Evening journal., 1897-08-10

WHARF OF THE BEAR CREEK OIL
COMPANY DEsTRoYED-IT IS
SUPPOSED A SPARK FROM a.
CIGAR OR PIPE STARTED THE
FLAMES.
Marcus Hook, Aug. 1O.-Flre des-
troyel about $4,000 worth OF property
at the wharf OF the Bear Greek Oil
Works, at Marcus Hook, yesterday az
ternoon and ragged with such fury that
several oil tank steamers escaped with
difficulty from the flames.
At the time the fire was discovered
the Spanish bark La Viguesa was load
ing ut the long wharf. AT the lower
side was the tanker Lucetrina, and out
in the stream waiting for her cargo of
oil was the tanker Prudential. The tugs
Atkins Hughes and Bristol were hover
ing around the vessels, ready to assist
them after loading.
Three tanks of the La Viguesa had
been loaded with oil. While loading the
fourth, the water between the bark and
the wharf which was covered with oil,
suddenly burst into flames and spread
with amazing rapidity. The flames
leaped high in the air and soon envel-
oped the bark and spread under the
wharf which Is built on piling.
CREW WAS PANIC-STRICKEN.
The crew became panic-stricken. One
man leaped into the water and was res
cued from drowning with difficulty.
Another sailor who was on a yard arm,
slid down a wire rope and burned the
flesh OF his hands to the bone. The
mate in charge ordered the men to stay
and cast off the lines which held the
bark to the wharf, but the crew rushed
madly by him and sprang on the wharf
and gained the ground shore. Seeing
he could do nothing alone, the mate fol-
lowed.
The flames were now roaring high in
the air, tapping the rigging and making
red hot the covers Of the three filled
tanks. The wharf was also on fire. The
officers OF the Lucetrina hurrledly cut
their moorings and, assisted by the
tugs, gained midstream, although the
intense heat blistered the paint on hei
hun. The Prudentia also steamed oul
of danger.
BRAVERY OF TWO MEN.
In the meantime the bark was blazing
merrily and looked as though she woulC
be destroyed. but the quarantine tul
steamed up as close as possible, and a
the risk OF their lives Burgess Lee Bur
ton and George Richardson, of Marcus
Hook, leaped on board the bark. To
gether the men worked like beavers
cutting loose the lines of the bark, and
as she slowly drifted with the tide thu
tug made fast to her and towcd he
into midstream.
o'BurtOn and Richardson then droppe'
the anchor after Herculean labor. TIT
tug valiantly fought the fire, and afte
fierce battle extinguished the flames
The bark plates on the bow were buck
led and her rigging damaged. She i
making water and losing oil, hut Bur
toms and Richardson's brave act IL
boarding undoubtedly saved the hull
Burton willnclaim salvage.
After putting out the fire on the bar
the Maherer steamed to the wharf
which was a mass of flames its 450 fee
of length. In the meantime aid hai
been telegraphed for to Philadelphia
and two tugs, the White Rose and tn
Nonpareil were sent down. They assist
edlthe0 Maherer- in fighting the burnin
wharf. and not until $50 o'clock wer
the flames gotten under control.
The large warehouse was saved, bu
of the wharf only the blackened pile
remain. The sheds and many oil pipe
were destroyed.
The fire Is thought to have starte
from a spark from a pipe used by one {
the men engaged in painting the side
of the bark falling upon the oily wate
Only two of the crew Of thirteen rS
Joined the bark after the fire had bee
extinguished.
The damage to the wharf, includin
the shed and pipes, will reach abot
SO, 900. and the loss to the La Nigues
Is estimated at about $4,000.