Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-09

Ion. CITY, June 5.-rhe most appalling
amity in the history of Oil City fell
bon il to-day, resulting in the destruction
n life and property which as yet can only
~ approximatcd.
tHrhus far 40 lives are known to be lost,
hundreds of people arc missing, and it is
tclieved the loss of life reaches rs or more.
Al ll.30 o'clock this forenoon large
prDportion of the population of the city
MAS distributed along the banks and
Wedges of the Allegheny river and Oil
<tek watching the rise Of the flood in
Nth streams; the cause of the rise of the
Inter being due to cloud burst above
Utusville. An ominous covering OF oil
&ade its appearance on the water, pouring
bwn the Oil creek valley and waves of
O. from benzine could be seen above tn 6
&rface of the water.
FLAMEs RIDE THE WATER.
1Pcople began slowly to fall back from
tbe bridge and the creek. but they had
hardly begun to do so wien an explosion
was heard up the stream, which was
Rapidly followed by two others. and quick
Is a flash Of lightning the creek. for dis
lance of two miles, was filled with an awful
knass of roaring flames and pillows of
tmoke that rolled high above the creek
Hnd river hills. The scene will always live
d the memory of those who witnessed it,.
Il Almost all that portion Of the town
wing in the Third ward was on fire within
Nhree minutes from the time of the ex-
Blossom. and no one knows as yet how
fnany of the inhabitants are dead in the
funs OF their homes.
Your correspondent stood at the time of
khe first explosion at the east end of tho
creek bridge mentioned. Almost rs
danickly as the words can be written fully
lb,000 people i'll that portion of the town
were on the streets, wild With terror, rush
ing to the hills.
Scores OF men, women and children were
Knocked down and trampled upon, both
~ horses and people, in the mad flight
IN places of safety. Just as this frantic
iass of humanity had started up Centre
Xreet the second explosion occurred
knocking many people down, SCATTERING
lie windows in the main part OF the town
Ind almost transforming the day TO night
Nth the immense eNpaise of smoke pre-
feding the second burst of flame.
III PRAYER MINGLED WITH MoANs.
III Many prayers were heard mingling with
the means and lamentations of the fleeing
feople. The heat was intense, and the
weird and awful spectacle presented TO the
panic-stricken people was that a cloud
hurst OF fire bordered and Overcapped BY q
freat canopy of dense, black smoke was
4alling upon the city.
Matter the people had reached the hills
then came the anxiety for the safety OF
those who were left behind. Late in the
afternoon the Hood subsidized and hundreds
o. willing hands set to work searching fol
10 lies.
3fhe loss of property is estimated from
AO,000 to Sl,000'0O0 The Third WARD
Yrpm Seneca street bridge TO within nearly
utqnare of the Lake Shore depot, is as
1cfel rs field.
Ell MILLION SWEET AWAY.
Besides the many dwelling houses
Poul n Sons furniture house, ali immcns,
building, was swept away with $1,000,
worth Of stock. Their total loss is Sl00, 900
Reibold's hotel and livery stable were de
str0yAd. X. ID. Naylor's loss is $1,000.
William Loot's petroleum house, was
lotAlly destroyed l,ss 5000.
The Bellevue Hotel, Petroleum House
t',cOIl tity barrel factory, the new build
lli4fpf The Oil City tube works and l5i
dHuliug houses have been totally de
dam 1eager of Housewife is reported t
1--we saved about 25 people who wer,
ip1tlng down the creek. He used his boa
Turing the height of the flood.
OIL TANKS ON FIRE.
ne OH ana DeHzne on tnc creek cam
from A tank lifted by the Hood, and i
ynpposed to have been ignited by sparl
from an engine near the Lake Shore tun
iiel, Mt the northern part of the city. Tn
fIr9Hhot up the creek as well us down, an,
feeefxl tanks are on fire at n number o
ttic 1tfineries.
4inypr w. G. Hunt has sworn in tn
men54ers of Company an" OF Nationa
Guards of Pennsylvania, to serve u
Special policemen until further notice.
THINKs ONE HUNDRED ARE DEAD.
Major 4. c. Cronin. a resident of Massa
cbusctts was in Oil City when the dsaste
clmA He says that in the Third ward o.
the Nest side Of Oil creek, the dead mus
number 100 persons. The people there ha
nolpeans Of escape. but in the other part
" tho city the situation is not so bad.
He saw floating down stream the budie
Of o woman and baby, supposed to hay
come from Titusyille. Major Croni
makes the statement that there is no doul
that many of the drowned became ei
tangled in the floating debris, While
Sooner or later caught fire. These bodi,
were burned, and for this reason he b.
lieyes that Il complete and accurate list
the dead can never be obtained.
AT midnight, searchers are still findin
bodies.