SUN OIL TOLL -- 7 DEAD; 200 HURT -- HOSPITALS JAMMED BY DISASTER.

FLAMING GASOLINE SPRAYS HUNDREDS AT HOOK REFINERY.

Seven men were burned to death and at least 200 others were injured, many of them critically, in Delaware County's worst disaster since the Eddystone ammunition blast as a $300,000 fire raged through the Sun Oil Company's new aviation gasoline cracking plant at Marcus Hook last night.
Nine explosions, one of them so tremendous that it sent a huge mushroom-shaped ball of flame skyward for several hundred feet, shook the countryside for miles around as scores of volunteer firemen and company workmen fought against terrific odds to bring the holocaust under control.
The worst explosion occurred at 7:10 p.m., an hour after the fire first broke out, and accounted for most of the deaths and injuries when a fractionating tower blew up and showered a fiery bath of high-test gasoline on firemen and employes.
The dead:
DEWITT HAYNIE, 44, 1321 Bullens Lane, Woodlyn.
GRIFFITH DAVIS, 50, 2108 Madison Street, Chester.
WOODBURN JAMES, 47, 33 Franklin Street, Claymont.
GLENN JONES, 33, Ward Street, Linwood.
WILLIAM GALLAGHER, 48, Bethel Road, Twin Oaks.
MIKE BURKE, 39, 409 Evans Place, Chester.
WILLIAM WARD, 20, 1641 Ward Street, Linwood.
White-hot chunks of metal were hurled through the air like shrapnel when the tower exploded, felling men by the dozen and causing over a thousand dollars' damage to the Linwood Fire Company pumper. The apparatus was punctured all over and was set afire.
Men most seriously burned were those who were caught facing the tower when it went up. Several inhaled flame and smoke before they could turn away.
An eighth man died when he fell into the Delaware River from a tugboat and it was at first reported that he was blown overboard by the blast.
Police learned later, however, that the victim -- who was identified as LELAND BAILEY, 48, of Laurel, Md. -- toppled into the river shortly before the first explosion occurred.
A break in a packing gland on a pump in the alkylation unit of No. 15 Plant was blamed for touching off the catastrophe a few minutes after 6 p.m.
Liquid seeped from the pump and was ignited by a nearby neater.
Two sharp explosions resulted and set the unit afire.
Members of Linwood and Marcus Hook fire companies heard the blasts and sent their ambulances to the scene on Post road, near Blue Ball avenue, without waiting to be summoned. Four men who were caught in the initial explosions were carried out and removed to hospitals.
By this time outside fire companies were in action, along with company fire-fighters, and were dousing the flames with foamite when the biggest tower ruptured and started to topple over.
Hundreds of gallons of gasoline went up in one bug multi-colored flash reminiscent of an atomic bomb explosion when the fuel was ignited.
The flaming liquid sprayed out over the stunned firemen, setting their clothing and bodies afire.
Men ran screaming toward safety with their hair burning. Some had their clothes burned right off their backs. Others dove under fire engines to escape.
The blazing bath of gasoline also caught firemen who were wetting down nearby tanks with water to keep them from igniting.
Six more explosions turned the refinery into a miniature battlefield as heroic rescue workers fought their way through smoke and flame, guided by the moans of the injured.
Ambulances were run right up to the first-aid station only a short distance from the center of the fire. One ambulance alone made 15 round trips to hospitals in Chester during the nightmare.
Police, auxiliaries and State Troopers kept the roads clear to both Chester and Crozer Hospitals so that the rescue vehicles could get through.
Besides all available ambulances in the district, dozens of automobiles were pressed into service and fire engines were also used.
Both hospitals responded valiantly to the challenge, with volunteer nurses speeding in from all parts of the county to lend their aid.
Doctors heard the news at home and reported for duty immediately. The Red Cross disaster crews, which had been prepared all during the war for just such an emergency went into action.
All available inhalators from nearby fire companies and ambulances were sent to the hospitals after an urgent call was sent out for them so oxygen could be administered without delay.
Ministers and priests also worked in the hospitals aiding where they could and comforting the victims and their distraught relatives. Last rites were administered in both local hospitals during the night as men succumbed to their burns.
MIKE BURKE, who died in Crozer Hospital at 12:50 a.m. after physicians had battled for hours to save his life, "was a mechanic at 15 Plant and had been employed by the company for 15 years."
GRIFFITH DAVIS had been an operator at the plant and was also a 15-year employe. He died in Chester Hospital at 6:20 a.m.
WOODBURN JAMES, a 15 Plant mechanic, was a 16 year man. He succumbed in Chester Hospital at 10:29 last night, being the first to die from his burns.
DEWITT HAYNIE was another mechanic who died early this morning at Chester Hospital. He worked at Sun for four years.
WILLIAM GALLAGHER, who died in Chester Hospital at 6 a.m. after battling throughout the night for his life, was foreman of the refinery machinists and had been a Sun employe for 17 years.
GLENN JONES was deputy chief of Linwood Fire Company and was a 15 Plant operator, working at the refinery for 14 years. His death came in Chester Hospital at 6:55 a.m.
WILLIAM WARD died at 7:10 a.m. in Crozer Hospital. He was not a refinery worker, but was one of 10 members of Linwood Fire Company who were felled in the big explosion.
The fire raged out of control until nearly midnight. After it was finally checked, firemen remained on the scene all night wetting down charred and smoking ruins to prevent another outbreak. Moyamensing Junior firemen and the Second Alarmers' Association of Philadelphia stood their vigil with them.
Plant 15 was the newest of the Sun Oil Company's cracking plants and was a $15,000,000 project erected during the war to speed high-powered aviation gas to the Allies.
It was dedicated and opened for operation in 1943, with Secretary of Interior Harold L. Ickes officiating at the ceremonies.
Besides Chester and Crozer Hospitals, injured men were taken to Delaware Hospital in Wilmington, where four were treated and two were admitted, and Taylor Hospital, where one was treated.
One of the men seriously hurt and detained at Delaware Hospital was CLARENCE THAYER, a Sun Oil director and chief engineer at the refinery. He suffered burns of the head, ears and hands.
THAYER sped to the refinery with other company officials and arrived at 6:30 p.m. He was with ANDREW MacMURTRIE, superintendent, whose head was scorched by the blast and required treatment at the company dispensary.
D. CLIFFORD JOHNSON, of 6 Hillside Road, Claymont, who is the Sun's plant engineer, was blown 100 feet and suffered a broken arm and first and second degree burns.
Other officials who rushed to Marcus Hook and helped direct rescue operations were J. HOWARD PEW, president of the company; JOSEPH N. PEW and ARTHUR E. PEW, vice-presidents; WILLIAM D. MASON, assistant to the president, and JAMES PEW, another executive. MASON and JAMES PEW went to the hospitals to make personal check-ups on the victims.
Officer JOSEPH RUSSO of the Marcus Hook Police was struck by a car at 1 a.m. while directing traffic at Blueball avenue and Post road. He is in Chester Hospital with a broken hip and possible fractured skull.

