Year: 1869

The Hudson River Oil Works Desfroyed--Two
Thousand Barrels of Oil Consumed-Sev-
eral WOrlkmen Severely Burned-Loss Over
SI2O,OOO.


About two O'Clock yesterday afternoon an i'm


mense confagration took place in the factory of
Wickes & Co., situate ON the Hudson river, on the


confines OF Hudson county, N. J. The knowledge that


upwards OF 5000 barrels of Oil were either stored or


IN process of refinement the premises created the
widest terror among the surrounding Inhabitants.
Forty laborers were engaged in the factory at the
outbreak of the flames, and 1t Is miraculous that
all OF them were not blown to pieces. Owing
to the subterranean position OF the two work
ing tanks and the ready escape for gas on
all sdas the shock was not so terrific rs 1t might


otherwise have been, and twenty-five of the work
men escaped uninJured, while about sixteen of them


received severe burns from the sudden splash of the
flaming liquid and were also terribly bruised by
huge blocks OF timber which fell upon them For


tunately, however, no person was fatally wounded,
Scarcely had the pance stricken employees ned
from the grounds when the names burst from the
settling room through the brick wall bounding the
treating house, and IN an instant vast volumes Of
the blazing oil were hurled to height of 800 feet


ecpsing the light OF day, and spread their frightfu
ravages through the building on which they fell
The waters OF the river near the shore now seemed


to threaten destruction to the vessels and DOCK as
boat, however, were soon removed out OF danger


Meanwhile the fire was increasing IN fury,
tling room and boiler house were burned to


the ground. One end OF the dock caught
workmen were successful In saving great quantity
OF the oil thereon, although the heat was almost


lntolerable, and dense clouds Of black smoke rem


dered IT well nigh impossible to approach the scene.


Many barrels also rolled away from the storage


shed, as the rum Of that structure likewise
pending, but exertions to save 1t In vain and
II too was soon envelOped in flames.


The massive piles OF wood which continually


tnmbled to ruins the cracking Of the walls and ma


chlnery, and the frequent explosion OF barrels, re-


sembled, at distance the discharge of batteries of


artillery, ana made the prospect from sur


rible. From all the ferryboats the passen-


gers eagerly viewed the livid flames which peered


still more increased by the ignition OF the tar owned
by kidder Co., whose building was adjacent, ana


and greater part of the night At haif.past ,x SIX


O'clock In the evening the entire structure OF wickes
GO. was consumed with the exception OF the


storage shed. But that the wind was blowing


towards the southeast, the chemical works OF Nor
gan Co., located close to the dock, would have
also been set on fire, and the damage to neghboring
element was creeping along and licking up every
thing in Its train, the fire company from West New


hav n weIe mornipg @ WIN as mucn vgor as though
success as the same number OF monkeys squirting
through syringes. In fact, their puns efforts
above the little things OF earth anu laughed to scorn
the power OF man that the energetic members were
at length induced to deslst. Another company from
Gutenberg came up, but refused to cooperate with
the West New York men, owing TO some feud among
the different companies. They contented themselves
with stretching their limbs upon the green sward
whlle one OF their number beguiled the hours by
rasping away at leaky concertina, and his efforts
were applauded merely for his earnestness.


The loss TO the Messrs. Wlckes falls little short of
$4,000 The amount Of the insurance was not
exactly ascertalned, but one or the lrm stated that
it Is not at all equal to the damage Forty men, who
were employed In this establishment, are thrown
out OF work. Upwards OF 500 barrels per day were
manufactured Tor the firm here. Page, KIdder Co.
the propretor5 OF the patent roof factory sustain


loss OF $35,0OO fully insured, while the damage in


nicted on the otner property surrounding the dock
Is estimated az $4,000, making q total loss OF
$4,000. The fire originated IN the pan room where
an explosion occurred. The workmen who were
burned were taken OF for medical treatment. None
OF the injuries are OF q fatal character.