Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-07
A startling Calamity.


Titusyille aud Oil City, Pa, and seve-
raj villages lying between them on the
banks of Oil Creek met with startling
calamity on Sunday morning, and great
numbers OF their inhabitants and mucn
OF their property were destroyed py
food and fire.
Heavy rains fell in that region on Sat
urday and q .mill-dam was broken AZ
sparlanburg, seven miles above illus.
vile. The descending waters overfiowed
the narrow bed Of the creek and swept
a number of oil-tanks from their bases.
Thus the surface OF the flood was Gov
cred with oil, ard this taking fire from
lichtninr. or from fre-boxes in engines.
communicated itself to other tanks ana
to bridges. dwelling-houses, and iacb'
ries, and carried dismsy and destruction
along its track.
For eighteen miles along Oil creek
there was fire-crested flood, and IL Is
needless to say that the people, many oil
whom we're asleep i'll their beds, were
unprepared for calamity so dire and
unique. Nearly third OF Titusville-a
city of 8. 900 souls-was destroyed, and
the loss of life was great, the best esti-
mates of which will be found IN our
telegraphic dispatches of this morning.
In the dismay that prevailed at TITUS
Vile no one thought OF warn the peo-
nle of OIL City of the df n er that was
d nding upon them, and several
hours later the expert OF litusVliie
was repeated at Oil Ciiy, i h the dit
ferei however, that whereas the Tor
mer town was attacked in the darkness
of the night, the latter was attacked by
the flood and fire In broad daylight.
Its inhabitants were gathered together
in the streets in great numbers, quietly
watching the rise of the waters IN the
creek, when they we're "amazed to see
an ominous covering OF oil make Its
appearance on the crest OF the Hood
ponring down the Oil-Creek Valley.
Then explosion followed explosion, and
the creek was "tilled with an awful
mass of roaring flames and pillows OF
smoke that rolled high above the creek
and the hills.
Oil City is place of about 1000 in
habitants, is bounded on all sides by
steep hills, and is situated at point
where Oil Creek flowsi nto the Allegheny
river. What is known as the Third Ward
was on fire within three minutes from
the time of the explosions, and many
persons were here burned to death.
Oil Creek rises in the northern part
of Crawford county, Pa, flows in
generally souther direction to Titus
vile. and from there almost due north
to the Allegheny river at Oil City. just
below Titusville it is joined 10y East Oil
or Pine creek. Between Titusville and
Oil City there are nine little hamlets
where oil-wells have been sunk, which
nave attained the dignity OF post-ofiices.
Altogether, these hamlets have a popula-
ton of about $500, and all OF them
suffered to some extent, and all were
surprised just as Titusville and Oil City
were.
The loss OF property includes bridges,
mills, refineries, hotels, stores, dwell
ings. &C., and amounts to several mil
lions OF dollars but that is as nothing
compared with the loss OF life. True,
this is no such calamity as occurred at
Johnstown. Pa, three years ago, when
more than $500 persons met death, but
it is great and grievous enough to evoke
our hearty sympathles for the bereaved
communities and make us extend sub
stantial aid to the sufferers who have sur
yiyed the fire and flood to find them
selves homeless and penniless.