TERRIBLE PLIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 47, 26 January 1937, Page 10

TERRIBLE PLIGHT

FIRES IN CINCINNATI. OIL IGNITES FACTORIES. (United Press'Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received January 26, 1.50 p.m. CINCINNATI, Jan. 24. The- worst disaster in the city’s history occurred to-day, when gasoline and oil floating on the flood waters in the industrial section of the city were ignited by sparks from broken power lines. The flames spread to the warehouse of the Crosley Radio Corporation, destroying it. Several factories of the huge Standard Oil plant are burning. The damage is already estimated at three million dollars. Officials are planning to use dynamite to destroy the factories in the path of the flames in order to bring the fire under control if necessary. AH the available firemen and apparatus are being used, including some from nearby towns.

American Legion volunteers and prisoners from the city workhouse are helping to fight the firo. Many families had to be moved out of the path of the floating fire, which has extended over several miles of territory. Black smoke hung over the entire city, adding to the terrors of the flood.

Cincinnati is a city of Ohio, standing on the north bank of the River Ohio, and connected by bridges with Corrington nnd Newport, on the Kentucky side of the river. It is an important port and railway centre. The city runs from the river to an amphitheatre of hills. In the ‘ bottoms” are the manufacturing districts, on the higher levels the shopping districts while the finest residences are on the heights. Tho city has a university, and is famous for its musical festivals. Its population at the latost recording was 451,160.