The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-07

surface OF the water. 1t floated downward
with the current past the rcnneries OF Rice.
| Robinson & Pagan. and OF the International
Oil Works. without taking fire until 1t reached
| the Crescent Works. owned by John Schwartz
x Co.. almost half mile below.
The heavy vapor from the gasoline noated
| into fire In tho furnace OF the stills and ig-
| nited and ran back to the stream upon the
| surface OF the water. This stream OF gaso-
| line still extended back as far as the Rice "
| Robinson works. The Crescent Works Instant
| ly took fire and explosion sitter explosion OF
| stills and tanks followed.
Then the fire rushed UP the creek. setting
| nre first to the International. and next to the
| Rice Il Robinson refinery. Tanks and stills at
both works Immediately exploded. throwing
floods of burning oil upon the stream. A
sheet OF flame moved downward with the cur
rent over the water.
At first the flood struck tho dwellings OF all
those who lived upon tho flats from Monroe
street down. Tho inmates almost in an in
slant were awakened by the rush OF water
around their homes and into their bedrooms
on ground floors Jumping into the water
was almost like jumping into a seq OF flame.
Between the two desperate resorts death
cane to many.
In somo instances only two or three out OF
one instance the mother and family of eight
children were sleeping in their home.
The father was out OF town. and in the after
noon following he returned to find the wife
md children all dead. The mother was still
| claspng to her breast an infant five days old.
| Quarters have been opened for the poor and
homeless by the benevolent ladies OF the city.
T1Tusv1LLEs APPEAL: HER OWN RECORD.
| Titusville gave $4,000 to Chicago on
the occasion Of their great fire: $1,000
| to the Johnstown flood sufferers: $1,000
to the South at the timo Of the yell
low fever epidemic: $500 to tho
cent Russian famine fund. and has always re-
| spondcd to all demands upon the public SYM
| patty when oil towns have been in distress or
| extreme need. The following card Is issued
through tho United Press to the public:
Our suffering and restitution is terrible. Great loss
OF life and destruction OF property large portion OF
our manufacturing interests wiped out by flood and
fire. Hundreds Of families homeless and destitute In
| absence Of Mayor Emerson we appeal to a generous
| public for help in this our time Of distress
VIZ. McNAUGuroS. President Select Council
| ". B. BESKpIcr President Common Council
| Isaac wxsrHEiNxR. President school Board.
| II. C. BLoss editor Heruid
| JOSEPH SExP.
| JONI L McKIxHKr.
| IA. CApwALLApKR
| &c. MCKINNEY.
| J.J MCCRuM.
| Remittances may be made to Mayor Emerson. the
| Commercial Bank J. I. Mckinney. President: or tho
Second National Bank l.. X. Hyde. cashier or Roger
| Sherman. Chairman Relief Committee
The first organized effort to render assist
ance was made on South Franklin street The
water stood In the street as far UP as Davis
Brothers clothing store. There we're distress
ing cries for help from the tenements on either
side below tho city mills. little child was
waving lantern. Many stout-hearted men
plunged into the torrent with ropes. piece
Of wreckage Just then swung into the mill race
from behind. Upon 1t were J. n. Coleman.
his wife and child. They struck snag Of
driftwood and were thrown into the raging
| current Coleman succeeded In rescuing his
wife and T. J. Mckinney. bravely risked his
| own life in saving that Of the little child.
The Fire Department. disabled and crippled
| by lack OF water from the hydrants did heroic
work in checking the progress OF the fire at the
foot OF Monroe street. Chief Haley directed the
force with skill and energy. There was no way
OF getting to those who were below Water
street. and the work OF stretching ropes and
bringing to dry land the hundreds who were
in sore need Of rescue at the foot Of Washing
ton street WAS begun at about $50 o'clock
There were willing hands for the work.
| CATCHING THE FLOATING CHILDREN.
|
and hero were exhibited the most daring and
heroic feats OF the day. line OF men form ed
along the creek and many children were
picked up. They were handed from one to
another until place OF safety was
reached. The rcscuers worked here for hour
after hour without food or drink The current
ran very strong across Washington street and
it was at great risk Of life and limb that the he
| and bareh cad ell. took hand and stood to their
waists in water.
1t is estimated that from 100 to 200 persons
were rescued at this point up to 2 O'clock yes
terday noon. The few boats in the city were
into Ser Tsau ranst and ?aa of se
Ssssssr tTnsy s% asS4 ,Sss
lives on Mechanic street came floating down
the D. r. s and p wh her
floating on long plank. which turned throw;
ing him of. and he was. soon lost; Several
nishtc othss TO jump Into the water. In mo-
ment they were covered by the flames, Fro,
MnsH on Of ds RSP Of 5S the
Dr.. Fred Mann bad his household goods
nefry w%o @ s The So @fR house.
street with the EnslosGfiy t%%y who
Ing e driited down the stream to point
%afnsd r. the ef for nearly Twelve Hiss
| Jennie Shields on Seneca street. wns obliged
| to remain in the wator above her waist for six
teen hours. and vas very faint when she was
The railroad bridge. which has been con-
demned because OF the unsafe condition OF one
| stru cture has stood some remarkable tests Of
strength. Houses and iron tanks coming down
| at n amid ratio would strike the bridge. break
! ing themselves into pieces. but tho structure
| stood ppa rontly undamaGed.
John Quinn, the mail carrier. was rescued
period Of exposure: J. :BinGenheimer's case
enlisted the sympathy OF every one. He had
learned OF the frc. and from Its reported loecn-
was naturally much rm a6out his
exporiencing much difficulty in crossing
| orani,s n n Il ,sa ahouts arriving only to soc his