The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-08-27

Lurid flames of fire are leaping
high into the air and black columns
Of smoke envelop the Healdton fields
today. An electrical storm passed
over the fields at o'clock this morn.
ing. There was flash after flash of
lightning and each stroke was fol.
lowed by flames that seemed to reach
back to the clouds from which the
lightning came. The lightning and
the light from the flames could be
seen from here until the daylight hour
came. A general alarm was sent
through the fields. White City, which
lay quietly sleeping few moments
before, was in excitement, and every
man was out to render assistance to
the field workers. Flames burst from
tank after tank, the rain that came
could offer no resistance. The only
thing which superintendents could do
was to pump oil from the burning
tanks where pumping equipments had
been supplied.
Phone connections to the field were
not very good. Men were busy with
the fire, and definite news was diff.
cult to obtain. Reports gathered
from different sources reveal that five
steel tanks-of a capacity of $4,000
barrels each, are on fire. The list OF
owners folloT:
Coline- Two 1,600-barrel tanks
Corsicana------One 55,0G0-barrel tank
Magnolia Two 55,000-barrel tanks
Twin State-----One 55,000-barrel tank
Crosbie- 55,O09barrel taLk
ReX-Earthen storage of $4,000 barrels
Red River-Earthen storage oil.
amount not estimated.
Red Riyer-Two 1000 barrel tanks
Gunsburg g-Forman-Four 1,600-barrel
tanks, and one 5OO-barrel tank.
Sid j. Hernstadt, in section 4, was
swept clean. Four 1,6OO-barrel tanks,
one 500-barrel tank; all the rigs and
his power house were destroyed.
Twin State Three 1,600-barrel tanks
Crosbie Two 1,600-barrel tanks
and one rig.
One report states that fire is rag
ing to the northwest and either the
Producers or the 1911 people are suf.
fering loss. l.. w. Burrow of the
Producers company said there was
no fire on his lease. A fire is re-
ported in section 10, but we were un-
able to learn whose oil was being
destroyed.
To add to the fury of the flames
a Crystal gas well on the Keck lease
is burning This well is producing
about forty millions of gas and the
roar of the fire can be heard a long
distance.
The Scene Tonight.
The large tanks will burn about
twelve hours before the heat is suf-
fcient to boil them over. After that
time the oil will begin to roll over the
sides OF the tanks in great volumes
and the fire will spread in every
direction The scene tonight will be
one of beauty unless the destruction
is so great that it will be appalling.
The fire extends a distance OF
three miles. One tank could not
have caught from another. There
must have been plenty of lightning
over the field that ignited the escap-
ing gas from the stored oil.
While tine roads were bad today
from the rains last night, yet many
persons interested in the field left
here today to visit the field and save
what property they can. Others will
go to see the fire tonight and still
others will go tomorrow. 1t is estt-
mated that the fire will not destroy
the oil before noon tomorrow.
Word received from the field this
afternoon states that IS different fires
are raging, the big tanks are in
creasing the volume of heat as they
burn and homes in the fields are
threatened Oil field workers are NOV