The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-23
FIGHTING FIRE AT BURNING OIL AND
BENZINE TANKS.
FIVE LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST
The Fire Still Raging Among the
Tanks of the Atlantic Refining Com.
pany, OF Philadelphia-An Explosion
While Men Are Drawing OIL from a
Burning Tank-Only the Heroic Eff
forts of the Men Save Many More of
Their Comrades from Death.
Their Comrades from Death.

Philadelphia. August 2O.-Five per-
sons are known to have been killed by
the explosion of the big benzine tank
at the Atlantic Refining Company's oil
plant at Point Breeze at midnight
The dead are: John McCullom, of En-
gine Company No. 40; James Falls, of
Engine Company No. 40; John Dough-
erty. of Truck Company No. 9, and a
fireman and an employee of the refin-
ing company, too badly burned to be
recognized.
When the explosion occurred the fire
men of Engine Company No. 49 and en-
ployees of the Atlantic Refining Com
pany. in all about fifty men, were at
work in the pumping house drawing
off oil from the burning tanks. The
flames shot high in the air and the
pumping house was almost completely
demolished. The firemen who had been
playing streams on the other tanks
then directed their attention to the
rescue of those who had been imprison-
ed in the pumping house. 1t was near
ly an hour before the men could be
reached. Meanwhile score of streams
of water were pouring upon the ruins
Of the pumping house. The prompt
ness with which the firemen turned
their attention to the rescue of the
men undoubtedly saved a score of lives.
Since early morning the flames have
spread to five additional tanks, making
eighteen that have been destroyed The
fire is by no means under control, and
although most of the tanks not yet on
fire are more or less isolated from those
that are burning, there is constant fear
OF the flames reaching some of those
that have thus far escaped. The most
exhausted firemen are paying no atten-
ton to the burning tanks, devoting
their entire endeavorS to an effort to
save the tanks and other property not
on fire. The heat is so fierce that they
have been driven away from the hose.
A device is used that will hold the noz-
zle stationary and in a position to
throw water on the sides of the tanks
and the fire fighters have retired to a
safety stand to observe the machine
at work. Meanwhile the oil in the
tanks nearest these on fire is being
pumped to the most distant tanks. The
big cooper shop was on fire at one time,
but the flames were eXtinguished be-
fore the structure was much damag ged.
AS usual the officials of the company
refuse to give any estimate of the loss.
Those in position to know estimate it
at from $500,000 to 81 ,000, 900.
The Point Breeze Oil Works have
been devastated by fire on several oc-
caslons. Eleven years ago a fire start
ed which burned freely for three days,
destroying much property and causing
heavy loss. Seventeen years ago there
was another fire which defied the efforts
of the firemen for six days.
The fire, which began yesterday af-
ternoon, is still burning fiercely tonight
and Chief Baxter of the city fire de-
partment, has giving up hope of saw
ing any of the company's property. The
one hope of company's officials and the
firemen was in their ability to pump the
oil from the tanks not yet reached by
the flames into reserve tanks in an
isolated section of the yard An ex-
plosion late this afternoon carried away
the pumping machinery and nothing
remains now apparently but to per-
init the confla grafton to burn until all
the oil is consumed.
In the explosion which occurred this
afternoon fifteen persons were injured
seriously enough to be taken
to the hospitals and. about forty
others were treated on the scene by the
ambulance surgeons.
The fire is still raging and is eating
up oil at the ia te of 100000 a day, &C
cording to the estimate of President
Lloyd, of the Atlantic Refining Com
pany. Firemen and officials are pow
erless. The fire must literally burn it
self out The oooperage shop has been
swept away and in it's destruction forty
men narrowly escaped death.
The tanks Of benzine are going. Earth
works have been thrown up to keep the
Schuylkill river from becoming flooded
with blazing oil.