The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-07


ton of between forty and forty. five
thousand souls, of whom large frac-
ton was exposed to the flood, and tho
entire eighteen miles is continuous
scene Of desolation.
In Oil City proper the fiery flood de-
stroyed ono mile of property along the
creek on the west side. Across the
creek from the main portion of the city
not q house is standing between the
creek and hill, and mot vestige of life
can be seen except many searchers for
the dead. Along the east side, from the
mouth of Oil creek for distance of
three-fourths of mile every building,
except one, along the creeK has been
destroyed. This strange monument to
the death laden flood is a frame dwell
ing house standing among the ruins. 1t
was in the midst Of the flood and fire,
and yet-it was passed by. Curtains are
on all the windows and the noon day
meal stands on the table, but the former
occupants of this lonely house are
among the dead. They attempted to
escape and were caught in the sea of
flames on the east sine.
There seems to be no doubt that tho
Hood undermined and overturned a tank
of benzine, the contents of which covered
the surface of the water.
a locomotive, passing over tho bridge,
dropped some live Goals into the flood
and this started the fire. There is no
abatement of the flood and that has in
terfered with the search for tho bodies.
The flood alone would have caused
serious disaster without it's fire accom-
paniment. Nearly everybody recovered
from the water shows the action of the
fire, demonstrating that they had been
caught in the flames and jumped into
the river to quench the burning. Most
of these were in the houses suddenly
surrounded by the flood bearing the
fire upon it's surface, and they had only
u choice of the method of death, burn
up in tho houses, or burn and drown in
the fiery flood outside.
The number of bodies recovered Is
sixty-seven to- night Only ten of them
are children. 1t is known that MANY
large families of children were swept
away, and the superstition is that being
small and light their bodies have been
carried down the river by the flood
Generous contributions are coming
forward. The relief committee has
$4,000 in hand, but it has need for much
moro.
TITUsvILLE, June 6.-Fires and floods
swept this city yesterday resulting in
an appalling loss of life and tho de-
struction of thousands of dollars worth of
property.
Oil creek overfowed its banks from
the west and above the water and gas
works to the city line below, and for
hours assumed the proportions of an al
most esistless flood, reaching almost up
to theline of Spring street. Iron bridges
were swept away like mere planks
across stream, and scores of frame
dwelling houses in the lower part of the
city were wrecked.
When morning broke hundreds of
anxious people looked out of the win
dows or stood on the roofs of the houses,
waiting for helping hand and trem-
bling for their fate. Strong and brave
men, by means of boats and ropes, sue
ceeded in reaching and saving those
who had secure position till help ar
rived or till the waters began to recede.
10 add to the horror of the scene fire
broke out in the refineries at different
points and the burning oil sweeping
down the current was communicated to
other manufacturing plants and estab-
lishmentS and the destruction was in
creased hundred fold.
People fled from their houses to be
burned to death or remained inside only
to be drowned.
Among the losses by fire are the In
ternational Oil Works, the Hiram Broth
ers' cooper shops, Troy " Robinson, re-
fineries, the Titusville Radiator Works
the w. n. Y. IL p. railway freight Of
fees, Casperson's Furniture Works,
store and residence, Cullens Hotel and
the Crescent Oil Works of John Schwartz
e Co.
The freight office OF the railroad was
burned with its contents, including all
the books and papers of the freight Of
flee. $4,000 worth of merchandise re-
ceived for delivery and a large amount
of furniture awaiting shipment.
a meeting of the citizens was held at
noon at the city hall and subscribed at
once $4,000 Cor the immediate relief of
the destitute, Joseph Sleip and ]. e.
McKenney heading the list with $500
each. Miller Sibley, of Franklin, wired
$500.
Quarters have been obtained for the
poor and homeless. For food, clothing
and lodging, the benevolent ladies of
the city are on hand to render all DOS
sibie relief at Company KS armory,
Music Hall and Masonic Hall, which
have been secured for that purbose.
The churches did not open Yesterday
for divine service. Rev. Mr.. Stevenson.
of the Presbyterian Church, and DR..
Henry Bunton, of the Episcopal Church,
were out of town and have Joined an OK
cursion party at Candidate Lake.
Many of the leading citizens of the
town and their wives and children were
on the excursion to the lake and are
sti i detained there. They can neither
reach the city by railroad nor the turn
pike, nor can the citizens reach Thorn,
as there are washouts on the railroad at
Ricevil)e and the bridges on the turn
pike have been swept away.
Never in the history of this city or of
the oil region has there been such
terrible disaster as the one that swept