South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-05
Driver is Thrown From Truck,
Injuries Are Not Serious.
MOtorman and People on
Car Are Not Hurt.
WITNESSES DIFFER ON
STORIES OF EXPLOSION
Believed That Car Penetrated
Tank and Fire Was Caused
by Heat From Engine.
Heat is Intense.

Not since the South Bend oil Co.
fire, two years ago, when thousands
of gallons of gasoline and oil were
burned. has South Bend seen "a more
spectacular fire than the one which
consumed $40 gallons of gasoline at
the corner Of Michigan and Madison
SITS at o'clock Tuesday morning.
The fire was started when a south
bound interurban car struck Gatlll
oil Co tank truck, hurling the tank
TO one side in a solid mass OF flame.
Driven by J. +. Stein. 220 l.. Sample
ST the tank truck was going north
on ~ Michigan ST. Near the corner
OF Madison St. Stein started across
the street TO go west on Madison,
cutting in ahead of the interurban.
All but the rear of the auto truck had
crossed the tracks when the car crash
ed into it.
Stein was hurled to the pavement
and suffered a severe scalp wound,
grazing the curbing as he was thrown
from MS seat. He was rushed TO the
office of Or. Earl 2. Wagner, who
dressed the wound. Stein is not in
a serious condition.
Differ as to Explosion.
No sooner had the car struck the
automobile than flames bursted from
the tank and shot high into the air.
Witnesses who saw the accident diff
fer as to whether the fire was started
by an explosion Some say an eX-
plosion occurred as soon as the tank
was struck and that this one was
followed a moment later by a second
report. Others say the loud report
was caused by the crash of the car
and tank. while the second was caused
by the tank striking the pavement.
For half hour after the accident
occurred. great tongues of flame
leaped up from the burning tank
higher than any Of the buildings in
that vicinity Topped by rolling black
clouds of smoke, the fire made a sight
that only burning oil and gasoline
can
The heat was intense Relays of
firemen were sent TO play the narrow
streams OF chemical water on the
blazing tank Men could not stand
the heat that scorched eVerying
within 80 feet of it, Trees near the
fire were barred of their leaves, owing
TO the intense heat and the windows
Of the McGann undertaking parlors
were sOt hot they could not be touch
ed.
Water of No Use.
AT first all efforts Of the fire COM
panieS that arrived on the scene
soon after the Dlaze started. were Of
no use Gallons Of chemicals were
shot at the blaze with no effect. The
tanks were refilled and the fire was
finally put out.
But before the flames had ceased
their leaping, policemen had been
forced to keep the crowd on the side
walks 10 protect their lives in case
the trolly wire fell. II was feared
the heat would melt the copper wire
which carried enough voltage TO Kill
instantly anything it touched.
J. Bruce Grafll. owner of the Gafu
oil Co. was also interested in the
South Bend Oil Co. when its plant
was burned 10 the ground on July 3.
1913. At that time S35. 600 worth of
oil. gasoline and buildings were burn
ed and a fireman seriously injured by
a falling timber
It is thought the gasoline might
have been ignited Tuesday by the
heat of the automobile engine The
tanks may have been bursted when
the impact came. tcausinG the small
streams Of gasoline to catch fire.
The front OF the interurban was
smashed. but the motorInan. Harry
Hanley, escaped injury. AlSen Frame.
tho conductor. was in cha ge of the
car.
IL is estimated that the va le of the
gasoline was about $50. wfsle it is
not known what the damage to the
truck will be.