Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18
A FLOOD OF FIRE.
Relief Needed for the Sufferers ut Oil City
and Titusville.


Relief Needed for the Sufferers ut Oil City
and Titusville.
1t has already been announced that Mr.. Fred
erick L. Moore the treasurer of the fund con-
tributed for the relief Of the sufferers along the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal several years ago,
had decided to turn over the balance Of that
fund to the relief committee in the oil regions.
The terrible disaster which fell upon the people
of Oil City, Titusvile and vicinity has aroused
general sympathy throughout the country.
Contributions have been sent in and while the
citizens there are bravely attempting to meet
the emergency unaided, yet it Is known that
help from the outside would be more than well
come. The STAR will take charge of contribu-
tons and see that they reach the proper authori-
ties. The following letter received by Mr..
Moore during the past week from Mr..
j. r. Campbell, one Of the leading citizens of
Oil City, Pa, gives graphic view Of the stu
alton:
Your telegram, just received, was q CHEEKY
light of sympathy in the midst Of our gloom.
Since last Sunday morning we have been too
busy burying the dead, feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked and finding roofs for the
homeless to fnlly appreciate the extent Of our
disaster. No specific appeal has been made by
our cities to the country, for heretofore the oil
region has taken care Of itself in its many mis-
fortunes and responded literally to all outside
calls But this casualty came upon us when q
long period Of low prices for our commodity
had drained the resources of our wealthiest, and
We must have liberal assistance for the desti-
tute homeless ones, not only for immediate
needs, but to carry them until self sustaining
Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Erie have all sent
money and committees of Investigation, and,
pv,,,, II, L., L
to raise further funds. / wired you briefly the
situation and will mail you newspaper with
local details, but the half cannot be told nor q
forecast be made Of the poverty, sickness and
deaths that will be caused by the catastrophe
Iitusville, about eighteen miles north of Oil
and oil-refning point fhe homes Of the work
ing people were scattered over the fat lands
bordering the creek. Rows of pretty little
houses, with their gardens and surroundings,
extended for nearly a mile.
An immense fall Of rain (some say q cloud
burst) near the top Of the water shed some
twenty miles away tore away several dams and
the liberated waters repeated the Johnstown dis
aster. Tanks ut the refineries were lifted from
their foundations and their contents almost in
stantly fired, we're carried in immense flames in
every direction. In the little time that had
elapsed between the first rush Of water and the
awful flames many had been rescued and car
ried to the higher lands. You may imagine the
fate of those remaining in their houses. They
were licked up, almost literally, and their
charred and disfgured bodies were only saved
from utter cremation by sinking under the
water.
The same story almost is to be told Of Oil
City. We were congratulsting ourselves that
the food had reached its height when the foun-
dation was washed out from under tank con-
tanning II 900 barrels Of benzine at q refinery
about mile above US. The swift current car
rr,,Is al. a L. IL AL IL:
into vapor, which exploded in several places
nearly simultaneously. Houses were blown
down and men, women and children thrown
into the water or burned to death in an instant.
At one point, where q narrow road runs under
a high bluff and the channel was close to shore,
trying to help the submerged residents In an
instant the air was full OF fame and but few
escaped alive. Our fremen worked nobly, but
could not help the submerged. They prevented
the SPREAD of flames on dry land.
We had q well-organized relief association,
opened rooms and commenced to care for the
destitute.
Our hospital association has been for months
preparing plans for q large building. We OBJ
tanned a vacant house, fitted it up with cots,
&C.. and at noon the next day had 1t filled with
dered skilled service and soothed the agonies Of
the suffering and closed the eyes of the dying
Sanitary matters have been looked after by
an efficient board of health. As soon as the
waters subsidized the debris was thoroughly
ransacked and many bodies taken out. Today
the entire city is in rstrate sanitary condition,
for which We have been highly complimented
by the representatives of the state board Of
health and the governor Of the state, who have
been with us in person At Htusville the same
action has been taken, regardless ofcost-trust-
ing to the country to help US out. We estimate
at least 5000, 900 will be required to pay the
bills 80 incurred and in helping the poor to o
self-sustaining basis-this for the two cities
and the intervening eighteen miles. SO far not
over 800, 900 has been provided. II you can
do anything for us among your people it will
be gratefully received and carefully and Judi
ciously distributed.
The business houses and better class of resi-
dences were not affected by either fire or food,
but some Of our largest manufactures were
either destroyed or dismantled, thus adding to
our load the care Of many improvident unem-
ployed.
I have written you the above disjointed sem
fences in the midst Of Interruptions, but
thought best to try to show you the situation
and perhaps enlist the sympathy Of some Of
your citizens who might be able and willing to
help.