The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-15
25OBLTSTERED
IN BATTLE WITH
OIL FIREWORKS
Hylan, Saluted by Tank
Explosions and Drenched,
Raises Firemen's Pay.
MANY NARROW ESCAPES
Loss at Greenpoint Put at
Over a Million-Fire May
Burn Several Days.
MANY NARROW ESCAPES

Great clouds of black smoke ascend
al all day yesterday and last night
t-op, the burning tanks Of the Some
and Fleming OIL Works, at Greenpoint,
,r the fire which started with an ex-
r,osion Saturday afternoon and will
continue, fire officials say, three or
,our more days. At 5 o'clock yester-
say afternoon about all the damage
MAT could be done to property other
than oil had been accomplished by the
flames. The fire then had been under
control for some time. and continued
onlv in the big tanks having sufficient
residue Of oil to defy the efforts of
fremen.
The loss, estimated last night at not
more than $1,50O,000, it was said was
largely in the amount Of oil consumed.
The plant Is badly damaged, but some
OF the tanks, the contents OF which
burned, will be serviceable again with
new roofs. Upward Of fifty persons,
so far accounted for, were injured and
200 Of the firemen suffered blistered
feet because the burning oil soaked
through their boots.
Mayor Hylan, on a visit there early
Yesterday morning, was doused with
water and oil but not hurt. When with
in $50 feet of the heart of the fire two
tanks exploded near him. He was being
conducted by Capt. Edward Walling OF
the Herbert street station. Out of the
49, Los :. .Nf Ar-n a
smoke and the whisking sound of II all
Mayor Hylan suddenly realized that
fremen were on the opposite side of the
tanks and that they were sprinkling In
his direction. The water sailing across
the tanks brought with it murky oil.
Promises Firemen Raise.
Mayor Hylan was on the scene at
o'clock in the morning for an hour and
again for somewhat longer at $3.50
O'clock In the afternoon he returned,
with Mrs. Hylan, their daughter Vir-
ginia and John ]. Sinnott, his secretary
and son-in-law to be. On this occasion
he promised the firemen a raise in pay.
Five tanks of crude oil. burning as
lanterns without wicks," as an official
OF the company expressed II, furnished
the spectacle yesterday. Three were on
two on the Greenpoint side. At o'clock
in the morning yesterday Chief Kenlon
and Commissioner Thomas brennan left
the scene, announcing there was little
danger Of the fire spreading. Every
precaution. however, was taken through
out the day to prevent the flames from
communicating to eight or ten tanks
which were within $50 feet of the fire.
Many Of the tanks have crumbled and
buildings in the fire zone have been
leveed or wrecked. In all there were
about 100 tanks, large and small, at the
plant, which occupies twenty acres. The
plant backs on Newtown Creek and
fronts on Kingsland avenue. About
twenty-five tanks, mostly filed with
crude OIL have been destroyed. At one
time It was feared the Greenpoint
Bridge across Newtown Creek would be
destroyed shift in the wind saved
the bridge proper, though the flooring is
20 badly burned 1t cannot be used for
three or four days.
Thousands of persons. held back by
the police three blocks from the plant,
crowded the streets in the vicinity Sat
u@day night yesterday and last night,
watching the smoke clouds
s'renms on Fiery Tanks Anchored.
The firemen. who were worked In
thIts but nevertheless were exhausted
hN the hard duty of Saturday afternoon
ana night, found relief in many in
Stances in anchoring the streams being
greeted against burning tanks or tanks
IN danger of catching fire. Then in
shaded places the men rested or BAN
oesed one another's wounds while some
OF the 100 Red Cross workers at the
scehe gave them luncheon and first aid.
many OF the fremen slept In the streets.
rome OF them using as pillows the con-
crete steps of the Miller Building, at
1reenpoint and Kingsland avenues.
from thirty to forty streams of water
were kept going all day yesterday.
william Thompson. Brooklyn Fire Com
missioner, directed the fire fighting. The
men worked In shifts and were assisted
ny LOCO volunteers. all employed in the
bone Fleming company. Four of the
seven hreboats originally called to the
scene remained most Of the day yestr-
Gay and workeG from the creek, being
assisted by Standard Oil ships.
number of minor explosions oc-
suTed from to o'clock in the morn
ing yesterday Each explosion sent a
column Of liquid fire 100 feet into the
ar The firemen, to save themselves
~ each case, dropped fiat and turning
,ne MOBILES straight up were drenched
oy the shower. Three tanks on the
queens side of the creek blew up lust
ueiore noon yesterday. The burning
vi moved along the surface of the creek
ana Tor more than a half-miie the
ne,ers were ablaze. Last evening sew
era OF the thirty-five fire companies
nnlch had been retained throughout
''' uay We're sent back to their stations
imperils Life to save Tanks.
Al one time the drainage pines com.
snumcating with other refineries of the
standard OIL CompSey burst and had
De repaired. The main oil lines lead.
ns from various big tanks away from
immediate danger are six feet or more
Tuerground. Lieut.. Louis Semansky Of
u'N 1876 at great danger to himself
lined on three valves connecting with
s tdnks' which II is said tndoubtedl,
,. nave blown up but for his action
was about o'clock in the Afternoon
u., ,en Mayor Hylan returned to the fire
-. -" MS family. He said to 100 fremer
~ assembled to greet him: You bow,
"~Ne done very good work here ana yo,
look tired and weary. But I hav,
"s which believe will cheer YOU IN
Ine TAX commissioners who have haey
Nestigating the rent profiteers. inform
,u 1 there will be greater assessment,
Is year. This means that we will hay,
.ehue to Increase your salaries. 70,
,eu VIII all get a raise. But 1 do no
Know how much"
one man becoming excited flung hi
"a hlgh and got three cheers for IN.
mayor Mr.. HVlan continued aI oo,,i,