Rock Island daily Argus., 1892-06-06
THE CALAMITY AT OIL CITY.
Sixty Lives Reported Lost There and q
MhoIe Ward Hurned.

Sixty Lives Reported Lost There and q
Whole Ward Burned.
OIL CITY, Pa. June 6-Flood and fire
Saturday night and yesterday laid waste
large sections OF this city and Titusville
and a fearful loss of life has resulted. 1t
is claimed that fifty persons have been
burned or drowned here and the number
may exceed 100. a territory of at least
forty acres. being a narrow strip along Oil
creek, is burned or flooded or both In
addition to those dead large number are
injured, and probably 1000 people are
homeless. The fire started in this city at
1l:40 o'clock yes -erday morning with an
explosion of naphtha and oil on the sur
face of Oil creek. The creek was at
fearful height.
Where the Damage Was Done.
The entire upper end of Oil City on both
sides of the creek was under water at the
time of the explosion which caused the
awful confagration. The town consists of
four principal parts. The south side is on
the opposite side of the Allegheny river
and was at no time in danger. In the
acute angle formed by the confluence of
Oil creek and the Allegheny river lies the
business section Of the city, and across
Oil Icreek and on down the west bank of
the Allegheny is the Third ward, which is
the district entirely burned Cottage HiH
| the high ground of the city, lies back of
the business section, between the two
streams. 1t is there the oil refineries and
| great many residences are located.
a Floating Terror from TitusviIIe.
Many houses on both sides short dis
tance above the business section of the
| town were partially submerged. A thick
coating of oil, presumably from burst
tanks in the region of Titusville. covered
the surface of the creek Floating along
| were three tanks of naphtha. The sun
was shining hot and caused vapor of oil
| fumes to rise from the wide surface of the
| creek. Several thousand people seemed
to simultaneously recognize their peril
and just as they began to move the calam-
| ity came. 1t is believed that a spark from
an engine on the Western New York and
| Pennsylvania railroad ignited the fumes,
which could be seen plainly dazzling in
the air about twenty feet above the sur
face of the surging water.
The Creek a Sheet of Flame.
| Eye witnesses say sheets of flame and
volumes of smoke shot upward to height
| of 100 feet in the vic nifty of bridge cross
| ing Oil creek. 400 yards above the junction
| with the river. In two minutes the fire
had spread up and down the stream for
| over two miles. In less than ten minutes
| between 200 and 800 buildings were In
| flames. The thousands of witnesses were
| thrown into state of the widest panic.
| Men, women and children ran through
| the streets screaming and beseeching each
| other to be conducted to place of safety.
| Clouds of smoke Obscured everything.
| When the darkness was most dense three
| frightful explosions in succession shook
the very earth.
| Explosion of the Naphtha Tanks.
These were the floating naphtha tanks
| in the creek. The cause was not then
known and feeling that some horrible
uncertain fate was in pending added to the
i other terrors. A strong wind sprang up
partially removing the veil of darkness