The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-06
Water Ineffective on the Burn.
ing Oil Tanks at
Bayonne.
TRENCHES AND B00MS USED.
These Confined the Fire Until Ii
Burned Out-Lightning Caused
the Standard Oil Com
pany's Loss.

New York. July 5.-The fire In the Stand
ard oil Comrany's plant at Constable
Hook, Bayonne, y. J.. which was started
early this morning by a stroke Of lightning.
continued until thirty OF the oil tanks
had been destroyed
The fire loss IS varIousIy placed at from
sl.cG),0l9 to S-.500.oJJ. The first figures
which is the companys estimate. is possi-
bly, as nearly correct as is possible before
complete list of the destroyed property IS
made up.
William Maher II years old, was severe
". but not fatally. burned. and I'VE labor
ers. James Thompson. Thomas Devine
John Feathers. Charles Sauer, and John
Rock were seriously burned
The explosion was heard for miles and
the heavens We're lit up for hours after
TarHs by the flames which leaped hun
ored rect IN the air. Even at 5 a. m. to-
cay inc column OF smoke which rose from
thc taLhS. slEeai out In such 4 cloud that
TO ihoSe coming 10 this city from the West
the bright morning sun was obscured.
Hotel Was Burned.
Within fifty yards OF the exploded tanks
was the bay View Hotel. used as lodging
hCus. by half hundred Hungarians and
Poles employed at tine works. TIE thunder
storm had already awakened them. and
wien the explosion came they rushed peil-
mel out Of the rear OF the building. chased
by the streams of burning oil. which flowed
over anu consumed the hotel.
The oil from the exploded tanks swt IF
Gown the hill from which the works are
located. The explosion followed like the
crash Of artillery as tank after tank was
ignlted by the fiery flood. Down 10 this
waters edge IT went, spreading the circle
OF fire. Nothing could stay its progress.
Even the water was no obstacle, and from
the burning piers. which little while be-
fore mad been crowCed with shipping. il
flowed over into the XII Won kull and
Heated In soapy wisps OF flame out into the
bay.
Meanwhile the Standard OIL tugs ran Into
the docks and dragged out fifty vessels
which Were lying at the company's piers.
Then the tugs formed a Gordon little way
out from the docks and fought the flames
from that side.
Great booms of logs were thrown out in
a semicircle TO prevent the burning liquid
from flowing uurostrained over the water
and carrying destruction to shipping down
the bay. Inside the yards the Bayonne
Fire department MADE an Intellectual fight
against the burning fluid. Water was of
no avail and the fire had to DO fought by
strategy.
Fire Trenches Dug.
Trenches were dug TO divert the streams
OF burning oil from attacking property
outside the yard.
northeast were the plants of the Tidewater
Oil Company, the kaibileich Chemical Com
pany. the Bayonne Chemical Works, the
Copper Works. the Port Johnson Coal
docks, the Pacific Coast Barge Company
and the Crude OIL docks.
1t was thought that none of these would
be saved, but quick action by Vice President
Alexander conhued the fire 70 the STANDARD
yards and the plants of the Columbia and
French oil works directly adjoining.
He went into the crowds outside the fire
lines and hired every man who would handle
Z shovel These he put to work digging
trenches around the circle of fire, and In this
way the burning liquid was prevented from
eating Its way across the Hook.
There were in the yards OF the Standard
on Company when the fire started 365 crude
oil tanks.