The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1892-06-11
TWOF0LD HORROR
Flood, Fire and Explosion Com
biriea Wreck Pennsyl-
vania Towns.
Oil City and Titusville Stricken,
!, With Appalling Loss
of Life.

OIL CRY, Pa, June 6.-Never before in
the history Of Oil City md the oil country
has there been such disaster. excitement and
turmoil as this city is now witnessing. This
morning the city and country tor miles
around was startled by two explosions &C.
curing almost simultaneously. Oil creek
is a raging torrent, and Center street for one
square was a solid mass Of humanity. and
SEQ or 1000 people had gathered
at the bridge on Center street,
watching the muddy waters rolling
by. At moor upon the opposite side of the
stream, a green fluid floating on the water
was noticeable. This increased rapidly in
quantity and extent and at last covered al
most entirely the yellow muddy, waters OF
the creek. A smell of gas and oil was per-
ceptible. 1t was barely noticed when about
200 yards up the stream a mass OF flame
shot h~eavenward. "Run," yelled a hun
dred voices andthe peopleturned like stam-
peded cattle and started for the hills.
Hardly had they started when
u terrific explosion rent the air, and the
C1CCA d41O " uulO1SuS VI ACSG OA
each side seemed one seething mass OF
flames and smoke. The panic-stricken
crowd shrieked madly in their effor 8 to es-
cape. Women and children were tralmped
under foot, and about twenty were severely
bruised and had to be picked up by a few
of the cooler-headed and carried out of
harms way. Oil creek. usually, is not
0 re than q foot deep at this point. where
it empties into the Allegheny river, and is
about 100 yards wide.
~ tank filled with gasoline was standing
on a siding. Some young men:passing no.
ticed that the tank was leaking, and know
inzAits explosive nature and seeing a shift
ing engine approach, ran up the side ofthe
lill, where they turned and looked down
as the engine passed, witnessing a fearful
sight. Il mass of flames shot 100 feet
into the air and
THE EARTH sEEMED TO SHAKE
with au awful tremor. The engineer and
fireman were seen jumping from the cab.
and it is supposed at this writing they were
burned to death or killed by the force of
the explosion. In an instant the flames
swept madly over the entire upper part of
the city, which is 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 to death outright
were drowned in the raging flood. At this
writing seven CHASTITY bodies have been
taken from the flood and are lying on the
track u~nrecognized. At this end of the
citA1nas an iron and wooden bridge, which
wenkdown five minutes after the fire start
ed, the huge iron structure being broken
and swept away like so much kindling
wood. From this bridge southwark for a
quarter OF q mile the entire town is de-
stroyed and the fire is still raging.
The fire department is making heroic
efforts to stop the flames and rjsking their
lives every instant. as it is rot known at
what time many OF the imm ense oil tanks
above here will burst and send their burn
ing contents down upon them. Nine lars
tanks Of the Imperial Refining company are
visible from here and all are burning, and it
is greatly feared that the burning oil will
agaid come down the creek, and if it
should little of the business portion of the
city will remain standing. Paul & Sons
furniture house. o tour-story, immense
building, was swept away with $4,000
worth OF stock. furniture. etc. Reinbold's