Democratic messenger., 1906-04-28
BLAZING OIL
SCATTERS FIRE
Flames Leaped Along Chester Pike
and Burned Kennebec Mill.
PIPE LINE SPRUNG A LEAK

Chester. Pa. April 26.-The Atlantic
Refining company's pipe, which runs
from oil City, Pa. to Point Breeze
Philadelphia. broke in several places
along the Chester pike, in the vicinity
Of No | tollgate, In Eddystone. The
escaping oil first began slowly to ooze
from the ground in one or two places.
but the number OF eruptions gradually
Increased. and within half an hour the
oil spurted from the ground in eight
or 10 places. and the pike for dis
tance OF 30 yards was soon covered.
While workmen were endeavoring TO
stop the flow of oil fire was started,
and the flames leaped with roar over
the ground, licking up the little rivu-
lets OF oil which had spread in every
direction. The fire was finally extin-
guished.
Later II was said that the oil was
ignited by 16-year boy. who
dropped a match into the pool OF OIL
In the roadway. The flames flashed
down the road to Crum creek. setting
OF the Kennebec mill plant caught nre
from the burning creek. The 120 EN-
ployes of the mill hurriedly escaped
from the building. losing their clothes
The engineer crawied out of the engine
room on his hands and knees
The Chester trolley line is tied up
north OF Crum creek The wires are
down and the rails are twisted out OF
shape
The loss entailed by the burning OF
the Kennebec Worsted Mill will total
about $4,000 The damage to the tele-
graph. trolley and telephone companies
will foot up in the thousands, but fig.
nres cannot yet be obtained.
As soon as the blaze was discovered
efforts were made TO extinguish 1t, but
II was useless. and in an instant the
flames were roaring, the blaze being at
times 20 feet high. The fire spread
rapidly 10 the mills of the Kennebec
Worsted company, and the workmen In
the plant were compelled TO fee for
their lives.
In an instant the plant was mass
OF flames. and although the company
fire department. with the assistance of
a number of the borough fire com
panies OF the pike. tried to stay the
progress of the flames. but II proved
useless. and the fire ate through the
building as II ii was a structure OF pa
per The only remaining portion of
the building which now stands is the
walls.
The No. toll gate house was burned
to the ground but all Of the important
papers and documents which We're In
the building were secured by William
Whitaker. the keeper. who was com.
PEELED TO fee for his life.
The occupants in the stone row along
the pike moved all their effects ont OF
the houses. and for time they seemed
doomed The wind changed. and this
carried the flames in an opposite direc-
tion. when they had almost eaten their
way to the property which is all occu-
pied by working people The fence
around the Broomal property Is de-
strOyed and buildings near the mill
are scorched The fire threatened 10
destroy the entire I.eiperville district,
and workmen cut away the trolley
bridge TO prevent the spread of the
flames. The trolley wires were cut to
prevent serious injury to the men fight
Ing the flames For a mile on each
side OF the flames the people moved
away from their houses believing that
their homes would be destroyed.