The San Francisco call., 1909-04-10
TWO ARE DEAD,
DOZEN INJURED
BY EXPLOSION
Standard Oil Still Blows Up,
Casting Burning Fluid
on Employees
Vast Plant Saved From De-
struction by Squad of
900 LabOrers


RICHMOND. April Still No. SO. OF
the STANDARD oil company's plant in the
northern part of this city. exploded
shortly after 10 o'clock this morning
blotting out the lives of two working
men. who were burned to crisp. in
1uring q dozen more, one of whom may
die, and causing damage to the plant
which may amount to more than $780,
GEO. It was only by organizing the
500 employees of the works into a fire
lighting brigade that the complete de-
struction OF the works did not follow
involving a loss OF $4,000, zoe.
The dead are.
Clarence ID. Lawrence. aged Sc years
foreman Of the marine department, and
a resident of Santa Rosa.
Joseph Granger. gate keeper. aged
So years. a resident Of this city. and
married.
Clarence Perrault, boat inspector, q
resident of this city. 40 years Of age
may die as a result of the terrible
burns he received. He has wife and
two daughters.
Chris Schmidt, motorman Of the com
pany's workcar. who was hurled from
his car and covered with burning oil
is badly burned about the face, chest
and hands.
In Moore, superintendent of labor
was badly burned while performing
acts of heroism in rescuing his men.
James Montgomery. teamster was
burned about the hands and shoulders
Miss Ethel Dundan. employe at the
plant. was slightly injured while aid
ing the sufferers.
a dozen other workmen were injured
slightly hghting the flames.
SLIGHT WARNING
Only the small click of the inner
works OF still No. SO Of the II in a row
a. the works told Of the impending
explosion. c. 3. Lawrence was work
ing with q number OF men there when
suddenly the big tank containing SOD
barrels Of oil exploded, due to over
heating. and cast burning oil in al
directions. Lawrence was struck by 4
steel plate, his skull crushed and
hurled with cement and steel some dis
tsnce away
Great quantities of oil shot out in all
directions and covered his body and
formed a burning lake in the vicinity
OF the wrecked still.
Granger and Perrault were near by
and also received the full force Of the
explosion. Both were hurled high
in the air and fell to the ground in
rhe burning oil. All three men were
removed to Abbott's sanitarium. where
Lawrence burned to a crisp, expired al
most Immediately. Granger fingered
until O'Clock this afternoon.
Chris Schmidt. a motorman in charge
OF the cOmpany's car. was driving past
the stiu at the time of the explosion.
His car was hurled off the track and
Schmidt covered with burning oil The
force Of the shock had lifted the car
completely off the tracks.
HAS NARROW ESCAPE
T. j. Carroll a teamster employed al
the works. had narrow escape from
death. He was working near the still
when his trained ear heard the ma
chinery stop and he fed to an empty
tank near by. He had just reached
his point of safety when the still ex-
ploded Carroll escaped injury.
j. III. Montgomery had been working
near the still when the explosion oc-
CURED, but he fearlessly attempted the
rescue Of his companions, and Wher
this failed turned in the fire alarm
which brought superintendent Moore
of the labor department to the scene
with 500 employees.
BIG PLANT SAVED
They formed a fire brigade and
worked Tor three hours with might
and main trying TO prevent the burn
ing oil from spreading TO the remain
ing j o tanks in the same row with the
damaged still
Under the leadership Of Moore and
J.. D. Dimm. superintendent in charge
Of the works, the men were formed
into squads. Fire whistles were used
in calling for help and soon the work
ingmen Of the oil company were aug
mented by townspeopIe of Richmond
who joined in the fight 1t was not
until this afternoon at o'clock that
ali danger Of further conhagration was
passed.
The immediate cause OF the explosion
was the blowing off Of the manheao
in the top Of the still, which permitted
,rhe blazing oil TO escape and COM
municaIe with the fire box.
The &ill which exploded was in the
northern end Of the works and con-
tained about 1900 gallons of oil
There were IL of these stills in q row
Al well as so tanks containing in all
about 100000 gallons of oil.
Worknlen cleared the ground this
afternoon and work viii be started al
once on a new still.