A TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 213, 14 September 1901, Page 2

A TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION.

(Per' Frisco Mail Steamer). San Fhancisco, August 22. More than 2000 pursons were injured and five were killed by explosion and fire at tbe Atlantic Redoing Company's oil works at Point Bnea*, Philadelphia, on August 20 r h. The property loss to the Standard Oil Cjmpany, which controls the plant and does its own in-ming, is estimated to bo about £200,000. The officials hoped to save the oil by pumping it in tanks furthest from the fl<ime«, b'lt the most heroic efforts of tho firemon to keep the fire within small bounds were futile. Pumping machinery was carried away by the explosion and the works were then at the mercy of the flame?. It was found thai th© fire must burn itself out, and al< tbe propsrty and plant was destroyed. Tanks of benzine were constantly exploding, and it became necessary to throw up e>rihworks to prevent the Schulkill river being Hooded by tho blazing oil. Fifty men were at work in the pumping house when tbe explosion occurred. Thoy were imprisoned by the flames, and it wa3 an hour baforo the firemen could reach them. Five bodies were burned to crisp. Tbo other men were l not seriouhly injured, though moss of them were burned somewhat. The Point Breezo Oil Wo'ks have been devastated by fire on four occasions Saven years ago there was a fire which raged six days. This time, and once before, the smoke over the city of Miiladelphia was so dense as to com-1 ' pletely obscure the light of the sun. I