The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-06-11

heavenward. The people stampeded like
cattle and started for the hills. Scarcely
had they started when the explosion rent
the air, and the entire creek for hun
| dred feet seemed one seething mass OF
flame and smoke. The psnic-stricken
crowd shrieked madly in their efforts to
escape. Women and children were
trampled under foot and some severely
bruised. An engine on the Western
New York & Pennsylvania railroad
passed tank of gasoline standing on a
siding. The tank was leaking, and as
the engine passed mass of flame shot
Into the air and the earth seemed to
shake with an awful tremor. 1t is sup
posed the engineer and fireman were
killed by the force of the explosion.
THE CITY IN FLAMES.
In an instant the fire swept madly
Sover the entire upper part of the city,
which was flooded by the oily water
from the creek. Men, women and chill
dren, who were moving from their homes,
were caught by the deadly flames, and if
not burned to death outright. were
drowned in the raging flood. CHASTITY
bodies were taken from the flood, and
are now lying on the railroad track un-
recognized. 1t is impossible to give an
estimate of the number of lives lost. For
miles up the creek on both sides, every
thing is in ruins and hundreds of families
are rendered homeless. Very little, If
any, property was saved, and the sky for
miles around is still black with the
smoke from the burning dwellings and
oil tanks. When the explosions occurred
the people were knocked down from the
force of the shocks, and every window
within radius OF two blocks was broken.
The panic during the height of the ex-
cltement was something fearful, and it is
remarkable that no one was killed by the
horses and the wild and frantic mob
The water in Oil creek is falling slowly
now, and it is hoped the worst Is over.
In the upper part of town about 100
dwellings were destroyed by fire, and
owing TO the depth of the water the fire
department was helpless. This part of
the city is bIockaded with lumber, sheds
and roofs of houses, which have fioated
down. The sight from the hIntops about
town is awful, and beyond description.
The loss Of property is placed at from
S750,000 to $l,000,O00 Some Is or 90 |
bodies have been recovered and identi- |
fed The third ward is us level as field. |
THE HORRORS INCREASING.
The horrors of the situation are in
creasIng on every hand, like the grim
seDtlne!s who are guarding each way of |
death with their muskeis. The drizzling |
rain that fell all night has changed into
an almost steady downpour. More bodies
are being unearthed, literally torn from
masses of debris made solid by the flood. |
Out in the middle of Seneca street, parties |
IF men are coming and going, with
'tretchers between them weighed down
with body. They return from the
norgues Immediately expecting TO fiud
many more bodies. Some places three
'eet, or more, of mud covers the streets,
he sidewalks are torn from their founda
ions and piled in confusion. Most of
he houses are dark. In some oil lamps |
,urn dimIy and there is mourning over
lead husband, wife or child. There are
iozens of such places where eyes are
leepless besides the corpse of loved
,ne. At 10:30 o'clock, two unknown |
men were found under the timbers at the |
head OF Seneca street. Their bodies are
nuulated beyond recognition. A few
minutes later. two children were found,
heir bodies burned to crisp.