[Newspaper]
Publication: The Cincinnati Post
Cincinnati, OH, United States
vol. 57, no. 25, p. 1;7, col. 7-8;3
FIRE AROUND GAS
TANK PLACES CITY
IN GRAVE DANGER
Cincinnati Fire Department Called to Aid
Covington Firemen — Great Conflagration
and Disaster Is Narrowly Averted.
The Fire Departments of Cincinnati, Covington and Newport, Ky., fought for hours Thursday night to prevent the destruction of the city of Covington.
Fire that started in the planing mill of Morrison & Snodgrass, foot of Eighth-st., spread rapidly, and it was feared the flames would cause the explosion of 500,000 cubic feet of gas stored in the tanks of the Union Light, Heat & Power Company.
Ten thousand spectators surrounded the tanks while the firemen played streams of water to cool the tanks. The largest, containing 200,000 feet of gas. became white with heat at one time, and spectators, who saw the molten metal running down its side, shouted to the firemen to move their positions, Extra hose was brought into service and the tank cooled.
DANGER FROM EXPLIOSION [sic] EXPLOSION
Explosions were imminent, and the destruction of the city would likely have followed if the flames had communicated to the tanks. The lives of the fire-fighters were threatened by falling electric wires while they fought to keep the fire, from the gas.
Three fires raging simultaneously caused losses aggregating $75,000. There was accompaniment of thrilling rescues and spectacular features.
Thousands Cincinnatians thronged the hilltops from the east to the west end of the city for hours.
CINCINNATI GOES
Both Newport and Cincinnati responded to calls for help.
Incendiarism is charged as the cause of one fire.
Two planing mills and several residences were destroyed.
For a time flames threatened the explosion of the great gas tanks of the C., N. & C. Light & Traction Co.
HEAR EXPLOSION
The last of the fire series was started by an explosion in the cellar of a building on Park-pl., opposite the Government Building, Leaking gas is said to have been the cause. Two men were injured and a number of people living in adjoining buildings were panic-stricken.
The planing mills destroyed were those of C. Brandsettner & Co., and Morrison & Leroy, on Eighth-St. A two-story brick residence at Eighth and Garrard, and a two-story frame adjoining it on the north were destroyed, and several others further north were considerably damaged.
GETS START
The Covington Department was first called to 223 Pike-st. by a blaze in a tenement occupied by families named Daily, Simms and Franks. The fire was checked after great excitement and a loss of about $800.
A general alarm was turned in, and Fire Chief Lytle called for aid from Newport and Cincinnati. The flames were discovered in the rear of the Morrison & Leroy Planing Mill, on the bank of the Licking River.
When the department arrived flames were lighting the heavens.
The fire spread to the planing mill of Brandstetter & Co., largely of frame, and as the wind changed and the flames crossed Eighth-st. The gas tanks became red-hot and Bremen kept streams on them to prevent an explosion.
RESIDENCES CATCH
Two residences on Garrard-st. were next gutted. Both are owned by C. Brandstettner, whose loss on them is $4000. A two-story flat building west of the Brandsteetner Mill, owned by Dan Hemingray and occupied by C. McIntyre, was badly damaged.
The residence of James Rich, 740 Garrard, was partly burned.
The damage to the house was $1000.
The loss on each mill is estimated at about $30,000, the Hemingray flat at $5000 and the damage to other residences about $5000.
The crowds cheered the arrival of Cincinnati firemen.
While the Eighth-st. fire was raging a gas pipe in the building at No. 7 Park-pl. exploded, blowing out the front of the building owned by Anna Mueller and occupied by R. P. Jones as a paint and oil store.
Jones was in the rear of the store and not badly hurt. Wm. Adams, 23, of 1409 Russell-st., was burned about the face and hands. Arthur Thoman, 20, salesman, was blown up and fell into the cellar, where his groans led to a rescue by citizens.
He was badly burned and cut about the head and body.
AGAIN CALLED
The Cincinnati department was again called upon and sent more engines.
The damage to the building will amount to about $2000.
Families living on the upper floors became panic-stricken, and were removed with great difficulty. They suffered small losses.