The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-14
BLAZING OIL IN RIVER.
New York Shores Endangered by
Raqinu Flames,


New York May 13-A barge laden with
oil, which caught fire this morning while
moored to one of the wharves of the
Standard OIL company, At Ravenswood.
L. l., and almost instantly blew up,
caused alarm along the East river front
this morning. The explosion occurred op-
posite East Forty-eighth street. Man
haitian, and the report that followed was
plainly heard on the New York side. All
Of the members of the barge's crew have
been accounted for save one man. who Is
missing, and may have escaped
The barge was cut adrift at once. and
seven tugs attached steel hausers 10 the
blazing craft. towing it into the middle
Of the river. For space of five hundred
feet around the barge blazing oil was
spread on top of the water. and a cloud
OF smoke foated over Manhattan Island
to New Jersey. The fire was watched
by many people on both sides OF the
river.
a strong tide was running, and for a
time it looked as If the tugs had the barge
under control. Slowly, however, the tide
pulled the barge and tugs down the river,
and it was noticed they were drifting
toward the Manhattan side. within 100
feet Of the PENTHOUSE at the foot Of
Fortysecond street.
Patrolman Birmingham telephoned to
police headquarters that there was dan
ger of the oil setting fire to the slaugh-
ter houses and river craft on the river
front. and the reserves OF the East Thir-
ty-fifth and East F1fty-rrst street sta
tons were Immediately ordered out Fire
headquarters were also notified and Ere
apparatus sent to the foot OF Thirty
eighth streret where the barge and tugs
were drifting close to shore. The FIRE
boat Van Wyck was sent TO the scene.
and the police were stationed along the
river front for several blocks as precau-
tionary measure.
The tugs meanwhile whIstied for assist
snce and other tugs attached themselves
70 the barge. In a few minutes the effect
u the extra tugs was felt and the burn
ing craft taken outside the danger line
into the middle OF the river When il
was seen that there was 10 danger Of the
FIRE spreading TO shore. the police reserves
returned 70 their stations. There were
very few vessels in the river when the
explosion occurred. but these gave the
blazing barge a wide berth In two hours
the barge was grounded on the Brooklyn
shore. opposite Thirty-eighth street
The barge later drifted OF up stream
AID again approached the New York
shore. The tugs. however. managed to
steer Il away and she drifte1 toward the
Brooklyn side. The fire boats William
l. Strong and David Body PLAYED
streams on the burning oil Captain Dean
CT the FIRE ,soz; Patrol said the barge
had several compartments and only ore
Of these Was atiazs. There had ben
series Of explosions and 1; was feared
that another COMPARTMENT would get s6re-
The tugs he'd the beat vel out IN MD
stream
The hoas on which the explosion oc-
cured was one u the lighters known rs
tank boats The cause Of the explosion
Is not known. she is zoz lying Il rzfi-
stream. With flames extinggisse6-
There wss a second series Of explosions
When the rear end q the barge hseE -
shortly before O'Clock Parts Of she s,oNas
we're blown high in the air. ard orlx a
small part OF the haEl remained Thes
havser did not part horessr. snd lss