Middletown transcript., 1892-06-09
AN ApRALLrve D1sAssrER.
FIRE AND WATER CAUSE GREAT Loss
OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN THE
PENNSYLVANIA OIL DISTRICTS
$50 PEOPLE KILLED AND 81, ,250, 900
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

$50 PEOPLE KILLED AND 81, ,250, ,OOU
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
One of the greatest calamaties that
has ever occurred in this country was
which fell upon Oil City, Pa, last
Sunday afternoon, whereby over 200
people were killed and many M ore in
jured, to say nothing of the loss OF
property, which will approximate
81, ZOO, 900.
The heavy rains of the few days
previous had caused the water in the
Allegheny river and Oil creek to rise
several inches. An ominous covering
of oil made its appearance on the
water, pouring down the Oil creek
valley and waves of gas from benzine
could be seen above the surface of the
water.
Eighteen miles of death and desola-
tion is the story in brief of the awful
catastrophe which has decimated the
borders of Oil creek from Titusville to
Oil City. On both sides of the creek
aeod and fire have left ru in and wreck,
and it will take days before the record
Of death and destruction can be com-
pleted. This is the most awful dis
aster which has ever come to that
vicinity and has no rival in the United
States except the Johnstown food. A
raging torrent, tank of oil undermin-
ed and toppled into the flood, a coal
dropped from a locomotive passing
over the bridge in the city, a series of
explosions along the surface of the
creek, and houses, men, women and
children were instantly wrapped in
flames.
The inmates of the houses had but
to choose how to to die, either drown
or be burned to death. There was no
escape, and many chose the easier
death and jumped into the water, but
even there the fire found them, and
every body SO far recovered shows that
the fire helped the work Of destruc-
tion. The bodies that have been re-
covered are lying in the morgue,
awaiting identification. Some of
them will never be identified, however,
for they are charred and blackened
mass, and Identification is impossible. |
Most of the destroyed houses were
owned by the occupants and were
worth from $4,000 to $4,000. There
were between $50 and 300 homes de-
stroyed, besides the various hotels,
works and manufactures. Over 300
homeless people are being taken care
OF and the Presbyterian Church is
being used as a temporary house.
Heartrending and pitiful sights meet
one everywhere, and tales of heroism
and desperate fights with the two de-
sroyed elements are told.
At Titusyille, eighteen miles above
Oil City the damage to property was
81 ,200, 900, but the loss Of life was not
30 heavy. 1t is estimated that 100
people killed. The fire was caused
by a spark from passing train on the
Western New York and Pennsylvania,
which ignited the oil in tank along
side the line. The oil set fire to every
building with which it came in con-
TACT. Mechanic street was known as
residence street for the poorer classes,
md was simply swept out of existence.
Not vestige of dwelling on that
street remains standing. This is where
he greatest loss of life occurred. The
ire and flood combined was so swift in
It's destruction that whole families
we're swept away before they realized
hat there was the remotest danger.
The work of rescuing the dead bodies
rom the debris continues DAY after
lay. 1t will be weeks before the de-
iris is cleared away and months ere
he regular business of the place is re-
Iumed.
John d. Rockefeller, President of
he Standard Oil Company, has in
,tructed Joseph Seep, his buyer to
lraw on him for S100, 900 for the re-
ief OF the sufferers.
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