Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-06

NEW YORK, July 5.-More than two
and a hhlf million dollars damage has
already been done and a number of
persons have been severely burned by
fire that started in the works of the
Standard Oil Company, at Constable
Hook, Bayonne, N. j., early this morn
ing. Twenty-three large oil tanks, fif-
teen union tank line cars, the crude oil
refinery, the compound sweating plant,
the pumping station, a Hungarian ten
ement and saloon have been destroyt
ed and the contents of % huge Oil
tanks is still burning in sea of
fame covering over hundred acres.
The crack of lightning bolt as it
struck one of the connecting pipe lines
at 12:45 o'clock this morning was the
signal for the outburst of fire. In
stantly a great mass of flames APP
peared above tanks four six and six
teen, and like flash flew in all di-
rections These tanks are ninety-foot
tanks and contained 100000 gallons of
oil each Tank No. was pitt in two.
The flaming oil Immediately set the
new refinery on fire and swept across
the railroad tracks of the National
ttorage Company, setting fire to the
lrestles and track. The whole mass of
flame leaped into the air for hundreds
of feet and as the blazing oil dropped
and spread down on the ground 1t car
ried the flames with it.
This Sen of Flames
ran around the Hungarian tenement
house in the rear of the tanks and lap
ped at the base OF the buildings. In
an instant the first flames from the
quantities Of oil had doomed the struct-
are. The occupants barely had time
to get out OF the building and they
rushed pell nell over the ground to es
cape from the blazing sea that was
chasing them faster than any prairie
fire
All about the yards the flames
spread, and in a short while ten tanks
were burning. The Bayonne fire de-
|partment was almost helpless, the pri-
vatc department Of the works, the fire
apparatus at Constable Hook, the Gen
eral Chemical Company and the appa-
lr3tus Of the Tidewater Oil Company
iplayed huge streams on the blazing
mass AS this had then but little effect
on the flames the men turned the hose
to the adjoining tanks and also at the
edge OF the flowing and burning oil in
efforts to dam 1t back
In few minutes a fleet of tugs was
flying across the bay. Heavy volumes
OF gas charged smoke which frequent
ly ignited like huge suspended charges
of magnesium, drifted across New York
bay and the sea of blazing oil was
steadily creeping toward the docks of
the oil works. Here lay over fifty YES
sells. including tank steamers and
barges. Lines were made fast to these
and they were pulled out into the bay.
The flames had crept down to the
waters edge and upon the water itself
were
Great Patches of Burning OIL
that tapped their flames about and set
fire to some of the docks. The tug
boat captains did what they could to
save the piers and then formed semi
circle arounu the buring oil and threw
out logs to prevent it from spreading.
By this time the flames on the tanks
had gained such Roadway that by the
middle of the day there were q tanks
burning. The burning fluid had eaten
its way and as it crept on to the small
uildings in the yards, they were con-
umed like paper boxes. Fifteen oil
ars of the Union Tank Line and four
ars of the Central Railroad of New
ersey were burned. The new refin-
ry, which was partially destroyed,
-as commenced in 1885, and cost
/ 800, 900, and since that time many
improvements have been made. About
ne-third of the plant is in ruins. The
rea burned over is 125 acres in ex.
lent.
Two tanks exploded tonight after
10 o'clock. Tank No. It, which had
Taught fire earlier was getting so hot
hat it was feared it would explode at
Utmost any moment The top Of the
ank flew high into the air and the
hames blazed all over the top. In or
der to save this and prevent further
calamity aff3 employee of the yard vol
|lnteered0t9Qattac pipe to the tank
In order to draw the hot oil off, Flames
|were trickling down the side of the big
receptacle, but nevertheless the pipe
Hitter placed ladder against the side
!of the tank and climbed up to the top
hung. With the intense heat blistering
his face and hands and small streaks
'pf flame dropping all about him, he
bored hole in the side Of the tank
Ind into this inserted the pipe
IN this way the employees drew off
BIT of the hot oil and prevented this
bnk from blowing up.
These two tanks which caught fire
b-night will probably increase the loss
$1,000
Earlier in the day Third Vice Presi-
MT J. H. Alexander, of the Standard
Co., estimated the loss at $780,
The Standard Oh Company an
unces that few of the 1000 men en-
Dyed by it at the Hook will suffer.
all its hands were wanted in the
rk of reconstruction, which will be
run promptly. The fire is still
ming.