The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-06
dreds OF people were gazing upon OIL Creek

day when the fire started.
When the older heads OF the gaping crowd
first saw the danger. there arose the cry:
stand back. stand back" The people
slowly and unwillingy began to retreat from
the bridge and bank.
They were very slow. however. to slow. for
the volume Of oil began swelling and rolling
while waves OF tho subtle gas began coming.
almost stranRling those near them.
Just then u man on horseback pushed his
way through the crowds waving his hands
and repeating in q voice Of thunder:
stand back" 1t was known that the re-
flneries lining the banks for miles had been
wrecked, and. with presentmcnt of evil.
with one accord there was dash for safety.
just then far UP the stream came a sullen
sound. and Immediately after two more. 1t
took only an instant for tho great crowds to
realize that the oil had taken fire.
UNION CRY. Pa.. June 5.-An unprec ed ented
rain and electrical storm broke over this city
and vicinity late yesterday afternoon. The
clouds seemed to strike tho earth. and little
streams that were never before known to get
over their embankments became rushing
rivers. carrying everything before them. The
loss in this immediate vicinity is estimated at
S150.OO0.
The Deamer block. n three-story brick build
ing lies mass OF ruins. Tho Keystone block.
another large three-story brick building. Is
badly damaged. the west and south walls fall
ing out. Goodnaugh's jewelry story. Cooper's
planning mills. and the Post ONCE building. all
in the heart Of the city. were destroyed. Occu-
pants OF dwellings on two Of tho principal
streets were rescued from their prisons by
boats. The damage to tho city in bridges
washed away and streets ruined will not be
less than $4,000.
The Erie and tho Philadelphia and Erie rail-
roads have bad washouts east and west Of tho
city. The damage to the former Is estimated
at $4,000. and to the latter $25.0O0.
Farms all along tho valley are covered with
debris the crops are ruined. and in many cases
houses. cattle. and small stock have been
carried away and drowned. No lives are re-
ported lost in this vicinity.
The surcharged mir was cleared Of gas in an
instant only to be filled with an element far
more fatal and horrifying 1t seemed as If tho
very heavens had burst into fame after the
first explosion. then settled down into a mass
OF Ere. The flames rolled and beat against
the buildings. and lowered high up until
the very hills were lost to sight The
buildings along the creek seemed like so many
wisps of straw. Thousands poured out of
their houses at the sound OF the first explosion
and had hardly gained the street when the
second and third reports were heard. 1t
seemed the entire valley was a sweep Of fire.
People were hurled about and thrown down or
tossed from side to side.
Windows crashed and buildings swayed as
II upheaved by an earthquake. More terrify-
ing than all was the darkness that covered tho
ness lasted only a few seconds. when It was
replaced by the glare OF light
This terrifying transition from light to dark
ness. and intense heat occurred In almost an
instant. Hundreds Frustrated themselves or
were hurled to the ground. while hundreds
more struggled bravely against the elements
toward home and kindred. that they might
die together. When those people In the city.
distant from the scene OF explosion and fire.
realized that not they. but their friends along
the banks were in danger. a rush was made
| for that position.
Huge waves OF fame rolled up the river banks
| and began licking up one house after another.
| Then the flames began to spring from ono
roof TO another. from scores Of roofs to hun
| dreds. until within no longer than ten min
| utes at most the entire portion Of the Third
Ward was in flames. Fully 5000 people lived
| in that ward.
ITO the hills. the hills" was the only cry.
The insane mass OF shrieking humanity
started up the street. leaving moaning and
mangled forms Of many behind them. Then
| came the flames in great PUSHES that over
took many weak ones. Tho blstering heat
| grew lercer every moment with tho added
| fuel Of hundreds Of houses.
Once the mass Of people felt themselves
safe on the hills. second thought showed their
haste II not cowardice In leaving so many be-
| hind. and searchers started out have boon
| busy in the ruins ever SINCE Body after body
was found. and not until tomorrow can any
approximate BIO given.
Frenzied men and women jumped into the
| flood. preferring an easier death than that Of
| fire. OF all the houses In tho upper portion Of
| the town. bordering on Seneca street. only one
building remained untouched by the fire.
| Three members of the Turner family were re-
moved from this building.
They were blistered by tho intense heat and
all unconscious. but may live. In the northern
part of the city the fro shot up tho creek as
vol as down. and very soon reports began
| creeping through tho town that many Of tho
great banks above were on fire. and that the
| danger was not yet over for tho living.
| There Is little use even to guess at the loss
| OF property tonight. Daylight tomorrow will
tell the story. The bellevue Hotel. the Petro-
lcum House. the Oil City barrel factory. Oil
| City Tube Works. George Paul & Sons Furni-
| ture Company. many business houses. and
over $50 dwelling houses have been destroyed
| totally. while hundreds OF other houses are
| badly damaged.
| In tho first panic no thought was given
for aught but personal safety. except in the
upper portions OF the town. where an instant
and united effort was made to save property
and life. The fire company turned out and
| fought long and bitterly. not to save tho
| doomed district, for nothing short Of a
miracle could do that, but to keep the flames
| from the central portion Of the town. Trinity