The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-12-08

| of gasoline, benzne and linseed oil were
| blazing and bursting, with roars and rum
blings. The flames shot in all directions,
assumed all forms and shapes, but having
only one result, the destruction of every
thing within reach. The fire left the tanks
broken and twisted objects, and when the
iron would split and give way the oil gushed
forth in a living stream, to run along until
it climbed other tanks and started them
into flame. There was IA tall slim tank,
mounted on high brick foundation, located
! almost in the center of the yard. 1t was
known the measuring tank, but it seemed
a beacon light as its whitish flame shone
through the great clouds of smoke and red
flame which rolled and whirled about it.
The flames mounted the six-foot brick foun-
dations, which rested long tanks, as if
they had been shot upward by some unseen
force, and licked all around the tanks to
reach theseontents. The intense heat start
ed the tiln>s at the seams, where the sheet
iron riveted together, and as the tiny
streams of oil would trickle forth the flames
would meet and give them dainty shapes,
| like the lace upon d Womans dress, while
the burning oil would sputter and jump
over the sides of the tank ike the rain OF
fire upon Gomorrah.
LIE NIADCCl = GERIII
The stable and barn of the company was
located in the extreme east side, and twenty
feet above was the Downey-avenue viaduct
/ The stable was of wood and sheet iron, but
if it once caught ire it meant. the possible
destruction of the bridge The electric cars
had been stopped from travelling that route,
and every preparation was made to save the
viaduct. Early in the course Of the fire the
flames destroyed the sheds to the south,
but were stopped by the small brick engine
house when within twenty feet of the stable.
There were seventeen horses, eight wagons
and numrous sets of harness in this building,
| but all were saved with the exception Of one
wagon. The two 100, ,000galon tanks which
contained coal oil were located Just to the
west OF the building, and when the flames
attacked these tanks it seemed as if the
bridge was booked for burning. There
were two columns sent high into the air
from each of these tanks, but fortunately
this was caused by the generated gas, and
not from the fluid S catching fire. The flames
darted under the stable floor, and soon
were darting from between the chinks of
the floor. The fremen subdued this fire,
after a hard struggle.
CARLOADS OF HAY
On the north side of the burning yard
two tank cars containing crude oil We're
sidetracked from the Santa Fe Railroad
company's line close under the two largest
burning tanks. When they were first
thought of. however, it was too late to save
them and the flames leaped'in their hideous
glee around the:wooden framework One by
one, as the fluid warmed, the cars exploded
and scattered burning oil in all directions.
On the main line stood three box cars load
ed with baled hay belonging to the Junction
| Warehouse company. These were also
swallowed up by the flames and sixty min
utes saw i'll their places a confused heap of
rods and wheels. The loss to the owners of
the hay was $1,000. Two burning refrigerator
i Continued on Page Five.)