The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-06


BREAKING OUT OF THE FIRE.
The smell of gas and oil was perceptible
aud several gentlemen were discussing
the danger should the oil catch
fire. Hardly were the words uttered when
about 200 yards up the stream Il mass of
flame was seen to shoot heaven nward.
kun" yelled hundred voices and the peo-
pie turned like stampede cattle and started
Tor the hills. Hardly had they started
when a terrific explosion rent the
air. the entire creek for hundreds
OF feet on each side seemed a seething
mass Of flame and smoke. The panic
stricken crowd shrieked madly in their et .
forts to escape. Women and children we're
uampled under foot aud about twenty were
severely bruised and had to be picked up by
few OF the cooler heads and carried out Of
harms way
WHAT THE CREEKS LOOKS LIKE.
Oil creek is not usually more than a foot
deep at this point, where it empties into the
Allegheny river, and about 100 yards wide.
Directly at its mouth is the iron bridge of
the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio rail-
road. About two squares further up the
stream is the iron and wooden bridge Of the
city, connecting the Third ward with the
city proper. On the east side of the
creek Is Trinity Methodist church on one
side Of Center street and the Derrick
office and oil exchange opposite. Across
the creek, and built up squarely from the
waters edge, was the hotel and livery sta
BILE Of ]. B. Reinbold and the furniture
house Of Paul & Sons. These buildingsiwere
built on a narrow strip between the creek
and hills which rise precipitously imme-
diately back Of them.
HOW THE FIRE FIRST STARTED.
About half a mile from the postoffice
northward from here on the Western New
York and Pennsylvania railroad a tank
filled with gasoline was standing on the
siding. Someyoung men were standing by
and noticed that the tank was leaking.
Knowing its explosive nature and seeing a
shifting engine approaching they ran up the
side Of the hill, where they turned and
looked down as the engine passed. A mass
OF flame shot a hundred feet into the
air aud the earth seemed to
shake with an awful tremor. The
engineer and tireman were seen jumping
from the cab and are supposed at this writ
ing to have been burned to death or to have
been killed by the force of the explos ion.
In an instant the flames swept madly over
the entire upper part of the city, which was
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 If not burned outright
were drowned in the raging flood. Al this
writing seven ghastly bodies have been
taken from the flood and are lying on the
railroad track unrecognized, waiting for
their friends to come and claim them.
ANOTHER BRIDGE GIVES WAY.
OIL CITY, Pa, June 5, 8 P. M.-At this
end of the city was another iron and wood
en- bridge which went down five minutes
after the fire started, the huge iron struct-
ure being broken and swept away like 80
much kindling wood From this bridge
southwark for quarter of a mile the entire
town was destroyed, and the fire is still
raging. The fire department is making
heroic efforts to stop the flames,
and risking their lives every
instant, as it is not known at what moment
many of the immense oil tanks above here
will burst and send their burning contents
down to them. The Imperial Refining
Company's large tanks are visible from here
and all are burning. 1t is greatly feared
the creek and il it should, little of the bust
ness portion of the city will remain stand
Ing. Paul's Sons furniture house,
4-story immense building, was
swept away with $50, 900
stock of furniture, etc. Reinbolds hotel
and livery stables were destroyed in a few
minutes. and Mr.. Reinbold and two others,
who have not yet been identified, were
burned to death. These three bodies have
been recovered and it is not known how
many more are lost at this writing. About
half of the Third ward was destroyed and
the fire is still doing It's awful work in this
part Of the city.
THE PEOPLE PANIC-STRICKEN.
The people are panic stricken all over the
town aud all the afternoon mothers have
been running madly about looking for their
lost children. Fathers of families are
searching for their children and endeavor-
ing to get them all together in place of
safety. 1t is almost impossible TO find
words to describe this awful calamity
and at this time no one has
any idea of the number of lives
lost. For miles up the creek on both sides
everything is in ruins, and hundreds of
families are rendered homeless. The fire
csme so suddenly and so unexpectedly that
very little, IL any, property has been saved
along this stream, and the sky for miles
around is still black from the smoke of
burning buildings and oil tanks.
The water in Oil creek is falling slowly
and it is hoped the worst is over and that
no more lives will be lost. In the upper
part of the town about 100 dwellings were
destroyed by fire. and owing to the depth Of
the water the fire department could do lit
tie to stop the flames. This part of the city
cannot be reached at all and Seneca street
up to within four blocks of the postoffice Is
blocked with lumber sheds and roofs OF
houses which have hoated down from
above.
The sight from the hill above the town
is awful and almost beyond description.
The loss of property is estimated at from
$3.50, 900 to 81. 100000. Up to p. m. from
fifteen to twenty bodies have been recov-
cred and identified and the death list will
figure up much larger, some placing it as
high as fifty.
The Third ward, from the Seneca street
bridge to within nearly square OF the Lake
Shore depot, is as level as "a field.
rHIRTY-FIvR DROWNED AT OIL CITY.
TIrUsvLLE, PA, June 5.-A dispatch
from Oil City saws the flood there was
caused by the bursting OF dams at Sparth-
burg and Newton. Thirty five people were
drowned.
THE STORY FROM TTrUsvILLE.
TIrUsvnLE, PA, June 5, 4 p. M.-The
CITY of Titusville was visited during the
mast twenty-four hours by one of the most
disastrous fires and floods In all the history
of the region.
Oil creek has overflowed its banks from
the west and above the water and gas
works to the city line below, and for hours
assumed the proportions OF an almost re-
sistless flood, reaching almost up to the line
of Spring street. The city Is without fuel
or street electric lights, and the water works
and gas works are surrounded by water and
inundated. .,
The Perry street and Franklin street iron
bridges have been swept away; scores OF