The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-13
FIRE BURNS
ITSELF OUT
Beaumont Oil Fields Arc
Saved.
FOUR WELLS STILL BURN
Loss Is Estimated at from
$4,000 to $3.50, 900.
Thirty Derricks Destroyed-Damage
to Pumping Plants the Most
Serious Sustained-Careless-
ness Causes Confagration.
FOUR WELLS STILL BURN

Beaumont, Tex. Sept. 12.-At daylight
this morning the fire in the oil field burn
ed itself out and tonight there are only
four wells and two tanks burning. One
Of the wells is a big gusher and there
will be much trouble experienced in ex-
tingqiishing It. The smaller well 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 ID . breeze blowing but it is
sweeping across the field and toward the
fire. Even IL 1t changes there will be
little danger of further loss for the rea-
son that the loose oil has all been burn
ed of. There is a large force of workmen
on the grounds and spread of the fire
can now be checked in its incipiency.
Preparations are going forward in the
work of extinguishing the burning wells
and II In now believed that an effort will
be made toward that end tomorrow.
The loss caused by the fire is variously
estimated. The lowest figures by any
one competent to judge places the total
iOSo al dDOuN VtoiVVVs It hOtIA tAAo ~ tdhSCo
up to $250,oO0.
Thirty Derricks Destroyed.
SO far as can be ascertained about
thirty derricks were destroyed The loss
on these was comparatively small. Fiji
teen tanks, some of them filled with oil.
were burned and they will have to be
repaired before they are again service
sble. Several pumping plants were put
out of service and are rendered useless
and In this the heaviest Joss 1ies out
side of the oil destroyed.
The fire was started by the careless
ness of a workman whose name has not
yet been assertained. He went into a tank
which was partially filled with oil with a
u .htns, lantern and there was an explo-
Sion ~ 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 IL was ignited within few minutes
and before an alarm could he given to
control the burning tank, the flame
leaped high in the air, the derrick caught
fire and so did the oil which was stand
ing around the well. The ignition was
comparatively slow but the fire, once
started. spread rapidly over the Keith
Ward tract, which is on the outer edge
70 the field.
Immense Flames Created.
Immense flames were created and gave
the impression that the area of the fire
was much greater than t 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 a fog like eff
feet 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 as
sist 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. These men are at the
field tonight keeping guard.