The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-14
BURNED ITSELF OUT
CareIessness Caused the
Beaumont Oil Fire
Flames Like lightning or in Great Sheets, The
Loss Variousv Estimated from $4,000
to S250,OOO.
(By the Associated Press.l

Beaumont, Texas, Sept. 12.-At day.
light this morning the fire in the oil
field burned itself out and tonight there
are only four wells and two tanks burn
ing. One of the wells is a big gusher,
adm it is thought much trouble will be
experienced in extinguishing it, The
smaller wells can be easily handled as
the fire is principally fed by gas
The oil is being drawn from the tanks
as rapidly as possible and they will
probably burn themselves out tonight.
There is a breeze blowing, but it is
sweeping across the field and toward the
fire. Even if it changes there will be
little danger of further loss, for the
reason that the loose oil has all been
burned off. There is a large force of
workmen on the grounds and the fire can
now he checked in it's incipiency.
Preparations are now going forward
toward extinguishing the burning wells,
and it is now believed an effort will be
made toward that end tomorrow.
The loss caused by the fire is various
ly estimated. The lowest figures by any
one competent to judge, place the total
loss at about $4,000.
From this it ranges up to $3.50, 600. So
far as can be ascertained about thirty
derricks were destroyed The loss on
these was comparatively small. Fifteen
tanks, some of them filled with oil, were
burned out and they will have to be re-
paired before they are again service
able Several pumping plants were put
out of service and are rendered useless,
n h. ci n
of the oil destroyed
The fire was started by the careless
ness of a workman, whose name has not
yet been ascertained. He went into a
tank which was partially filled with oil
with a lighted lantern, and there was an
explosion of gas which ignited the oil
The man escaped though he is said to
have been badly burned. The Wood
gusher had been left open and it was
ignited within a few minutes, and before
an alarm could be given to control the
burning tank, the flame leaped high in
the air. the derrick caught fire and so
did the oil which was standing around
the we'll The ignition was comparative
ly slow, but the fire once started spread
rapidly over the Keith Ward tract,
which is on the other edge of the field.
Immense volumes of smoke were created
and gave the impression that the area of
the fire was much greater than it really
was. The flames shot up through the
smoke, forked and jagged like lightning
in some instances, and in great sheets
in other portions of the field.
The ground was thoroughly soaked
with oil, and until this had been burned
off the smoke obscured everything, even
creating fog like effect in the city four
miles away. There was very little wind
and this contributed to the safety of the
rest of the field.
Almost the whole population of Beau
mont rushed to the field, though there
was nothing to be done there save to look
at the fire. Special trains were sent
early in the morning from Port Arthur
and Nederland with picked workmen to
assist in smothering the flames, and these
have been at work today chopping down
derricks, covering wells and draining
away the loose oil that had not been
reached by the fire. Those men are at
the field tonight keeping guard.