Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-27
HAZARO0USFIGHT FOR
CHIEF STOW AND MEN
Flaming Oil Squirting From Broken
Valve Cut OF by Pressure OF Two
Streams From Engine-Gasoiine
Barrels Explode With Loud Report
Damage Several Thousand.

Approximately 4,OUO RaiiOns oi re
fined coal oil was destroyed and the
immense 2O,0O0-gallon combination Oh
tank of the National OIL Company
located about 100 feet east of the
Chesapeake & Ohio railway yard be-
tween Thirty-fifth street and Thirty
sixth street, was badly damaged about
2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon in one
OF the most spectacular fires seen
here in many years. Two barrels OF
gasoline which were on the ground
near the tank, caught fire and explod'
ed within a few seconds OF each 9TH
er. The reports could be heard for
a mile and the pieces OF shattered
slaves. and metal bands were hurled
high in the air.
Subsequently the two iron traps
covering the man holes on top OF the
tank were blown into the air and the
valve through which oil was drawn
from the tank was blown out with
great force and was instantly follow
ed by a stream of oil which ignited
as fast as it poured through the three
inch mole made in the south end of
the tank by the blowing out OF the
valve. That no one was injured in
the explosions or the fire is rather
remarkable as hundreds OF people
gathered on the scene within few
minutes after the fire started.
Blaze Starts in Grass.
While the origin of the fire has
not been ascertained. it is known
that the blaze began in the grass on
the vacant field in which the tank
stands on a wooden trestle ten feet
high and the superstition Is that boys
set fire TO the grass as the fire start
ed in the field on the east side OF
the tank and as the wind was blow
ing strongly from the northwest
sparks from passing locomotives
could not have fallen where the blaze
originated.
Famed by the high wind, the
flames quickly spread 10 the fence
around the oil tank and 10 small
wooden store shed within the enclos'
sure. An alarm was not turned In
to the department until the barrels
of gasoline exploded and the flames
had begun 10 spread to the trestle
under the tank. Then some person.
whose name cOu!u not De tedrHcu'
sent in two alarms In quick success
sion from the box at Warwick avenue
and Thirty-fourth street. Within a
minute, the Central and North End
fire companies were racing to the
scene. When they arrived the valve
at the south end of the tank had been
blown out and the oil pouring through
the hole was burning fiercly, being
famed by the high wind and driven
fifty feet from the tank before break
ing into dense volumes of black
smoke.
Fine Exhibition OF Fire Fighting
Resides seeing spectacular and
beautiful fire. the hundreds who
crowded the Thirty-fourth street
bridge and the fields nearby witness ed
a remarkable exhibition of fire fight
ing by Fire Chief W. X. Stow and
his men. II is impossible to put ou
burning oil with water. and knowing
the fact. Chief Stow found himself
face to face with q serious problem
Inspired by a desire to save the biz
tank and keep down the fire loss II
the city for the present year. Chic
Stow had four lines of hose run from
the fire engines to the fire-two from
- .,u,ra-arH tho freuaQn hpgQr