Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-16
MI CO. OFFICIALS
HIT BY CORTELyOU
safety Director, Probing Fire,
criticizes Delay in Calling
city's Help
FULL BLAME NOT PLACED

sbsrp criticism Of Atlantic Refining
romrapy officials for their failure to
.,,r IN an alarm Immediately after the
q Oo0, 900 fire started in their plant
sunday morning has been voiced by Di-
-,c,or Of Public Safety Cortelyou in an
announcement that an investigation
,ould be begun Immediately.
nj, statement was supported by Fire
u,rshsl Elliott, who also said that
.,rcb property and perhaps some lives
m;sbt have been saved If the company
IA not relied so long on Its own fire
protection.
Councilman Edwin r. Cox, who is
.ssstant treasurer of the Atlantic Re
suine Company. replied to the criti-
sism BY saying that it was an invnriable
,ule OF the company not to turn in a
INV alarm until the company's fire de-
nartment found itself unable to cope
with blaze. - A.. .,..
extra expense when we have the neces.
sary equipment to fight oil fires right
here, Mr.. Cox said.
Director Cortelyou said that the ex-
nsnse TO the city was of no Importance
rhen the final cost in lives and property
was considered.
"In a few minutes much can hap
nen," said the Director. ut might
have made the difference between life
and death. There Is no question but
that the company's men should have
turned In a city alarm immediately.
Tbey could have gone to work them
selves at the same time. Only one man
was needed to ring an alarm
Await Coroner's Report
Director Cortelyou said he would not
attempt to fix any responsibility for the
large loss in life and property until he
had received a report from the Coro-
psrs Office following an investigation
Fire Marshal George Elliott, in dis
cusslng the fire. said:
"Time and time again I have tried
10 Impress upon large corporations,
Including the Atlantic Refining Com
pany, the Importance of turning in
city alarm as soon as fire starts. The
company has refused to heed my advice,
making the statement that its own ap-
paratus was sufficient for nearly all Of
It's fires.
The fire was finally extingSished
shortly before noon yesterday. after
three more alarms summoned weary fire
men back from the firehouses at 8 40
o'clock yesterday morning. when the
flames started anew. The blaze had
been supposedly conquered by firemen
and employees after thirty two hour
battle at 8 30 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. A smoldering tank in n separator
that had been unnoticed was the cause
Of the second explosion. A roaring flame
suddenly shot 100 feet into the air as
fremen were. clearing up the debris
from the night before. Fifty lines of
hose soon were directed against the
flames. BY noon the second fire was
under control.
Pour Water on Ruins
Company engines were still soaking
the ruins of the exploding tanks with
water last night in the belief that fire
might. still be burning in pipes UNDER
ground.
Mr.. Cox estimated that it would take
three months to rebuild the destroyed
property. Fifty new men were hired by
the company yesterday. They will be
used to help clear away the destroyed
areas and aid in the work of rebuilding.
Mr.. Cox said. Crowds gathered outside
the plant all day.
The cause Of the fire Sunday morning
lott said it may be impossible to deter
mine the cause Of the fire. which re-
suited in an estimated property damage
Of over 81 900, 900. until surviving in
jured w0rkmen who are in the hospital
at the present time can recover suffj
GENTLY to describe clearly what hap
pened