Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-07
A FIERY FLOOD
Sweeps Down Upon Two Penn.
sylyania Cities.
Miles of the Surface of Oil Creek
Covered With Flame.
Estimated That Four Hundred
Lives We're Lost.

Mehdwilte, BlbO,OO0 and Probably
@1,00O,000 In the Surrounding Coun-
try-Another Pennsylvania Calamity,
Second Only TO the One at Johnstown.
On Cry, Pa, June 7.--At II 80 Sun
day forenoon large proportion of the
population of the city was distributed
along the banks and bridges of the Ale
gheny river and Oil creek, watching the
rise OF the food in both streams. The
chief cause of the rise of the latter is due
to q cloudburst above Titusville Satrr-
day night, which resulted in the loss of
number Of lives at that place. At the
time mentioned an ominous covering of
oil made its appearance on the crest of
the flood pouring down the Oil creek
valley, and dangerous and foreboding
waves Of gas from distillate and BEN
zine could be seen above the surface of
the stream.
People began slowly to fall back from
the bridge and the creek, but they had
hardly begun to do SO when an explosion
was heard up the stream, which was
rapidly followed by two others, and
quick as flash of lightning the creek
for distance of two miles was filled
with an awful mass of roaring flames
and billSws of smoke that rolled high
above the creek and river hills.
The oil from the scores of broken tanks
ran into the creek and was ignited by
floating debris. In few minutes the
creek was ablaze from shore to shore,
and as it was carried down the stream
death and destruction followed in its
wake. Everything infammable took
fire, and by the time it reached Oil City
all the bridges between the two points
were consumed.
The lower portion of the town was
soon inundated. The food came so
quickly that the people had no time to
reach place of safety. Tie water soon
swept number of oil tanks down the
stream, and in some way not known,
they were ignited. In less time than it
takes to tell the story the flames spread
to the surrounding buildings, and be-
fore they could be suLducd five blocks
had been burned. Fully one-third of all
the business and resident portion of the
city is mass of charred en- bers.
Five persons, all males, were seen to
perish while grasping piece of timber.
Just as the thousands of spectators who
were looking ON with bated breath, I'M
able to render the slightest assistance,
were led to believe that the sufferers
would safely land, a neighboring tank of
oil exploded in close proximity, and in a
moment the doomed men We're envel-
oped in flames, and death came speedily
to relieve their sufferings, their bodies
being at once swallowed up in the rag
ing waters.
Can Not BE Described.
The scene in the city was one of the
most heartrending imaginable, and one
which mind can not conceive, nor pen
portray. The tongues of flames shooting
go feet and more straight into the heav-
ems, the shrieks and agonizing cries Of
the helpless human beings Gagged in their
dwellings like rats in trap in the mid
do of that rushing and mighty water
and within the very shadow OF death
from burning oil, benzine and naphtha
that threatened at any time to engulf
them, the shrill whistling of one hun
dred and one steam whistles, the jangle of
the fire bell the chatter of the steamers,
hose carts, hook and ladder trucks, the
crackle, roar, rush and rumble of the
huge body of water and sky piercing
flames, all went to strike terror to the
strongest heart. The people, in their
eager haste to get some place out of
danger, they knew not whore, in many
cases rushed pell-mell over each other
and scores were injured by being
knocked down and trampled on.
Oil creek, now swollen to 500 times its
natural size, aud reaching from one hill
side to the other, presented an appalling
picture.
Floating swiftly by on its bosom were
all sorts, manners and kinds of animate
and inanimate objects-tanks. stills with
the steam in them and blowing OFT,
houses, barns. horses, cows, chickens,
everything almOst-borne onward with
a rush, clinging to various objects, such
rs driftwood, pieces of boards, timbers
aud any other objects they could lay
their hands on, We're scores OF human
beings, their white and terror-stricken
countenanees, desperate struggles and
plaintive, sorl-piercing cries for aid all
combining 10 create impressions in the
minds of the beholders never to be
effaced or forgotten.
The Loss of Life.
An estimate made by city official
places the loss of life in Oil City at 200.
A report reached here Monday morn
ing from Tiiusyille that 900 bodies had
been taken from the ruins at and near
that place. Wires are down and re-
ports are very meager, and they lack
confirmation.
Not until the sun arose over the hills
Monday morning did the people of Oil
CITY realize fully the terrible havoc
wrougis. by the flood and fire. The In
tense excitement that followed the
shock when the big sea Of oil and gas
exploded robbed even the coolest heads
OF their reason, and no one could he
found as late ~ o'clock Monday morn
ing who was aide to estimate the money
soss in this city.
Now. however, the excitement has in
n measure subsidized. Monday morning
desolstion, suffering and death are