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Oil City, Pennsylvania... Oil Creek Disaster...
Oil City, Pennsylvania... Oil Creek Disaster...
Item # 556711
June 06, 1892
DAILY TIMES, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania PA June 6, 1892
* Oil City Pennsylvania
* Titusville PA
* Oil Creek Disaster (1st report)
This 4 page newspaper has one column headlines on page 2 that include:
* FIRE FOLLOWS FLOOD
* A Veritable Reign of Terror in the Oil Creek Valley
* More Than One Hundred Lives Reported Lost
* Burning Oil On The Flood Top
* Terror Stricken Titusville
Tells of the Oil City - Titusville Pa disaster.
Other news of the day with several interesting advertisements throughout.
This is a large size newspaper that measures 26 x 22 inches. In unusually good condition for this time period. Light browning and slightly pulpish. Should be handled with care especially considering their large size.
Background (source: Stu Beitler): The oil regions of Pennsylvania have been visited by a disaster of fire and water that is only eclipsed in the history of that country by the memorable flood at Johnstown just three years ago.
On the day after the calamity it was known that at least eighty persons were drowned or burned to death. Estimates of the loss of life increased, hour by hour, and it was thought that the death roll might swell to from 150 to 200, if not more.
A dam seven miles above Titusville gave way in the night. Oil tanks were swept away, the stream leaped its banks, and bearing on its back a widespread layer of oil, dashed into Titusville a roaring, tumbling mass of flame. There was a terrible stampede. Scores of persons were swept away in an effort to find safety. One-third of the town was burned, and at 10 o'clock that night forty bodies had been recovered.
Category: Post-Civil War
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