Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-06

upper part of the town abutting on
Seneca street was inundated, and houses
were surrounded by the water resulting
from a cloudbgrst above Titusville. Re.
lief parties were formed and did noble
work in resculng the poor unfortu-
mates.
Theswork OF rescue was exceedingly
difficult on account OF the swiitness OF
the stream. Trains OF cars were run
on TO the upper railroad bridge crossing
the creek TO hold the bridge steady.
This succeeded very well as lar
as the flood was concerned. The
lower, or Nypano bridge, was secured
in the same manner. The prop
erty OF the Oil City Barrel Works was
flooded with water as also that OK the
OIL City Tube Works aud the OIL City
Boiler WORMS, and the damage was Inn
mense. Thousands OF people lined the
banks OF the creek both as rescuers ana
spectators.
The danger was thought practically
over as far as the loss OF life was con-
cerned as the work OF rescuing
was going on nobly, and the creek ala
not exhibit tendency 10 rise, howes-
err, worse fatality was In store. The
odor Of benzine gas became impercepN-
bic, a tank containing benzIne. at somk
one OF the rehneries up the creek had\
sprung leak, and the benzine was
flowing down upon the water. Wise
heads who bad seen fires In the OIL
regions before, sought places OF safety,
and advised others TO do so.
A great many did not profit by the ad-
vice and have paid the price for their
rashness by their lives. Suddenly .
tremendous explosion occurred, then
another and another, aud, as II IN
flash. oil creek for three miles was one
mass OF roaring, surging dame.
For one mile down the river where
the benzine had run from the creek ls
also burned fercey. For moment
everyone was paralyzed. The houses
that were surrounded by the food were
In the midst OF the fire beyond human
help.
All those who were standing close by
the creek became victims. The fire I'M
ished the work on the buildings that
had not been subdued by the flood.
The flames caught In the Third ward,
which was the original town. and IL
mostly composed OF wooden structures
and a large portion OF The houses were
consumed by the flames there.
The Bellvue House, Paul's large fur-
niture house aud the Petroleum House
were burned, besides a great many
dwelling houses. The number OF
houses burned IN all parts OF the town
reaches nearly 200.
The list OF the dead at this writing
cannot be reached accurately, bnt VIII
probably reach fifty or sixty. II IL ut
torly impossible to send strictly accu-
| rate information at this hour. Men re-
ported dead appear on the streets, ana
In the hurrys aud confusion not much
accuracy can be maintained.
At midnight searchers are still ind
ing bodies. The following bodies have
been recovered aud are 10 Improvlsed
morgues: Mr.. Atkin and his two sons,
Frank and Edward. Mrs. Briggs aud
three daughters, John o'Lesry and
mother, Mr. and Mrs. Hawks and
daughter, Frank and VIM. Hassenfritz,
Matthew Lyons, wife and two chill
dren, Frank Plank, WIN. ShaGer,
VIM. Tergwiller, James Rogers, James
! Hasklns, WIN. White, John Roach,
| Daniel sullivan, Frank Goodrich, Ed
ward Heating, Charles Miller. John
| Steck, John Rambo, Humphrey Stewart,
VIM. Stewart, Harry Holmes, VIM. Ma
lone, Frank Watson, WIN. Boher, w.
ID. Dougherty, Frank Watson, Sheridan
Wick. Edward Mills aud foar childrcBs
Mrs. Copeland and baby, Mrs. Levi
! Filters.
There are fifteen bodies at the Under
taking rooms OF Briening, MCracken
& Co., twenty-five az city ball and
number were taken to their late homes.
There is still a number Of persons naiss-