Evening star., 1902-09-12

OIL FIELDS ON FIRE
Disastrous Blaze at Beau
mont, Texas.
1T Is STILL RAGING
PROSPECT THAT WIDESPREAD
DAMAGE WILL RESULT.
Started by Sparks From Engine Fall
ing Into Some Waste Oil
Along Railroad.
1T Is STILL RAGING

BEAUMONT. Tex. September 12.-Flre
started last evening by sparks falling into
some waste oil along the Texas and Sabine
railroad tracks, spread to a sixty-foot tres
tie, and thence to the great oil fields. Great
damage was done but no estimate Of the
loss is yet possible.
The fire was thought to be under control
after 1t had destroyed the trestle and all
danger was believed to be averted. In some
manner unexplained. however. flames
were communicated to the oil fields nearby,
and several huge settling tanks, contain
ing thousands of barrels Of petroleum. ex-
ploded. Others We're in direct line Of the
fire, which spread rapidly in all directions.
The ground was saturated with oil and
there was little chance of stopping the
flames with the means al hand
A telephone message from Gladys which
is the station at the old field, says the
whole of the ke5th-Ward tract, embra cling
several acres and containing large num-
ber of wells, was burned over and il was
believed that some of the wells were aflre,
although it was not positively known how
many as no one could approach them.
Fire Continued to Spread.
At 1 o'clock the large tanks belonging
to the Higgins Were reported burning. Run
ners were sent out in all directions for the
The streets of Beaumont Were crowded
with thousands of persons running about
in wild excitement and endeavorinG to oO-
tain means Of conveyance to the scene of
the fire.
At 1:30 am. the telegraph operator at
Gladys reported that he feared he would
soon be compelled to leave his post At
2:58 o'clock the wire failed and further conf
munication with Gladys was severed
E.2fn ira Lost fha
in circulation at Gladys that two men had
been seriously burned. The workmen on
Spindle Top Hill were standing about, un-
able to do anything even toward protecting
that portion of the field which was not yet
fire.
At 2:30 o'clock Gladys reported that the
flames had ceased to spread, and that if
there were further explosions of tanks
further damage was unlikely. The tank
known as the Higgins had blown It's top off
and the oil inside was burning.
Last Report From the Scene.
Just before communication was cut on
the fire was reported to be burning only i'm
the Higgins tank and in the Keith Ward
tract. A large number of derricks and sew
eral pumping plants had been destroyed,
much oil had been burned. and one gusher
was shooting up flames. The extinguishing
of this well was believed to be the hard
est task before the fire fighters.
A statement regarding the Spindle Top
oil field shows that there are 40 wells i'm
the belt. Some of these. the report stated.
were buried in earth in fear OF Just such a
fire as the one now burning.
NEW ORLEANS, September IA spe-
cial to the States from Beaumont, Tex,
says:
The fire in the oil fields is still raging.
Higgins 31,000-barrel tank Is burning:
Woods gusher is shooting column OF
fame fifty feet high; gas escaping from
other wells is burning The fire has been
confined TO the Keith-Ward tract. on W hitch
all the tanks have been burned The
damage thus far is estimated to be Sloo,Wp.