Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-20
THE DEAD.

THE DEAD.
John McCullom, engine company 40.
James Falls, engine company 40.
John Dougherty, truck company, No.
nine.
A fireman and an employe OF the re-
timing company too badly burned to be
recognized
When the explosion occurred, the
firemen of engine company No. 40 and
employees Of the Atlantic Refining
company, In all about fifty men, were
at work at the pumping house draw
ing off oil from the burning tanks.
Flames shot high ia the air and the
pumping house was almost completely
demolished. The flremen who had been
playing streams on the tanks then d.
rected their attention to the rescue Of
Of the men who had been imprisoned
in the pumping house. 1t was nearly
an hour before the men could be reach
ed. AS quickly as the men were res
cued, they were sent to hospitals. Five
bodies were recovered and sent to the
morgue but only three of them could
be identified. The bodies were roasted
TO a crisp and so blaclSened that 1t was
almost impossible to tell whether they
were those Of white or colored men.
None of the IL injured men taken
TO the hospitals is seriously injured.
They were suffering chiefly from burns
and bruises and after having their
wounds dressed, nearly all were able
to leave the hospitals
The pumping house where the explo-
sion occurred, was midway between the
two rows OF burning tanks, and the
firemen were endeayoring 10 confine
the flames to one row by drawing off
the oil al the time OF the explosion.
There are 100 tanks in the big oil plant
and more than dozen Of them are on
fire. At the time OF the explosion the
wind was blowing strong from the east
and carrying the flames directly to-
ward the other tanks, but early this
morning the wind shifted to the south
west and there is probability Of saw
Ing the other tanks from destruction.
The wind carried the heavy sitting
black smoke directly over the central
section OF the city almost obscuring
the suns rays.
At the time OF the explosion, two
German tank steamers. Gutheil and
Marie, were loading petroleum at the
Atlantic oil wharyes but they were
towed down the river to a place OF
safety.
Various theories are advanced as 10
the cause of the explosion in the pump
house where the firemen lost their lives.
According to fireman Of engine COM
pany No. 46. which was pumping out
the oil from a burning tank, the fluid
was allowed 10 get too low and drew
the fire with II. The explosion occurred
as the mem were pumping and wonder
Is expressed by the men that every
one In the building did not lose their
lives.
Another theory is that the oil in tank
No. SO overlooked and the burning oil
spread to the pumphouse where the
ilremen weer at work, causing the oil
there 10 explode. There was rumor
early this morning that a large gang
OF employees OF the company were
burned when the explosion occurred.
Since early morning the flames spread
to five additional tanks, making IS that
have been destroyed. At II O'Clock
the FIRE was not yet under control, and
although most OF the tanks not yet Oh
fire were apart from those burning,
there was constant fear OF the flames
reaching them. The almost exhausted
firemen paid little or no attention Il
the burning tanks. deyoting their en-
deayors TO an effort TO save the tanks
and other property not on fire. There
was constant danger OF another ex-
plosion that might possibly spread
death and ruin and the men
were ordered not to expose themselves
unnecessarily.
Meanwhile the oil in the tanks near
est those on fire was being pumped
TO the most distant tanks In the hope
that the tanks liable TO catch fire may
be emptied before the flames reach
them. The big cooper shop was on
fire at one time. but the flames were
extinguished before the structure was
much damaged.
The officials OF the company refuse
to give any estimate Of the loss. Those.
In position to know estimate II at from
100000 TO 100000 AS the Standard
OH company. which controls the At
lantic Refining company, does its own
insuring. the loss will fan on the in
surance fund OF that concern.
The Point Breeze oil works have
been devastated by fire on several oc-
casions. Eleven years ago FIRE start l.
ed which burned iiercely for three days.
destroying much property and causing
much loss
Seven years ago there was another
fire which defed the efforts Of the fire.
men for six days. The fire fighting
force OF the city was not able 10 cone
with this outbreak and aid was sum-
moned from nearby places.
On both OF these occasions the heavy
smoke hung over the city, complete.
T., ohrc,.t,.,, ~. Hrht - ~. -