The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-06-10
OIL AND WATER.
Great Destruction Wrought by
These in Pennsylvania
A Cloudburst Inundated Oil City and Titus
vile and Exploding OIL Tanks Added
to the Horror-Loss of Life Large
Much Property Destroyed.

Much Property Destroyed.
| PITTSBURGH, Pa, June 6.-The oil
regions of Pennsylvania were visited
| yesterday by a disaster of fire and
water that is only eclipsed in the history
of this country by the memorable flood
at Johnstown just three years ago.
1t is impossible at this hour, mid
night, to give anything like an accurate
idea of the loss of life and property, as
chaos reigns throughout the devastated
region and terrible conhagration still
RACES in Oil City.
1t is safe to say that not less than $50
lives have been lost.
| Nearly 100 bodies have already been
recovered and many people are still
missing.
The property loss wi II reach far into
millions. At Titusvill the loss is esti-
mated at 81, 500, 900, Oil City si,5OO,OO
Cory 5000 Meadyille s15O,OOO and
surrounding country probably 81, 0OO, 900
more.
For nearly month il has been rain
| ing throughout western and northern
| Pennsylvania necessarily, and for the
| past three or four days the downpour in
the devastated regions had been very
heavy. The constant rains had con-
verified all the small streams into raging
torrents so that when the cloudbursts
came yesterday morning the dams wer,
unable to withstand the shock and the
streams were soon beyond their bound
aries, while the great body of water
came sweeping down Oil creek to Titus
vile, which is eighteen miles south of
| its soufce.
The lower portion of the town was
soon inundated The food came so
quickly that the people had not time to
reach place of safety The water
swiftly swept number of oil tanks
down the stream and in some way not
known they were ignited
In less time than it takes to tell the
story the flames spread to the surround
ing buildings and before they could be
| subdued five blocks had been burned.
The oil from the scores of broken tanks
ran into the creek and was ignited by
the floating debris. In few minutes
the creek was ablaze from shore to
stream death and destruction followed
in its wake. Everything inflammable
took fire, and by the time it reached
Oil City all the bridges between the two
points were consumed. Oil City is
eighteen miles from Titusville. The
towns along the creek are Boughton,
Miller Farm. Pioneer, Petroleum, Cen
ter Rynd Farm, Housewife and McClin-
rockville. Housewife has about 1000
inhabitants and the other towns about
200 each.
At Titusville the food came in the
night time and scores of sleeping men,
women and children walked to con-
sciousness only to find death in the
rushing waters or swift, sweeping
flames When morning broke darltly
and the red sun illumined with its
crimson rays the flood aud flame devas-
tated district, on the roofs and in the
windows OF the upper stories of the
houses in The submerged districts
were seen men. women and chill
dren dressed mostly in their night
robes and ell piteoUsly appealing
for aid and succor in voices which
could only now and then be dis
tiuguished above the loud rush of the
waters and crash of falling timbers-
Clin9ing to the driftwood, timbers and
other debris, as they we're borne on
ward down the stream, were scores of
human beings, their white and terror
smitten faces, desperate struggles,
pla;ntive cries for aid, combining to
create impressions never to be effaced
from the memory of the beholder
At Oil City the devastation wrought
by flame and flood is indescribable.
Great sections of the city are in ashes
and only charred timbers tell OF the To-
cation of hundreds of happy homes.
How many lives have been lost there
no man can tell OK even guess 1t is
certain that the number will reach $50
and It is probable that when the list of
the dead shall have boon fully COM
pleted it will DO found TO exceed 900. A
partial list is herewith given:
At OIL City: William Shaier, Franklin John
Reinhold. OIL City; Mstt Lyons: Charles Dill
ley, Oh City: Niss Minnie Russell Pottsyille,
Pa; Daniel Sullivan, engineer. OIL CITY: James
Holmes, barber Ol City; hrs. William Briggs,
OIL City; Miss Emma Briggs. Oil City: William
Moran, OIL City; SIR. Baker, book agent stop
ping ~ Exchange hotel Mr.. John Roach snd
son; Frank Watson aged Ia years, missing; Nr.
Eskin and Two soma u. Eopling. wife and
SONG; 6. WclSs: Two soas Of Nj HsssenfritZ:
Ed Heating. section boss. Oil City: DIR. TcS-
willtger; Mr.. Baker: Sheridan Wick.
At Titusvilie: JohE Quinn. mail carrier. wife
and two children; Jsooo Berzerghamer and
wife sud nine children; Grs. Mary Haynes and
three Observation-Disclosures Mary and Clara
aud one son. Mrs. NJ Mckenzie: John AcFad-
den AID sister. Mrs Campbell. and Two children:
Mr. Coppoe; Fred Reid. butcher. wife and child
John O'Nsra and wife two Veigel boys and
four more names unknown; Mrs c. Caspenson.
AT MEADviLLH, Pa.
MEANWHILE, Pc, June 6.-This entire
section was swept by the worst flood in
it's history last night
A midday rain OK great volume
swellcd every stream bank full and the
storm which followed in the evening
brought the flood.
In this city Mill run overhowed It's
banks and swept the whole business
part of the city, demolishing dozen or
more buildings and entailing loss of
$3.50. 900, of which $50, 900 are to the
streets
Clippings
The late duke of Fersan-Nunes was a
fine type of Spanish grandee He pos