The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-07
DEVAs 7 A 7 10 N.
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the creek, and men, women and child.
rem, who were moving from their houses,
were caught by the deadly flames, and
II not burned 10 death outright were
drowned in the raging flood. At this
end OF the city was another iron and
wooden bridge, which went down five
minutes after the fire started, the hugo
iron structure being broken and swept
away like SO much kindling wood.
From this bridge southwark for quar-
ter Of milo the entire town was des-
troyed, and the fire still ragged. The
hremen made heroic efforts to stop the
flames and rislled their lives every in
slant, as it was not known at what
moment many OF the immense oil tanks
above here might burst and send their
burning contents down upon them. Tho
Imperial Refining Company's large tanks
were visible from here and all were
burning, and it was greatly feared that
the burning, oil might again como down
the creek
Paul 81 Sons furniture house, an i'm
mense four story building. was swept
away with 100000 of stock, furniture,
etc. Reinbold's Hotel and livery sta
bic 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. People were panic
stricken all over town, and all the af-
ternoon parents were running madly
about looking for their lost children,
and endeavoring to got them together
in place of safety. 1t is almost i'm
possible to find words to describe this
awful calamity, and at this time no one
has any idea of the number Of lives
that has been lost. For miles up the
creek on both sides everything was in
ryslns, and hundreds of families have
been rendered homeless. Tho re came
SO suddenly ana so unexpectedly that
very little, # any, property has been
saved along this stream,
The creek is about fifteen -feet deep
here now and about 100 yards wide, and
in the memory OF the oldest inhabitant
has never been SO high before. In the
upper part Of the town about lou dwell
ings have been destroyed by fire, and
owing to the depth of the water the fire
department could do little to stop the
flames. This part OF the city cannot bu
reached at all, and Seneca street, up to
within four squares Of the pos tofilce, is
blockaded with lumber, sheds and roofs
OF houses which had floated down from
above. Nothing seems to be exagger-
ated, and affairs are appalling.
LIE" OF the spectators who were watch
ing tho flood when the explosions occur
red and who escaped, can give good
idea OF what happened. All agree that
there was a terrific explosion and that
the air was filled with flames. This
was quickly followed by two other ex-
plosions. The men thought hell had
broken loose on earth and they were
not apparently very far out Of the way.
Three gasoline tanks had exploded
al most at the same time
The oil on the creek blazed up, the
gas in the air burst into 4 roaring flame
and the sheets of wat.r, land and air
we're all literally ablaze. Men, women
and children were knocked PROSTATE by
the shock and many never arose.
The multitude fled with screams of
anguish for higher grounds. In the
rush many Ct the weak were tramped
upon and badly injured. Some were
hurt by horses, others ran into the water
and were drowned.
The flames in the air quickly burned
out but they left huge volumes Of black
smoke across the face of the heavens,
beneath which roared fierce fire of
burning oil, upon the water. Many sub
merged houses and shops along the
creek bottom were soon in flames. and
the silent fire OF the blazing gas was
succeeded by the cracking flames of
burning houses. In many of these
houses people were confined; they could
not escape for the fire. Within sight of
thousands who heard their piteous
screaming they burned to death or
leaped into the river and there persisted
by both flood ard fire. Such a combi-
nation scene of destruction by the two
terrible elements was seldom witnessed
upon this earth.
1t is marvellous that from this valley
of death any were saved alive. 1t is
strange that out Of this mingling OF
fire and flood any houses were spared.
The story told by Harry McVeigh, a
member of the rescuing party which
saved a dozen lives, surpasses in horror
many of those related by persons who
worked only in bringing the corpses out
of the ruins and his words indicate that
he believes many of those saved would
be better with the dead, they are so
horribly wounded and burned. He,
with Wade Hullings, W. Corech and
Albert Smith rowed about the creek in
"a skiff. after the fire died off it's surface
and reaching the foot bridge crossed at
the head OF Seneca Creex Whey found
eleven burned persons clinging to any
thing they could catch hold of in last
desperate struggle for life.
''Their condition was horrible" said
McVeigh. Il wish that l could close
my eyes and shut out the sight. Their
clothing was burned off their bodies,
their hair was singtd and some of them
had their eyes burned out. Yet few
of them, 1 believe, will live. They
clung pileously to US as we took them
from the bridge into our boats. and the
cries they sent up were tho most pitiful
that ever reached my cars. There were
seven men and four women, and the APP
pearance of the latter was particularly
distressing. We cared for them the b st
we could, hu. God pity them