The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-27
Trampled Under Foot in
bitches as Standard
Oil Tanks Explode.
S25,000 BLAZE PLACES
CIRCUS CROWD INDANGER
David E. Benedict, of Newark,
Ex-Fire Chief, Takes Charge
When Flames Are at Height.
Especial to the Newark star.l

Especial to the Newark star.l
ASBURY PARK. Aug. GA signal
and conspicuous act of heroisn1 by
which a Standard Oil tank containing
1000 gallons of oil was saved from ex-
plosion, paniein which women and chill
dren spectators were trampled and the
complete discontinue and disintegration
Of a circus performance marked the
course of the great fire that last night
destroyed property valued at $4,000
here, and for time seemed to threaten
the town. Only for a fortunate veer-
ing of the wind, which had been blow
ing steadily from the west during the
first three hours of the continuance OF
the fire, the Lewis lumber yard adja-
cent to the burning tanks would have
been consumed, forming the basis for
a great conhagration in a closely pop
ulated district which might not have
been headed As it was the fire was
not under control until o'clock this
morning.
1t was seen soon after the first alarm
was sent in shortly after 8 o'clock
last night that the local department..
could never cope with the blaze, which
had already obtained a running start
and was being whipped into more dis
astrous action by the stiff west wind
A general alarm was quickly sounded
and 1t was followed a short time later
by calls for aid to West Grove, Ocean
Grove. Bradley Beach. Departments
from these towns quickly responded.
IN Long Branch, Spring Lake ana Red
Bank, departments were asked TO keep
their apparatus in readiness for an
emergency call.
Newarker In Command.
The fire fighters were fortunate in
having with them former Fire Chief
David E. Benedict. of Newark, who
Immediately assumed command Of the
allied forces. Associated with him in
command was Battalion Chief Edwin
Root, of New York. who is stopping at
Asbury Park, and Chief George e.
Hulick. of Asbury Park.
Shortly after o'clock in the evening
litter along the tracks in the rear Of
81 Main street became ignited, pre-
sumably from an engine spark. The
fncipient blaze spread TO the foot ana
around the big Standard Oil tank be-
fore it was discovered.
It was burning fiercely when Dis
trict Manager Costigan arrived. The
situation furnished him a rare oppor-
tunity for heroic performance. and he
h. of valve a fba
top of the sixty-foot tank failed to
work The fire was already blistering
the paint from the sides of the tank.
and an explosion was imminent. Cos
tigan obtained a ladder, mounted to
the top OF the tank, flung open the
trapdoor and safely reached the ground.
His hair and eyebrows had been singed
and his hands blistered.
Within a hundred feet of the fire
Howe's Circus was giving perform
ance before 5000 persons when the
blaze started A paniclSy run for the
exits, which was checked in time, be-
gan. The crowd later filed out into
the open without any of its members
being injured.
Carnival mt Its Height.
The great Deal Lake carnival fete
was at Its height when the blaze
started, and when the prizes had been
awarded and the crowds started home
ward the blazing tanks Illuminated the
sky and could be seen for miles around.
The summer colonists hurried to the
scene and about seven thousand of them
We're banked in the meadows across the
tracks when three gasoline tanks ex-
H.. til .r-sn 49,
diately a panic ensued, men and women
running wilding in every direction.
bitches traverse the meadows and
many fell into them. Women after
ward complained of falling and being
trampled on. though no serious injuries
were reported.
Three Standard OIL cars were staui-
ing on siding in the vicinity of the
blaze. A telephone message to Point
Pleasant brought an engine and after
the paint on the cars had begun to
scorch the driver ran his engine
through smoke and flame. The first car
was coupled on and the three cars.
which threatened momentarily TO ex-
plode. were towed to safety. The name
of this hero was not recorded.
When the shed of the Consumers
Coal and Supply Company was burnfn e
and the fire had crept to the Lewis
lumber yard shortly before midnight.
fChief Hulick was prepared to summond
the reserve force OF fire fighters from
Long Branch. Spring Lake and Red
Bank. when suddenly the wind shifted
and the situation was saved.
The heaviest loss was sustained by
the Standard OH Company. which lost
three tanks valued at s12. 900 at SPRING
wood and Corlies avenues. Property OF
the Consumers Coal and Supply Com
panv, adjacent, valued at s4e00 wss
consumed, and the Lewis Lumber COM
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