The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-06
FIRE AND FLOOD.
Oil Region Cities Swept by
Disaster.
The Loss OfLife Anywhere From 2OOtO 300

Titusyllle and Oil City the Scene of the
Greatest Destruction and Death-The
Work of Destruction Started by a
Cloud Burst-Then Escaping Oh
Caught Fire and spread on the Surf.
ace Of the Flood Down the Rushing
streams-Many Ref1neries Ablaze
Hundreds of Buildings in Ruins.
PTrsBURG, Pa, June 5.-The oil region
was visited by an awful disaster of food
and fire this morning early. A cloud burst
at Titusville and another fell at Oil City.
Both cities are inundated and the people
have fled to the hills. Men, women and
children are on the housstoDs praying to be
rescued. To add to the horror several res
fneries were struck by lightning and the
property not destroyed by water is being
consumed by fire.
At o'clock this afternoon half Tietus.
vile is reported in flames, and at Oil City
it is feared that the entire town is doomed
to destruction.
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE.
The loss of life is large. but reports are
conflicting. One dispatch says fifty per-
bOuS W6I6 III OWhCu nO AAblASNAAlO eAIA q 4a1 ko
number burned to death.
At Oil City eleven persons are reported
burned aud an area two blocks wide is now
burning. Telegraphic communication is
badly interrupted. The Western Union
wires are down and for time Oil City was
completely cut off.
At Titusville four OF the largest rehner.
les are on fire. and a stretch of at least one
half mile in length.
The food appears to have been general
throughout Northern Pennsylvania.
HEAVY DAMAGE AT MEADvILIE.
A telegram from Meadville says that the
damage there cannot now be esti mated A
gorge, which formed in deep ravine north
Of town. forming lake of three acres,
twenty feet deep, broke and swept half the
city. The New York, Pennsylvania and
Ohio railroad east of Meadville is damaged
beyond estimate. No deaths are reported,
but in the loss of property the result is
frightful.
$50 KILLED AT TITUSVILLE.
At 4:30 O'CLOCK this afternoon, a telegram
was received from Titusville, placing the
loss of life at $50 in that town. The water
came up suddenly from Oil creek and
flooded the whole fat as far as Spring
street, forming a lake nearly half mile in
width and about two-thirds Of a mile in
length. A short time later the Acme oil
refinery was struck by lightning and fire
added terror to the scene. The flames
spread rapidly, and soon five blocks, from
Ferry to Drake streets, including Washing
ton, Franklin and Mate streets. and from
the Western, New York and Pennsylvania
railroad to Spring street, was laid waste.
SIX REFINERIEs ABLAzE.
Half dozen of the largest oil refneries,
among them Rice & Robinson's, Schwartz's
and the Acme were burned. The only
buildings said to be now standing In the
district mentioned are the Titusville Iron
works and the depot of the Western New
York and Pennsylvania railroad. The
water began to reoede about noon and now
sgong down rapidly. A large number of
bodies have been recovered and the work is
still going on.
OIL CIrY'S DEATH LIST HEAVY.
The latest from Oil City is TO the effect
mat the entire Third ward of the city is in
ashes and the flames ara still spreading. A
large portion of the town is still under
water. Eleven persons are reported burned
70 death and several drowned.
treat damage is also reported at Cory,
Fa, and other towns in the region.
A special train with representatives OF
tne Associated Press on board left Pittsburg
lor the scene of the disaster at $50 o'clock
Il 'n@ afternoon. 1t should reach Oil City
Il aotut o'clock tonight, but great diff
Il cIItles may be encountered in getting
through, as the tracks are reported to have
Oeen burned for miles. A full report. how
4 ever will be sent at an early hour tonight.
THE LOSS MAY REACH 200.
IIITsBURG, Pa, June 5, 8 P. MA dis
patch from Oil Citv says the loss of life
eueIe VIII probably reach POO. Emlenton,
aTutother Tt oil town between Oil City and
greatly from the food.
SUMMARY OF THE LOSSES.
Fl Ill iFIrrSBURG. Pa, June 5, II P. M.-The
~ 'eglonS OF Pennsylvania were visited
to,usy by disaster by fire and water that
h., ouiy eclipsed in the history of this country
- tue memorable food at Johnstown, just
bsnee years ago. 1t is impossible at this
poo. por lmldnightl to give anything like an
~ rate idea of the loss of life and property,
reL; % Ghaos reigns throughout the devastated
stf tAioh and the terrible confagration
no. 'l RACES In Oil City. IL is safe to say that
1SS IyS less than $50 lives have been lost. Nearly
rooies oouies have already been recovered and
h faa fi,auy people are missing. The number may
80, exceed l5O, but this is regarded as a con-
rsaos s,os'iVe estimate. The property loss will
tto ta'n Il Iar lnto the millions. At Titusville
g. Ioss s ls estimated at 81, 800, 900, at Oil
viii, $Si,5yO 600, at Cory 100000, at Mead
trr SI2U 900, aad in the surrounding counS
- probably $1,000 600 more.
THE DISASTER UNPARALLELED.
/ to,o giL CITY. Pa, June 5, M.-Never be-
CON- v IN the history Of Oil City and the oil
CITY mas there been such disaster, ex-
kE witraeelni1 and turmoil as this city is now
1 the soGissslhg. AT II As o'clock this morning
stsrti''J and country for miles around was
snIieCu 'Yi.u oy two explosions occurring almost
reee,ruaitIaIneously. reerat The Associated Press COR
d diTpaotIiuue was standing ON Center street,
! and Ia front of the Derrick office
/ bridaoou ou ,L Lhe approach to the Oil creek
Il and - Ihe creek is now a raging torrent
mass center street for one square was solid
a had m oi humanity, aud 500 or 1000 people
watoSpi piproached this point of vantage,
4 'nE the muddy waters rolling By.