Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-08
ROASTED ALIVE
=
Robert Longstaff, Victim Of
a Gasoline Explosion.
FlREMEN'S GOOD WORK
Prevented Consequences of a Serious
Nature--JOhn S. GilStOn
Also Burned.

Robert Longstaff, one of the victims Of
the Continental Oil company's explosion
and fire which occurred yesterday after
noon, died about II o'clock last night from
the effects of his injuries. The unfor-
tunate man was simply roasted alive, and
that he lived as long as he did after re-
ceiving the injuries is considered re-
markable. John G. Gilston. who was
with Longstaff at the time of the explo-
sion and fire, was also seriously burned,
principally through his efforts to rescue
Longstaff, but is doing nicely and will
ecover.
The men We're employees of the Cont
mental Oil company, and We're at work
about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon IN
the arehous of the company, which is
situated near the intersection of Mon
tana street and the Montana Union track.
They had filled a lumber of cans with
gasoline. and were soldering the tops of
the cans preparatory for shipment. The
soldering furnace, which was fed by gaso-
line, was kept about 30 feet away from
the cans Longstaff was applying the
red hot soldering iron to n of the cans.
when the can on which he was working
exploded with terrific force.
The room was instantly a mass of
flames, and LOngstaff, who had received
the full force of the explosion, lost his
head. ellison retained his presence Of
mind, however, and gallantly went to his
comrades assistance. He succeeded in
dragging Longstaff out of the room.
which had now become a furnace, but
before he could do so all the clothing was
burned from Longstaff and his body was
simply roasted. Gilston had suffered SER
ious burns on his hands n face, too,
the result of his efforts to get Longstaff
to a place of safety. A physician was at
once and the injured men at
tended to. The condition of Longstaff
was pronounced extremely precarious,
and DR.. Moore, who dressed his burns,
stated that his recovery vas extremely
doubtful.
In the meantime the fire had been dis
covered by others, and a fire alarm had
been sent in. The department responded
quickly and soon had a line of hose play
ing on the flames. The building was full
! of explosives. being packed with hum
dreds of barrels and cases of Oil and gas
Oline, and spectators, anticipating a tre-
mendous explosion, kept at a respectful
distance. The members of the fire de-
partment were warned of this danger and
told not to go into the building, but this
did not deter them from their duty. They
promptly entered the place OF danger,
and after a few minutes Of vigorous
work they had the flames under control,
and, a short time later, extinguished.
Their prompt and gallant work un-
doubtedly prevented an explosion, which
would lave destroyed considerable valu-
able property. and possibly several lives.
In some places the floor of the warehouse
was burned through, and that the fire
did not communicate with the oil stored
in the basement is considered remark
able. In numerous instances the wooden
cases were burned from about the oil
cans, and the cans blackened by the fire.
The damage to the property will amount
to about $500.
After suffering untold agony Longstaff
died about II o'clock last night. The de-
ceased was about SIS years of age and had
been a resident of Butte for some time,
having been in the employ of the COM
pany about eight years. A daughter re-
sides in the city. Immediately after his
death Coroner Julien was notified, and
after he had inspected the remains the
body was removed to Sherman's UNDER
taking rooms