Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-01
NATURAL GAS M|SHAP,
l2-|nch Line Bursts and Pump
ing Station is Wrecked,
MANY TOWNS WITHOUT FUEL
Few Consumers Had Made Preparations
for q Sudden Shlt-0f.
PEOPLE GO TO BED TO KEEP WARN
Small Prospect of Relief Being OBJ
tanned Before To-Morrow Evenings
Meantime, the Mercury Is Hover
ing Near Zero.
ing Near Zero.

CHICAGO, December 3i.-A special to
the News from Portland, Ind, says: With
roar which was heard fifteen miles
away, followed by a flash Of fire which
rose hundred feet high, and lighted the
entire country for miles, 12-inch-lins
leading from the Ohio and Indiana Pipe
Line Companys immense gas station, one
mile south of Red Key, burst to-day.
few seconds later the entire structure
was in flames. and the fire ragged until
the building was destroyed.
The pumping station compressed the
gas which went through the lines to
Lima, Piqua, Dayton. and n number OF
other Ohio towns and cities. as well o.
a few In Indiana, and was erected at
heavy expense. being equipped with pow
erful boilers and immense engines and
compressers. 1t was one Of the most
complete of it's kind In existence.
Three years ago the same station was
wrecked by. an explosion OF natural gas.
when two men were killed and the loss
was close to 10000.
The burning of the pumping station
caused great inconvenience and suffering
along the pipeline.
GREAT SUFFERING.
COLUMBUS, O.. December IA spe-
cial TO the Journal from Lima, o.. says:
There is great suffering here and In other
towns supplied with natural yos from
the Red Key Qnd) pump station. which
was destroyed by an explosion this
morning. Wapakoneta. St Mary's. ce-
lima. Cold Water, Fort Recovery. Hume.
aud number OF other towns are on the
lire, and are probably worse OF than TINS
city. as their source OF reserve fuel sup
ply Is not as great as that here me
mercury Is lowering near zero, ana the
gas Is out In nearly every instance, ana
only burning a blaze as large as a candle
light which is growing smaller
FEW PREPARED FOR SHUT0FF.
Few consumers had made preparations
for a sudden shutoff, and the demand on
coal and wood-yards and every avaiiaoio
team Is such that all cannot be served
untu tomorrow even with the teams and
wagons running all night. as will be the
case Hundreds Of families have not had
a warm meal since breakfast, and there
is no likelihood Of their being able 10
get better gas before Monday evening.
The demand for plumbers IL so great
that those who have succeeded In get
ting fuel cannot get the full benefit OF IL.
as they are unable 20 get their burners
arranged, the plumbers having more than
they can do, and what wood aud coal -
being used gives poor results on top OK
the gas-burners.
PEOPLE GO TO BED.
Hundreds of people went to bed as soon
"a they GOT through work this evening"
to keep warm, and many of them VIII
stay there tomorrow. owing 10 the IN
tensely colo weather. In some houses the
temperature Is as low as IS.
The Natural Gas Company received
worl from Red Key tonight that part or
the pumps would be running by MONDAY
evening. This may improve the supply
some but the drain Is so heavy that u
will probably be several days before II IN
restored. In the mean time, the sunerinx
cannot fail to be intense.