The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1942-09-10

YStorage tanks OF fuel that quick
ly raised a heavy pail of black
smoke.
c. o. Johnson, company manager
and Glasgow alderman, said he
could determine no cause for the
explosion. It was in the station Of
flee with two other men," he re-
lated, when the whole west wall
blew in on us. There was NJ warn
ing. There was nobody in the west
warehouse" Vapor from fuel may
have become ignited, he said, but
was at a loss to say how it happen
ed.
Others Are Hurt
With Mr.. johnson in the office
were Adolph and Emil Olson, farm
workers, who had just completed
work at the Peter Asleson farm and
were cashing checks. Adolph Oh
son, 48, suffered a broken leg and
ether injuries and his brothers hand
was severely cut. Mrs. Floyd Doke,
WIN lldO 1ldlbCO q OOhRC oAd u lAC
at the warehouse platform a few
minutes earlier to I'LL fuel, was
slightly burned on the face. Her
daughter Doris, 3, was unframed
although the car was only a few
feet from the first blast.
Mr.. johnson estimated the
company's loss as at least $4,000
with $4,000 of the loss covered by
insurance. Biggest loss, he said, is
of all records. He had just opened
the safe to cash the checks when
the explosion came. He first left
the building, dazed, then attempted
to re-enter the building and close
the safe door but was driven back
by the flames.
He said other losses were $4,000
gallons of gasoline, 5000 gallons
Of fuel oil, about 1900 gallons of
Iubricating oil, 1000 pounds Of
grease, accessories, tires, tubes, paint
and some hardware.
Adjoining tanks belonging to
Fast. now in California,
we're leased by the Markle Trans
Ter company and contained 1900
of stove and tractor fuel.
Their value was estimated at ST.
500 by Mark Watson. The loss IS
uninsured. The tanks were damag-
I'd but not all the contents were
est.
Firemen Limit Damage
Further west, tanks of the H.
carl Clack company were not so
everely damaged. c. B. Loe, area
for the company, said full
oss cannot be estimated until the
anks are pressure-tested to deter
nine their disability.
A Great Northern house track
the fire was warped by the
Ieat, while the Doke a and trail
r were destroyed.
Fire spread rapidly after the
litial explosion. Glasgow firemen
rrived within a few minutes and
Immediately began dousing near
Y structures, including the Con-
and Westland company's
ulk plants across the tracks from
le blaze. A Great Northern crew
Yitched away nearby freight cars
nd a full tank car nearby.
At 9:10 a second heavy explosion
anne when the top was blown off
ne of the Markle lease tanks. The
eavy steel cover was catapulted
est 200 feet through the air, then
)lled across the Fourth street road
nd came to rest on a railroad
sign.
Work Under Difficulties
In spite of the extreme hazard
nd heat, firemen rugged make
lift shields and advanced as near
lie fire as possible. This work i'll
citing down and cooling them is
edited with reducing the damage
!, the Clack tanks. Fire Chief F.
Alvord said several firemen
ere scorched by the heat.
The Fort Peck fire department,
FADED by Fire Chief H. j. Ruck-
an. arrived at $50 and gave full
d to the Glasgow volunteers dur
g the morning. They reported
e cloud of black smoke from the
re was visible in Fort Peck. The
lards from Fort Peck and the
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