The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-06
TWO AGENTS OF DEATH.
Fire and Flood Swept Over a Penn.
syIvania Town.
SCORES OF PEOPLE DROWNED.
Sixteen Bodies Recovered and the Search
IL still Going On-A City without
Light or Fusl-The Streets Filled with
Homeless Throngs.

TrTUsvILLE, Pa, June 6.-The city OF
Titusville has been visited by one OF the
most disastrous fres and one of the worst
floods in the history Of tho region. OIL
Greek has overfowed its banks from the
west end above the water and gas works
to the city line below and for hours 1t
assumed the proportions OF an almost re-
sistless food, reaching almost up to the
line of Spring street.
The city is without fuel or street elec-
trio lights. The water and gas works are
inundated. The Perry street and Frank
lin street iron bridges have been swept
away, scores OF cheap dwelling houses
ic street and vicinity, have been de-
stroyed and scores Of lives have been lost,
some being burned, but the majority per-
hhing by drowning.
The scene presented by the rushing
waters surging through the lower part OF
the city as Witnessed BY Thousand: of
When morning broke hundreds of anx-
ious people looked out of the windows,or
stood on the roofs Of houses, waiting for
helping hand and trembling for their
fate.
Strong and brave men by means of
boats and ropes spcceeded In reaching
tion till help arrived or till the waters
began to reoede. To add to the horrors
OF the scene, Rainfell IN torrents and fire
broke out In the oil refineries at different
points and the burning oil sweeping
down the current communicated the
and establishments and the destruction
was increased hundred fold.
Among the losses by FIRE are the Inter-
national Oil Works, the Hiram Blow
Copper shops, the Rice 4 Robinson Re-
fneries, the Titusvisle Radiator Works,
the Western New York q Pennsylvania
Railroad freight office; Casperson's fur
Cullen's hotel and the Crescent OIL Works
OF John Schwartz & 90.
The Western New York and Pennsyl-
vania passenger station, built Of brick
and somewhat elevated in site, escaped
Sds wish little It'll as%sss WIZ the freight Of
contents, including all she books and pa
pers, 10000 worth Of merchandise re-
ceived for delivery and . large amount Of
furniture awaiting shipment.
A large number Of loaded oil cars on its
tracks were burned. The Dupkirk and
the depth OF four feet and injured. The ID.
and M. v. freight depot, well filled with
merchandise, escaped even damage by
water; but a train of cars loaded with
merchandise which arrived on Saturday
night was burned up In its track. A large
amount OF the loss to the stores, Hesiden-
ces and manufactures will probably be
covered by insurance. The Galena Oil
Co., the Titusville Refining Company, the
Western Refining Company, the Ameri-
can Refining Company, and the Oil Creek
Refining Company, are intact or slightly
damaged by water.
The Titusville Iron Works were flooded,
but only slightly damaged. The T. c.
Joy Radiator Company, the Cyclops
Steel Works, the Acme Extract Com
pany had a narrow escape with only
slight damage by water. The Queen City
Tannerv, which was in the district swept
by the flood, sustained no loss except the
spelling Of the liquor in 1900 vats. The
chinery and stock being under water.
A meeting of citizens subscribed $4,000
for the immediate relief OF the destitute.
Quarters have been obtained for the poor
and homeless and food and clothing are
being provided.
Sixteen dead bodies have thus far been
recovered and the search continues.
The suddenness Of the rise of Oil Creek
was later explained by the intelligence
that the huge mill dam of Thompson q
Eldred at Spartansburg, seven miles from
dam was a half mile in length by a quar-
ter mile in breadth. Fully one-third OF
the business and resident portion OF this
city is mass OF charred embers, over
which waters still rush.
The streets are filled with crowds OF
wet, hungry, hopeless and despairing
men, women and children, most of whom
have lost loved ones and all their prop
erty. The water still floods the streets.