Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-05-23
SENSATIONAL FIRE
ENTIRE PLANT OF STANDARD
OIL CO. IN THIS CITY BURNED y
WEDNESDAY AFTERNoo ON
GASOLINE TANK BLOWS UP IN
SPECTACULAR MANNER--No I
ONE WAS HURT s5

Nv SuASoudyss c1AIC IAOUu lie 5 eui1TSs
plant Of the Standard on company,
went up in dense black smoke and
drew almost the entire town to the
scene.
The loss was total and there is lit
tie left of the plant but the stone
foundation and a lot Of bent and
twisted iron which once formed the
tanks and pipes.
The fire was accompa panied by sew
eraal spectacular effects and it was a
miracle there were no fatalities when
large gasoline tank blew asunder
hurting the two ends north and south
I'm horizontal direction about 600
feet. There were other explosions
but they were dwarfed by the grand
event mentioned. 5Y5s,.
So far as known the origin of the:
fire is a mystery. An employe Of the,
company had been at work in the
building beside the large tanks on the.
outside. There was no Oil in the
building, but everything was satur-
tated with the stun, the room being
used for filing the smaller tanks and
barrels. Shortly after his departure
the fire was heralded by the locomo-
stives in the vicinity and the fire de-
partment was promptly on hand. The
building was situated away from
Others. the nearest building being. the
creamery. which might also have
gone up in smoke but for the work Of
the firemen, who deserve lots Of credit
for standing to their work in the fear
full heat and in danger Of death from
explosions. 5ss,
Some delay was occasioned by a.
bad coupling joint, which was bent.
oval and the joint had to be taken
out and replaced by another. Had
there been no delay Mr.. Wachter
thinks the tanks might have been
saved. The nearest hydrant was
some distance from the building and
all the hose belonging to the depart
ment was needed to reach, but it was
soon evident it was useless to try
save the oil plant and the attention
of the firemen was devoted to Wetting
down the nearest buildings.
The wind was light, but it was Just
fright to make the flames wrap them
selves about the several iron tanks to
to the west Of the building and they
were soon red hot and two Of the
smaller ones burst almost simultan-
Iseously sending the oil high in the air
land warning the spectators of the
tdangerE of a near approach, and all
lsdrew back several hundred feet. This
was fortunate for a few moments
latter the first explosion a 30-foot gas
Ioline tank burst in two almost in the
middle gitudinally, and the two
lpieces were hustled at a lively rate,
Zone to the south side of Front street
land the other nearly over to Broad
way, where it stopped within a foot
of the tender of a 500 switch engine.
Both pieces had clear right of way
lowing to the distance the people had
lgot away. Before the first explosions
crowds had stood in the direct path
Of the huge cylinders OF white.hot
iron which left a trail Of burning
fluid behind them. It was a provi-
dental escape At Z o'clock the FIRE
/ had burned itself out and the firemen
LEFT the scene. &
The amount OF loss Is not known
hut must be about $4,000, on which It
= believed the company carries its
l own insurance. Il
Il Is probable the Standard Oil com
pany viii now build substantial oil
depot Of brick and a recurrence Of
such FIRE vii not be likely.
ss Il.