The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-06-07
FIRE IN OIL REGIONS
Great Loss in Pennsylvania
Forest Towns.
People Compelled To Flee for Theip
Lives-Hamlets Entirely Oblitera.
ted-Many Oil Wells Burning No
Relief Expected Until Rain Falls.
Water Shipped in Barrels by Rail.

Bradford, Pa, June 5.-The forest
fires which started in Elk county last
Saturday and which are raging to-day
in several sections were the most de-
structive in the history of this region of
the country. At Russell City the people
after becoming exhausted from fighting
the flames were forced to flee for their
lives. They were obliged to leave every
thing and run to q clearing two miles
distant at Highland Corners
Fires in Every Direction.
Nothing is left of Russell City. The
nre is again burning in the vicin-
ity of the oil works. The rains of last
night only partially checked the flames.
The Northern Oil company has twenty
oil wells and number Of tanks
burning at this place. 1t is impos-
sible to estimate the loss. The
woods lealing to Clark's mills are a
mass of flames on both sides of the road.
There is fire in every direction, and all
enorts to check its progress seem futile.
Entirely Obliterated.
Coon Run, three miles from Russell
City, was entirely obliterated by the fire.
The place consisted OF 200 buildings. a
pump station, school house and sawmill.
A. B. Fowler the superintendent of the
Northern Oil company, says that while
he and his men were at work backing
hre a stihlng breeze came up, increasing
the fire, and they ran to the town and
aroused the people, telling them to flee
for their lives. Men, women and chill
dren made a wild race for the railroad
track, u distance Of Ave miles. So far az
known all escaped.
Many Oil Wells Burning.
The fire at West Kane, which threat
sned the destruction of that place. in
now under control. The damage done
was the burning of nine oil we'll rigs
owned by the Griffith estate, one engine
house and one dwelling house. The fire
reported at Knapps Creek Is still burn.
ing and has done q large amount Of
damage. The fire has spread to Bells
camp, and thirty Eve oil wells are now
on fre.
Rain the Only Relief
Kansas Branch, Rixford, Davis City,
Summit City, Dallas City, Oil Valley,
Limestone State Line, Derrick City and
Red Rock were all threatened, and the
rain OF last night only saved the place.
The sky is black with smoke and the
mountains are invisible. The heat was
intense. The fire at Ormsby is reported
raging again this morning. TheNplacs
Is without protection of any kind, and
the flames are devouring q large area
OF standing timber. Sawmills and 4
number Of houses have been consumed
Water Shipped In Barrels.
Two carloads Of empty barrels were
shipped to Ormsby yesterday morning tc
be used to convey water to the oil field
which were Threatened. Just before
o'clock the fire d reached the oil
Geld at West Brancn. The dense smoke
indicated that several wells and tanks
were on fire.
81 an Hour for Labor.
Oleau, N. Y, June e6.-One hundred
and fifty men left her to fight the fores,
6res ut the Four Mile and Knapps creek
districts, between here and Bradford,
and owners were paying one dollar an
hour for mon to fight the fires.