The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-13
dard to Estimate the Amount OF
Damage.
U OCCASlONED EXCITEMENT
Only the Wells and Operations Within a
Limited Area We're Affected-Dam-
age No. So Great as Was First
Supposed--Cau of Fire.
dsy Associated Press.)

BEAUMONT, TEXAS. September 12.-
AT daylight this morning the fire in the
si field burned itself out. and tonight
Burning, one OF the wells is a big gusher,
md il is thought much trouble will be
experienced in e0tinguishing it. The
smallcr wells can be easily handled, as
the fire is principally fed by gas
The oil is being drawn from the tanks
Is rapidly as possible. and they viii
probably burn themselves out tonight.
There is q breeze blowing, but 1t is sweep
ing across the field and toward the IRE.
Even If It changes there VIII be niue
aanger 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 n spread of the ire can
how checked IN Its incipiency.
Preparations are going forward in the
work of extinguishing the burning wells,
and It is now believed that an effort VIII
DC made toward that end tomorrow.
Tie loss caused by the fire is Varlousiy
estimated The lowest figures by any
,ne competent to judge place the total
loss at about 5000
From this it ranges up TO s25O,eoo. SO
Tar as can be ascertained about thirty
aerlicks were destroyed. The loss on
,hcsc was comparatively small. Fifteen
!nnixs, some Of them filled with oil, We're
burned and they will have TO be repaired
before they are again serviveable. Sew
.ral pumping plants were put out of ser
Eicc and are rendered useless, and in this
lies the heaviest loss. outside of the oil
destroyed.
The fire was started by the careless
ness of workman whose name has not
yet been ascertaincd He went into a
tank. which was partially filled with oil,
with q lighted lantern and there was an
explosion of gas which ignited the Oil
The man escaped, though he is said 20
have been badly burned. The wood
Eusher had been left open aud it was
ignited within few minutes and before
an alarm could be given to control the
burning tank, the fame ieaped 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 fire. Volumes
of smoke were created and gave the i'm
preston that the area of FIRE was much
greater than ii really was. The flames
snot 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 Great
Ing 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 Neder-
land with picked workmen 10 assist in
smothering the flames and these have
been at work to-day chopping down der
ricl5s covering wells and draining away
the loose oil that had not been reached
BY the fire. These men are at the field
tonight keeping guard.
The Atlantic and Pacific Oil Company
1t will be gratifying to the stockholders
Of tho Atlantic and Pacific Company 10
learn that the fire now raging at the
wells at Beaumont, Tex. does not in the
least affect their company. in that their
wells are twenty miles away at Sour
lake The basis upon which the Atlantic
And Pacific Company are working is one
we'll to an acre, while at Beaumont they
have from fifteen 90 sixteen wells to the
half acre thereby increasing the risk
greatly in connecting one with the other