESSIONS in the minds OF inc De-
holders never to he forgotten.
ON" hour from the time the Crescent WORKS
caught the second alarm was sounded. ana IL
WAS found that oil discharged from An over
turned tank further up the creek had scat
tered Itself over n broad enough eXpanse OF
walter to reach the Crescent fire. whore IL at
once ignlt"l, and In moment acres upon
| acres OF the creek were n sea Of fire.
ms blazs soon spread to the International
OIL Works. owned by ]. p Thomas & Co.. and
they were soon In . blaze. Then came the
lsrgs rshning plspt SUD sssp fkstsfy 81 Rsss
j RQbinlon. which fha Asmas In n abort time