The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-08-23
Big FIRE FOLLOWS
BENzlNE EXPLOSION
Eighteen Gil Tanks Burned
at Philadelphia.
FIVE WORKMEN KILLED

Disaster Occurred at Atlantic Refin-
ing Compnny's Oh Works at Point
Breeac-Eire Is Stiu Raging-Loss
May Reach ST 100000.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug 20 live per.
SOFAS are known to have been killed by
the explosion of the big benzine tank at
the Atlantic Refining company's oil
works at Point Breeze at midnight.
The dead are:
John NcCullom, engineer 40.
James Fails, engine company 40.
John Dougherty, truck company No.
8, and fireman and empioye OF the Re.
fning company too badly burned to be
recognized.
When the explosion occurred the fire
mon of engine company 4S, aud en-
piOyeS of che Atlantic Refining com.
pany, Ill ali about 90 men. were at work
III the pumplngnUuSc drawing off oil
from the burning tanks The flames
shot high III the air and the pumping.
house was almost completely demol.
ished.
Heroic Work of tirerncn.
The tircmen who haG been playing
streams OF the other tanks then directed
tnclr attention 70 the rescue Of the men
who hau been imprisoned III the pump
lnghouSe. 1t was nearly an hour be.
fore the men could he reached. Mean
while score OF streams OF water were
pouring upon the runs or the pumping.
house. The prompUneSS with which the
frcmon turned their attention TO the
r..,,E = H..
score or lives.
A quickly as the men were rescued
from the ruins they were sent 10 the
hospitals in the lower section OF the
city. Five bodies were recovered and
sent 10 the mOrguC, but only three OF
them could be identified. Two bodies
Were roasted TO crisp and so blackeneQ
that IL was almost impossible TO tell
whether they were those of white or
negro 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 punlpinShouse where the explo
sion occurred was midway between the
two rows OF the burning tanks, and the
AEepen We're endcavOrIng To Confine the
l4sn1@s TO one row by drawing off the oil
a&Ss5atlype of the explosion. There are
l10osN4aksin the big oil plant, and more
than Rdozen of them are on fire. AT
the time of the explosion the wind was
blowing strong from the east and carry.
ing the flames directly toward the other
TANKS, bUt early this morning the wind
shifted 10 the southwest. and there is q
probability OF saving the other tanks
from destruction.
AT the time OF the explosion two big
German tank steamers, Gutheil and
Marie, were loading petroleum at the
Atlantic oil wharfs, bur they were towed
down the river 60 place of safety.
Probable Cause of Explosion.
Various theories are advanced rs to
the cause Of the explosion III the pump.
inghou5c, where the tiremen lost then
lives. According 70 n fireman of engine
company No. 46. which was pumping
out the oil from a burning tank, the
fluid was allowed to get TOO low and
drew the fire with it The explosion
occurred aS sho men were pumping and
wonder j. Expressed by rue men that
every one IN the building Gid not lose
their hives.
AIHihgr theory is that the oil in tani;
No. 50 ovCrhowcd ana rne burning oil
spread 10 the nlpnuuSGs where the
fircmcn were at work, causing the oil
there 10 explode. There was a rumor
early this morning that ii large gang OF
employees OF the company were buried
when the explosion occurred.
Since early morning the flames spread
to tivc auGl;lOrl tanks, making ) that
have been destroyed.
IL 10 O'CiuCK l,,r iire was still bryond
control, ana although most Of the tanks
noi yet on ike STOOD apart from those
burning, there was constant fear Of the
flames reaching them. The almost cx.
hausteu frcmnn paid little attention TO
the burning tanks, devotiug their en-.
dCayOrS 10 an effort 20 save the tanks
ana oLnor property not on fire. There
was constant danger Of another explOs.
ion that might possibly spread death
and ruin ana the men were ordered not
to expose themselves unnecessarily.
Loss May Reach 81 100000.
Meanwhile the oil IN the tanks near.
est those oi fire was pumped to the mcst
distant tanks in the hopes that the tanks
liable to catch fire may be emptied. The
cooper shop was on fire at one time, but
the flames were extinguished before the
structure was much damaged. The offl.
Gals OF the company refuse 60 give any
estimate of the loss. Those in position
TO know estimate it at from $500, 900 co
$1,000, 900. AS the Standard Oil com.
pany, which owns the Atlantic Refining
company, does it's own insuring, the loss
will fall ON the insurance fund of that
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