Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-06-10

The people of Oil City were warned by
wire Of the approaching flood, which
reached that city shortly after daylight,
though the water was not at its greatest
height till towards o'clock when all the
houses along the creek were surrounded
by water. Many people took refuge in the
upper stories, while others went to higher
ground.
Hundreds Of people stood along the
creek watching the flood, the greatest
crowd being near the railroad bridge across
the creek.
Near the bridge stood tank which was
dislodgcd from its position by the water.
The tank began TO leak and its fumes filled
the air. Some say that gas from the tank
spread abroad like u fog. The tank con
tanned distillate and bcnzine, and .he fluid
leaking out, was igntcd by fire from n rail
road engine which stood near iJ on the
track.
Few of the spectators who escaped can
give a good idea of what happened. All
agree that there was n terrific explosion
and that the whole air was filled with
flames This was quickly followed by two
other explosions. Men thought that hell
had broken loose on earth, and their
thought was not violent one. Three
gasoline tanks had exploded almost at the
same time. The oil on the creek blazed
up. The gas in the air burst into "A roar
ing flame. The water, land and air were
all literally ablaze.
Men, women ana children were knocked
PROSTATE by the shock and many never
arose Some Of those who did found them
selves in n lake Of flames. The multitude
fed with screams Of anguish for the
higher ground.
In the rush many Of the weak were
trampled upon and badly injured. Some
were hurt by horses; others ran and lcaped
into the water and were drowned. Tho
flames in the air quickly burned out, but
they left huge volumes of black smoke
across the face of the heavens, beneath
VIII ich roared the fierce flames Of the burn
ing oil upon the water.
The many submerged houses and shops
along the creek bottom were soon in flames,
and the silent fire Of blazing gas was sue
ceeded by the cracking flames of burning
homes. In many OF these houses the
people were confined They could not
escape for the fire. Within the sight of
thousands who heard their piteous screams,
they burned to death or leapcd into the
river and there pcrishcd by both food nm d
fire.
Such combined scene Of destruction by
two terrible clements was seldom witness
cd upon this earth. II is marvellous that
from this valley Of death any were saved
alive II is strange that out Of this CO
mingling Of fire and food any houses were
spared But these things did happen.
After the great conflagration had passed
almost away / men, women and children
werc rescued in boat from a dwelling.
Three of them, women, were badly burned
and the house was partly destroyed.
As soon a8 tho fire had passed from the
water many boats put out 10 rescue the
living. and they did noble work. Mean.
while the larger buildings along the creek
had become gnited and blazed with terrible
fury. From them the fire spread 10 tho
buildings which stood upon the dry lands
on the west side Of tho creek, composing
the third ward There is bend Of the
creek flowing through the city, which
swept the burning oil 20 the west side and
in addition TO that the wind was blowing
stihly from the northeast and dashed the
flames over the old portion Of tho city be.
yond the creek. That portion Of the town
IL covered with burned walls and charred
bodies
The business section Of the city, with
tho large hotels and big business blocks,
was saved On thi8 side Of the creek yhc
chief losses to property are the Oil City
bnrrcl factory. near the railroad bridge,
which was burned. and the new building
OF the.oil City tube works. collapsed by
the high water. On the west side tho
large places burned are the Bellevue hotel,
kept by J. u. Reinbold, the Petroleum