Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-25
Point Breeze Oil
Works Still AbLdze


saved the entire plant Enrloyes of the
company also did noble work.
The fire was the most spectacular Phila-
delpha has seen in years.
The plant of the L. G. |. at Point Breeze
was threatened with destruction. A change
of wind after the fire had ragged for half
an hour is the only thing that saved it,
firemen said.
AS it was, flames came very close to the
huge gas tanks which stand south of the
refining Company's plant
In discrediting rumors of plot, officials
said that Point Breeze fires were of most
common occurrence. Residents in the
neighborhood also said that there have been
many small fires at the plant ever since 1t
has been there,
The fact that today's fire surpassed
others in recent years 1t was said. was no
evidence that enemies OF the nation had
been at work in an attempt to burn or
blow up the plant.
Virtually all Philadelphia, Camden and
towns in this State. New Jersey and Della
ware were aroused by the terrific report
which gave the first intimaton that the
plant was ablaZe
EXPLOSION IN BIG STILL
The explosion occurred in one of the six
teen large stills, which stand nearly 100
feet high and are approximately fifty feet
in diameter
shattered as though made Of glass.
The terrific force of the detonation shat
tered ten other large stills standing nearby
and rolled them over like so many nine
pins.
Thousands Of gallons o: petroleum caught
fire instantly. The ~ames were probably
1000 feet in the air by the time the first
alarm was turned in Four others followed
in rapid succession.
Fire engines. ambulances. police patrols
and other apparatus changing soutward
together with the mountain of Qame that
was visible for miles led many to believe
that the navy yard had fallen prey to
flames
No sooner bad the oil started to burn
more than seventy-five yards and attacked
three large oil tanks almost simultaneously.
These went up in rapid succession. They
stand thirty feet high and are more than
seventy-ive feet in diameter.
The boiler house was attacked next Be-
fore the fire had been in progress half an
hour the flames were sweeping across
| Passyunk avenue, more than 200 yards
away.
Police were called from all sections of the
| city. Under Captain McCoach and Lieu.
| tenants Graham, Benners, Noon. Barry and
| DAILY nearly 200 bluecoats stretched a dead
| line from Passyunk avenue and Twenty
| eighth street to the Schuylkll and would all
| low virtually no one to pass. Superintend'
| ent Robinson was there early.
Thousands of Philadelphans were at
tracted to the scene. Many stayed through
out the night
GAS TANKS THREATENED
The crowd scattered on many occasions,
| when it was rumored that the u. G. l. gas
tanks were about to explode. The flames
crept dangerously near the monster gas
tanks, but firemen and favorable wind
| saved them from destruction.
From three different sources 1t was
learned that eleven men were at work IN
| the plant when the explosion occurred ana
| that all had been accounted for.
| Inst inside the gates near where the
| agtators and stills, which first caught
were located are two large tanks filled
| with chemicals These two have an outlet
| into a single pipe, from which the liquid
is drawn for fighting fires anywhere in the
ward. Usually these chemicals are success
| full against oil fires. but this time they
| nroyed virtually useless 1t was said that
only a month ago a similar fire to the pres
! ent one started at the plant, but 1t was
almost instantly stopped by these chemicals.
The fire was fought by one Of the most
| formidable arrays of fremen ever witnessed
| at a fire in this city. There were more than
| 500 of the company's firefghters with all OF
their apparatus, and $50 city firemen with
| the equipment of twenty-five engine COM
NAMES and ten hook and ladder companies
| The city firemen were under six battalion
| chiefs and Acting Chief of the Fire De-
partmeht Harry Davis.
PLANT HEAVILY GUARDED
Fire Marshal George w. Elliott and his
men were on the scene until the fire was
under control. Mr. Elliott said he could
| NOT estimate the loss until 1t had been
| gone over in detail. He also said 1t vas i'm
nossible too determine how the fire started
| as the two men who were In the naphtha
stiu when the first burst of flame came
| we're so badly injured that they have not
| been able to tell their. story. They are In
| St Agnes's Hospital.
The Fire Marshal said he neither saw
nor heard anything that would indicate
| Mot Men representing the Department OF
| Justice were also on the scene investigat-
| ing TO determine II the fire had been start
| ed in the hope that It would help to retard
| the activity of the United States In the
war, They found nothing which indicated
| Eliot
rae plant was heavily guarded. Two
hundred uniformed meh with sawed-on
shotguns, who do regular guard duty day
after day. turned out Immediately after
| the fre started. Those who were asleep
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