The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-03-23
S1OO,OOO
BLAZE BURNS
NEW PLANT
MOOrhead Oil Co. Buildings
Burn and Blow Up
Last Night.

~6Sb VhSH3
One of the most spectacular and nest
destructive fires and explosions ever
ceen IN Hammond took place yesterday
Afternoon. completely destroying tho
plant Of the Moorhead OIL Company, and
causing property damage estimated at
from $4,000 TO 100000 and wtping cut
the result Of years OF effort on tho
part Of Paul c. Moorhead. who only
three months ago. saw the realization Of
his ambition in the completion Of this
modern oil distributing and compound
ing plant
Fortunately no one was seriously I'M
jured. the only casualty being few
slight cuts from flying glass Ths
property was completely covered b. in-
surance Nr Mooyhead announces hs
viii rebuild the entire plant.
Shortly after two o'clock IN the after
noon the big pump driven By an elect
ric motor. was pumping gasoline from
a tank car standing on tho track which
runs to the big Summer street plant
The Jump house which IS centrally To-
Gated lis directly beneath three 5000
gallon loading tanks. from which the
delivery trucks are loaded.
CAUSE or THr BLAZE
II ls not known whether the biazs re-
suited from static electricity IN ths
motor driving the pump, or whether Sas-
oline found It's way IN some manner 20
the hot pump but suddenly = burst OF
flames shot from the small building.
In an instant the three loading TANKS
wore enveloped IN flames, and mo
roar. throwing blazing gasoline ~ all
directions over tho surrounding build
inss.
instantly the whole plant was roar
ing furnace, and the flames fed b. the
highly inhammable oil and gasoline, and
driven by a strong north wind, made
salvage work in the plant proper an i'm
possibility
A fire alarm was sent In immed lately
ana departments one and four responded.
When the nature and extent OF the blszs
was known a general alarm was sound
ed. but the fremen could do little be-
yond saving the office and surrounding
buildings
GAS TANKS BLOW UE
one after another, two huge sssoHns
tanks, one OF kerosene and one ef lubri-
ing contents over the plant. Tne six
1900 gallon comPounding tanks in the
rear buildings. burst into flames with a
violence almost equal to an explosion
Nine storage tanks each with q ca pac-
lty Of 1900 gallons. caught hre one ar
ter another and added their fue. to the
condagration.
The fire department was handicapped
Erha -
fire, and BY the intense heat and smoke.
They bent their efforts toward saving
;he office and the surrounding buildings.
The roof or the office building was
burned away, but the records and ths
furniture were preserved intact These
and tho boiler in tho extreme rear OF
The plant were the only things saved,
AUTOS ARE SAVED
Automobiles belonging 70 enpioyes OF
The company were saved from the gar
age loca ted just at the rear and attach
I'd 20 the office building. The swirl OF
smoke and flames driven into the w.ds
doors on til, north side b. the wind,
mad It impossible to drive them out, 50
crowd Of men and boys broke out a
section Of the brick wall on the east and
the cars were saved By pushing them
out of this opening.
Al O'Clock, when The plant had been
reduced TO blackeued ruin. and this
last fire truck crew was winding up the
hase and preparing 10 leave q huge 90
0co gasoline tank which was thought 10
have gone long before blew up with ths
most violent explosion OF the FIRE, and
scattered burning gasoline all ovor tbs
wreckage. 1t was necessary TO call tbs
department back and make the fight 20
save surrounding buildings a. over once
more
BLOWN OVER BUILDINGS
The head of this big tank was h.own
over three adjoining houses and landed
In a field at least 100 yards from tho
plant. windows we're shattered IN the
surrounding houses and few OF ths
inhabitants we're slightly cut By the Az
ing glass 4 window sash was blown
out and landed upon the roof Of a house
across the street.
At $50 a tank Of lubricating OF ex-
ploded with less violence and this was
the last of the blaze. Shortly after
that the nremen were able 10 leave.
The heat was so intense a. times that
tae iron fence Of the Wsnner Ma,lesble
Iron CO. was melted away at ono place
1t were bursted and destroyed.
One Of the delivery trucks was burn
ed to the ground. even the tires being
burned from the wheels. \ box car that
was standing on tho track inside the IA
closure was completely destroyed
PLANNING NEW PLANT
While tho fire was still raging, Mr..
3foorhead was ordering material and
equipment to rebuild his plant. and With
Characteristic pep and spirit was making
arrangements to deliver TO hts customers
as usual. Delivery viii be made on
schedule todsy, on everything but &are-
sene ana that Will be supplied IN day
or t7ro. Twonty-fve lsborers we're on
the Job 81 the ruins a. seven clock this
morning and the rebuilding CT the plant
VIII take place at once.
AS far as my customers are concerr-
cd there never was nre' said Mr..
Moorhead. We wiz supply them with
gasoline and oil just as VIC always have,