The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-07
BAFFLED BY OIL FLAMES
The Blaze at The Standard Oil
Works Still Spreading.
Company's Force md Volunteers
Fail to Check the Firc-MilIions of
Gallons of Water Used without Eff
fect-MOre Tanks Explode No
Chance of Saving Tideyatcr Plant.

NEW YORK, July 6.-The fire in the
| Standard Oil Works at Constable Hooi
was still burning today, and the fremen
both those of the companys' force and OF
the volunteer department Of Bayonne
were wearied after their long hours OF
fighting with the flames. All night long
| the western sky was lit up like a brigh,
! sunset. and occasionally long peaks OF
flame were seen in the heavens where
| some new tank had burst. The first tank
| to explode after midnight was No. 10. 1t
| was about 3 o'clock when the boiling oil
forced the cover from its fastenings and
| pillar of fire shot 100 feet into the air.
asleep at the time were awakened by the
report and rushed from their beds again
| to witness the pyrotechnic display.
The officers of the company held out
| hopes that the fire would not advance be-
| yond tank no. 10. The oil had been drawn
! from the tanks surrounding it, SO that
| there might be no further explosions in
| that quarter. Those fighting the fire were
favored by the weather and said that if
no high winds came the fire might be I'M
was still flowing down to the banks of the
Kill Fon kull and the flames along the
water front seemed to be blazing, even
more fiercely today than they were yes
terday The firemen, however paid most
of their attention to the tanks. keeping
those from which the oil had been drawn
wei drenched with water.
The hopes of the firemen were shattered
somewhat at II o'clock, when another tank
N a,,ly
which caught fire at 3 o'clock in the morn
ing. and men were about to draw the oil
from 1t when the explosion came. The fire
then locked as serious as ever and the
chances of saving the tanks of the Tide
water Oil Company seemed few. With the
explosion of the second tank the expecta-
tons that the fire would be practically out
late today fell to the ground. The flames
were still burning iercely. Some of the oil
from the tanks yet intact was drawn over
to the tanks of the Tidewater Company and
some was run into barges lying in the
river.
The water item. by the way, has become
a rather serious question to Bayonnc
Millions of gallons have been poured on To
the flames. and the supply has grown ap-
probably less. The firemen thought how
ever that the supply would hold out. and
that there would be enough to extinguish
the residents of the place. II has cost The
city $4,000 more a day for water since the
fire began. Some of the volunteer fremcn
complained this morning because they had
to buy their own food. The company kept
its own employees well supplied with cof-
fee and sandwiches, but the others were
left out The volunteers stuck TO their
posts, however. and said that they were
willing to remain there until the fire has
been extinguished
II was still so hot around the buInel ave
today that the man who stood three books
away from 1t had his face scorched. The
fremen. however went close to the differ
eut blazes ard worked their hose contiu-
ually. Some of them we're burned about
the face and hands but none seriously.
Five of them had to quit work this morn
ing because of their burns, but they did not
go to the hospital, and when they went
away they said that they would return |
after while. So far as the police know |
no person has been killed by the fire. AMI |
no one is missing. Two men who could 7 ot |
be found yesterday and who it was |
thought. might have persisted. turned up N |
the evening ell right.
An estimate of the loss was made today |
by J. E. Morse. Chief Engineer OF the Tide
water Company. He said that the average
size of the twenty-four tanks destro Jed as
95 feet diameter and from 80 to SO feet |
high. The tanks. he said. contained. when
full. $4,000 barrels Of oil each, an OIL barrel
being reckoned at forty-two gallons. The
OIL Mr.. Morse said, was worth 81 10 a bar
rel, and he said he had understood that
most of the tanks were full. Therefore,
the loss on the oil destroyed might possibly |
be 81 $50, 500. The tanks. he said, Won d
cost to rebuild about So, coo each, making
the loss on tanks about S276.00O As 20
other property, Mr.. Morse said the loss
would not exceed 81 100000. and might lie
much less than that. Therefore. according
10 these figures. the total loss would BE- N
he neighborhood of s., 900 900