St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-06

flames, and if not burned to death out
right were drowned in the raging flood.
At this writing seven chastity bodies
have been taken from the flood, and are
lying Oh the track unrecognized, wait
ing for their frieuds to come and claim
them. At this end OF the city was an
other iron and wooden bridge, which
went down five minutes after the fire
started, the huge iron structure being
Broken and Swept Away
like so much klndling wood. From this
bridge southwark for a quarter of a
mile the entire town is destroyed, and
the fire is still raging. The fire depart
ment is making heroic efforts to stop
the flames, and the firemen are risking
their lives every instant, as it is not
known at what moment many of the
immense oil tanks above here will burst
and send their burning contents down
upon them. The Imperial Refining
cOmpany'S large tanks are visible from
here, and all are burning, and it is
greatly feared that the burning oil will
again come down the creek, and, if IL
should, little of the business portion of
Sons furniture house, a four-story
immense building. was swept away
with $4,000 worth of stock. furniture,
etc. Reinbold's hotel and livery
stable were destroyed in few minutes
and Mr.. Reinbold and two others, who
have not been identified, were burned
to death. These three bodies have been
recovered, and it is not known how
many more are lost at this writing.
About all the Third ward has been de-
stroyed, and the fire is still doing Its
awful work in this part of the city.
People are panic-stricken all over the
town, and all afternoon mothers have
been running about madly looking for
their lost children. Fathers of families
are searching for their children and en-
deavoring to get them all together in
place of safety. 1t is almost
Impossible to Find Words
to descrite this 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 so suddenly and so uneX-
pectedly that very little if any property
has been saved along this stream, and
the sky for miles around is still black
with the smoke from burning dwelling
houses and oil tanks. When the two
explosions occurred this morning peo-
pie were knocked down by the force of
the shocks, and every window for two
squares along Center street was broken.
Falling glass added to the danger. Sew
eral people were slightly cut. One
yonng girl was picked up out of
the mud on this street after the
crowd had passed over her. She was
badly bruised and cut, but not seriously
injured it is thought. The panic at this
time was something awful, and 1t was
remarkable that no one was killed by
the horses and by the wild mob, as 1t
was case of every one for himself.
The flames and smoke covered the en-
tire lower part of the city, and it seemed
that that part of the city was doomed to
destruction. The water in OIL Creek is
falling slowly at this time, and it is
hoped the worst is over, and no more
lives will be lost. The creek is about
fifteen feet deep here and about 100
yards wide, and in the memory Of the
oldest inhabitant has never been so
high before. In the upper part of town
about 100 dwellings have been
Destroyed by Fire,
and owing to the depth of the water the
fire department can do little to stop the
flames. This part of the city cannot be
reached at all. and Seneca street, up to
within four squares of the poStoffice. is
blOckaded with lumber sheds and roofs
of houses which have floated down from
above. Nothing seems to be exagger-
ated. and affairs are appalling. Will
Shafer's body has been taken to the un-
dertaking establishment on the South
side, where many Franklin people have
visited it. The body is hardly re cog
nizable except from the name OH the
fixture of the watch charm.
John Reinbold's body has just
been recovered, and is but
slightly mutilated. The sight from
beyond description. The loss of prop
erty is estimated at from S75O,0O0 to
Sl,000,0 900. Up to 5 p. m. from fifteen to
twenty bodies have been recovered and
identified, and the death rate will fig
ure up much larger, some. placing it as
high as fifty. The Third ward, from
Seneca street bridge to within nearly a
square of the Lake Shore depot, is as
level as field.
The SerfOus Cases
Louis Hazenfritz, badly burned and
cannot live.
Five children, unknown, badly burned
and two will die.
Mrs. Feeny and six children, badly
burned.
Mat Lyons, missing, supposed lost.
Mrs Hawks and daughter, burned,
will probably live.
Paul & Sons loss is estimated at $780,
600; not fully insured.
r. d. Naylor. loss $1,000; no lnsur-
ance.
William Loots. petroleum house,
totally destroyed; loss, 5000; partially
insured.
Reporter Sam Yeader, of Housewife,
saved about twenty-five lives floating
down the creek. He used his boat DUR
ing the height of the flood, and great
praise is due him. Nothing can be
learned from Titusville heIe as yet. All
is an uncertainty, wires down north i'll
all directions.
The Oil City Grays. Company d, Six
teenth regiment, is out in full on guard
duty. and will remain on duty all night.
Franklin is largely represented, and at
least 500 are witnessing this terrible
ruin. Many wild rumors are floating
around, but the above is the best that
can be learned after sitting many differ
ent stories. Nothing so terrible has
visited Oil City for many years. AT
this writing Is p. m.l the worst is per-
haps over, and heavy rain is falling.
The Allegheny river is about stationary,
but so far not receding. The New
York, Pennsylvania q Ohio company
has placed some cars on its bridge over
Oil creek for protection. which seems