The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-20
Flames Still Raging This Morning.
and the Property Loss May Reach
Half a Million Dollars.
EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE
SIX MEN MANGLED IN A ROUNDHOUSE
AT HERKIMER, n. Y.
Were Battling with Flames when
the Explosion Occurred-COst1y
Smoke by the Fire Fiend."

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 2o.-whiie a
large force of firemen were endeavoring to
check the fire in a nest OF burning oil
tanks at the Atlantic Oil Refining Com
western section of the city about 12:So
o'clock this morning. an immense tank of
benzine suddenly exploded. Many firemen
were in close proximity TO the tank and
fell victims to the blazing oil and flying
pieces of iron. Three or four were killed
and many were badly burned before they
could be rescued by their more fortunate
companions. A general call was telegraphed
for ambulances and patrol wagons were
the city.
The fire was caused by lightning striking
a benzine tank. Four oil tanks were iginited
by the blaze from the benzine tank and the
FIVE were destroyed with their contents. 63.-
600 barrels Of oil and 2s coo barrls of benzine.
Another oenzine tank caught fire later and
exploded while the firemen were at work.
At this writing the names of the dead fire.
men cannot be learned. They were horribly
burned and their bodies badly mutiated.
The bodies were hardly recognizable when
brought to the morgue at 1:30 o'clock this
morning Some of the injured will die. Ten
or twelve tanks of benzine and petroleum
have already been destroyed and the fire is
rot checked. The fire, il is thought, will not
burn itself out for several days. The loss. it
is estimated. will reach probably half mil
lion dollars.
The fire began about o'clock yesterday
afternoon Immediately after it was dis
covered the company's employees tried to
draw off the oil from the bottoms of the
tanks with escape pipes, precaution
which is always taken when a fire starts,
but owing to the extreme heat the pipes
burned. and a result the oil had to be
left in the big tanks to burn. A general
alarm was transmitted. and engines were
called from every section of the city. In
spite of the vigorous efforts Of the fire.
men, the flames spread to another tank,
containing 5000 barrels of partially refined
oil, and the fifth tank was soon in ruins
like the four others. Shortly after this
two benzine tanks of 5000 gallons each
blew up with a tremendous report. Near
these two tanks were two other smaller
tanks. which were being pumped out as
rapidly as possible. Each contained about
s, 600 gallons of OIL These were also reached
by the flames.
About II: 80 o'clock this morning when 1t
was thought the firemen had the fire under
control another large benzine tank explod-
ed Many firemen were in the vicinity of
the tank at the time. and but few
capped uninjured. The bodies of three fire.
men were recovered. but 1t is feared others
were killed. The intense heat and the
danger of further explosions render a
search for bodies almost impossible. One
of the dead men is believed to be James
Eals, a fireman. The other two bodies
are so badly charred and mangled that they
are beyond recognition.
1t is believed that about twenty-five fire.
men were injured by the explosion.
call for all available police patrol wagons
and hospital ambulances was sent in. and
they were kept busy for at least two hours
removing the injured to the hospitals