The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-10-04
Spectators Burned
 By Flaming Shower
Pennsylvania
 Cracking PIont Owned by Sun

Marcus Hook, Pa., Oct. A. (UP)-The death toll rose to eight today in the fire and ex- plosions which swept through part of the Sun Oil Con- pany's plant, the worlds larg- est aviation gasoline refinery, last night.
 Nearly 200 others were in- jured.
 Those who died in Chester hospitals today of burns were Dewitt Haynie, Woodlyn, Pa., main- tenance chief of the refinery; Will liam Ward, 20, Linwood, Griffith Davis, Chester; William Gallagher, Bethel Road, and Glen Jones, Lin- | wood.
 The other dead were Woodburn James, 30, Claymont, Del; Mike Burke, 39, Chester, who were burned fatally, and Leland Bailey, 48, Lau- rel, Md, cook aboard a tugboat who, witness reported, was blown into the Delaware River by the force of one of the explosions.
 Many Spectators Injured
 Many of the injured were specta- tors who were Showered by flaming gasoline when they jammed the area near the plant to watch fire men fight the spectacular blaze.
 Officials of the Sun Oil Company denied that Bailey's death resulted from the explosion. But Joseph Diaz, tug worker who was stand ing beside Bailey, said the blast knocked him overheard. The tug was half mile from the reminery.
 Twenty fire companies from sur- rounding communities fought the blaze for four hours before it was brought under control.
 The first blast was touched off early last night when the pack ing blew out of an equalization pump, igniting alcoholic fumes, & company spokesman reported. The untitled explosion sent flames rac- ing through the plants maze of huge tubes, steel framework and cylindrical metal towers. The flames leaped 150 feet in the air and were visible for miles, attracting hun- dredS of motorists who jammed the highways leading to the plant, hampering the work of firemen and polecemen.
 Tower Disintegrated
 The second explosion occurred a few minutes later when 8 giant cracking tower disintegrated in the intense heat, Showering firemen and spectators with flaming gasoline and acid.
 The blast sent an atomic-like column of smoke mushrooming 800 feet into the night sky. It was visible for 28 miles and spread panic among the spectators. The explo- sion rocked the surrounding area as far as Pennsgrove, N. J., cross the Delaware.
 Tugboats were summoned to tow oil laden barges down the river and out of the danger area.
 Allan Brown, member of the Linwood Volunteer Fire Depart | AiCAIG, was ulJu1cO Uy D1aSG JuSt as his company arrived at the plant.
 Men were dropping like flies. l" he said referring to the tower col- lapse.
 Over 800 Jam Hospital
 More than 500 persons jammed the hospital where first aid was set up an an assembly line basis. When the wards were filled with the in- jured, they were stretched out in the corridors. All available am- balances and doctors in the area were mobilized to care for the in- jured.
 Howard Poore, plant employe, said he was thrown 20 feet by the blast. Alex Petrovich, Boothwyne, escaped injury by diving under 8 firetruck when he saw the tower begin to crumple.
 Tt was horrible" he said. Men were screaming and running around with their clothes on fire. We grabbed some of them and rolled them on the ground to put out the flames But most of them were burned pretty bad"