The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-06-10
Death and DESTRUCTION
DESOLATI0N AT TITUSVILLE AND
OIL CITY.
HEAVY Loss OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.

iaot cuiiidy, tiit 10 oili) NNhpoS'i i'' wv
history of this country by the memor-
able flood at Johnstown, just three
yeors ago. For nearly month it has
been raining throughout western and
northwestern Pennsylvania almost in
cessantly, and for the past three or four
days in the towns in the devastated re-
gions, it has been very heavy. The
constant rains have converted the
small streams into raging torrents, SO
that when the cloud burst came Sun
day the streams were soon beyond
their boundaries, and the great body
Of water came sweeping down Oil
creek to Titusville, which is eighteen
miles south Of its source.
The Associated Press correspondent
was standing on Centre street, directly
in front Of the Derrick Office, and on
the approach to the Oil creek bridge.
The creek was raging torrent. and
Centre street for one square was a SOL
id mass of humanity. and 500 or more
people had approached this point of
vantage, watching the muddy waters
rolling by.
AT about 1880 upon the opposite
side OF the stream greeniSh fluid float
ing on the water was noticeable. This
increased rapidly in quantity and COW
cred almost entirely the yellow muddy
waters of the creek, A smell of gas
and oil was perceptible and several
gentlemen back of him were discussing
the danger should the oil catch fire.
Hardly were the words uttered when
about 200 yards up the stream a mass
of flames was seen to shoot heaven.
ward. "Run' yelled hundred voices
and the people turned like stampeded
cattle and started for the hills. Hardly
had they started when terrific explo-
sion rent the air and the entire creek
for hundreds of feet on each side
seemed one seething mass of flame
and smoke.
The panic. stricken crowd shrieked
madly in their efforts to escape. Wom-
en- and children were trampled under
foot, and about twenty were severely
bruised and had to be picked up by a
few Of the cooler heads and carried
out Of harms way. OIL creek is not
usually more than foot deep at this
point, where it empties into the Allie
gheny river, and about one hundred
yards wide. Directly at its mouth is
the iron bridge of the New York,
Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad. About
two squares further up the stream is
the iron and wooden bridge of the city
connecting the third ward with the
city proper.
On the east side Of of the creek is
Trinity Methodist church, on one side
of Centre street, and the Derrick Of
flee and Oil Exchange opposite.
Across the creek and built up squarely
from the waters edge was the hotel
and livery stable Of J. B. Reinbold,
and the furniture house of Paul Sons.
These buildings were built on a narrow
strip between the creek and the hills,
which ris;' precipitously back Of them.
About half mile from the post office
northward, from here on the Western
New York and Pennsylvania railroad,
a tank filled with gasoline was standing
on siding. Some young men noticed
that the tank was leaking and know
ing its explosive nature and seeing
shifting engine approaching ran up the
side Of the hill, where they turned and
looking down as the engine passed wit
messed fearful sight, and a mass of
flames shot hundred feet in the air
and the earth seemed to shake with
an awful tremor. The engineer and
fireman were seen jumping from the
cab and it is supposed at this writing
they were burned to death or killed by
tie force of the explosion. In an in
slant the flames swept madly over the
entire upper part of the city, which
was flooded by the oil waters of the
creek, and men, women and children
who were moving from their houses
were caught by the deadly flames and
If not burned to death outright were
drowned in the raging food.
1t is almost impossible to find words
to describe the awful calamity and at
this time no one has any idea of the
number of lives that have been lost
For miles up the creek on both sides
everything is in ruins and hundreds of
families have been rendered homeless.
The fire came up so suddenly and SO
unexpectedly that very little if any
property has been saved along this
stream.
When the two explosions occurred
this morning people were knocked
down by the force Of the shocks and
every window for two squares along
Centre street was broken. Falling
glass added to the danger and several
people were slightly cut, One young
girl was picked up out Of the mud of
the street after the crowd had passed
over her. She was badly bruised and
cut, but not seriously injured ii is