The evening Republican., 1902-07-16
Oil TANK
EXPLODED.


pany located on Delaware avenue.
near Clayton street, and caused a Ore
which Resulted in great deal Of
damage to The plant, including the
total destruction OF d large blrtel
house and two large tanks. cJatain.
Ing about 80 barrels OF oil.
After two hours hard work, the
members OF the FELTON,, lllnley and
Franklin fire companies had the fire
eAtinguished.
Az about eight O'Clock, one Of the
largest tanks, CO ltainlng thirty tiy,
barrels of refined headlight oil, was
struck by lightning bolt, ana
instantly huge tongue Of flame
prose from the tank. AT the time
Bernard Mullen, pumDman and
John Kelley, an employe OF the com.
pany, were seated at the gate leading
TO the yard They saw the lightning
strike the tank. and Immediately
turned in alarm. The FELTON, Com.
pany was on the scene in a short
time.
When the tiremen arrived, the
tank building was secthing mas, Of
flames. Ia short time, the fire
had communicated to the barrel
house and shipping Shed, situated
along the railroad tracks Of the
Philadelphia and Reading road.
Chief Palmer sent for The lltnlcy an i
Franklin companies, and when they
arrived, found it necessary to use
both companies lines Of hose, anl
attached them to the plug at ISecond
and Thur!ow streets, several squares
away.
1t was not long before the blrrel-
hose, where were stored forty-hvc
barrels OF oil. was burnny from one
end to the other The FELTON, Com
pany had one stream playing against
the fire. the iircmen being stationed
in the yard at the rear Ct the tanks,
while anoLhor stream was fighting
the fire from the railroad.
The Hanley was to the east Of th5
fire, while the employees Of the South
Chester TUBE Company also hui a
stream lighting the flames Tnr
employees Of the oil company also
worked vaIianliy to subIu1 the
flames, belng stationed in front Of
the wagon shed, where There were Il
number of loaded tank wagons.
The heat from the fire was intense
and this, with the deadly gas fumes,
made it dangerous for the iiremen
standing ia front Of the tanks. I've
members Of the FeItol Company wer.
overcome by the gases, AMI it was
only through the efforts Of fellow
fremen, assisting them from the
place, that they revived from the
effects
At one time the lives Of several
members Of the FELTON, Company and
employees Of tA2 oil company were
in jeopardy. ono CT the tanks over
turned and the burning Oil how.
ed'in the direction Of the tircmcn
1t was only by flst running that
they succeeded in getting out Of the
path of the burning fluid.
A few mlnuLeStatc the other tank
tOppIcd, but instead Of falling over
dropped to The ground, the supports
having been burne away, lllItns 5
tank overturned, 1t would hay been
impossible for all Of tls irA en- to
have gotten ouc Of the way, and they
would have bcen burned to death
The Office Of the company, sltuAt.
ed near the tanks, was saved from
destruction by the employees OF lie
South Pipe & Tube Company, who
kept a stream of water playing con.
StantIy upon the building.
AT the Time tha fire broke ont
several tanks and sondola cars were
on The siding adjoining the shipping
shed. Thomas Mccartney, brake,
man employed by the p, n Il rail-
road company, at once sent for an
engine and IN a short tImo 1t arrived
and the cars wers removed To slr:
distance In order to get the shifting
engine, which was lying on 4 siding
at the foot Of Market street across
Chester creek. 1t was necessary for
the tralnman to turn the draw bridge
The HanIev Hose Company while
In service, ran Short of con, and
when one Of the members approach.
ed foreman at one Of the steel
works, ana asked permission to get
some coal from the steel COmpany's
supply, he vas met with refusal.
keyerthe less, the Third ward fire.
men received a supply from another
place, and they were enabled 10 Keep
the engine at work,
Members are Aptatci
Bernard DOnahOe S BOlrl Of Edu-
cation number from the second ward
has agltated other members by his
remarks in reference to the city being
-kpbbed, as he claimed under recent
coal contract.