Casulty List
The Dead:
DEWITT HAYNIE, 44, 1321 Bullen's lane, Woodlyn, company mechanic.
GRIFFITH DAVIS, 50, 2108 Madison street, Chester, plant operator.
WOODBURN JAMES, 47, 33 Franklin street, Claymont, company mechanic.
GLENN JONES, 33, Ward street, Linwood, plant operator and deputy chief of Linwood Fire Company.
WILLIAM GALLAGHER, 48, Bethel road, Twin Oaks, machinist foreman.
WILLIAM WARD, 20, 1641 Ward street, Linwood, a member of Linwood Fire Company.
MIKE BURKE, 39, 409 Evans plane, Chester, a company mechanic.
Injured admitted to Crozer Hospital:
DONALD YOST, 32, Walnut street, Marcus Hook, Viscose Fireman.
CLARENCE FOX, 7 Johnson avenue, Boothwyn.
WILLIAM MARVIL, 1037 Yates avenue, Marcus Hook.
VINCENT KEELAN, Huddell avenue, Linwood, Linwood Fireman.
FRANCIS LOSAK, 2 Hutchinson avenue, Linwood.
BENJAMIN EVANS, 1131 Green street, Marcus Hook.
JESSE GORE.
GEORGE RUTH.
ARTHUR EVERINGHAM, 618 Taylor avenue, Boothwyn.
WILLIAM DEVONSHIRE, Claymont.
HARRY WEISLER, Laughead avenue, Linwood.
JAMES MACKRELL, SR., 3004 West 11th street, Chester.
TED SHERKEY, 1406 Huddell avenue, Linwood.
AARON PALMER, 28 Ridge road, Linwood.
GEORGE McCUSKER.
JOSEPH DWYER, Fireman.
ALEX PETROVICH, 25 Randall avenue, Boothwyn.
RAYMOND NEWCOMER, 1648 Ward street, Linwood.
WILLIAM KOK, Linwood.
J. ARMSTRONG, 17 Cedar street, Marcus Hook.
WILLIAM ANDERSON, 705 Highland avenue, Chester.
JAMES DATILLO, 919 Church street, Marcus Hook.
RAYMOND BAILEY, 1562 Market street, Linwood.
JOHN MIDDLETON, 2819 West Ninth street, Chester.
ARLIE SMITH, Claymont.
ALBERT PASS, 17 Eighth street, Upland.
GEORGE FANNON, 2113 Homer street, Philadelphia.
FRANK FOX, SR., Knowlton road, Village Green.
MIKE CUTLER, 1132 Green street, Marcus Hook.
PHILLIP OGLESBY, 414 Penn street, Chester.
JOSEPH RODGERS, 18 West 7th street, Marcus Hook.
JAMES REED, Fireman.
COLE GITMAN, 1504 Perkins street, Highland Gardens.
IRA GRAHAM, 8 Ridge road, Trainer.
RONALD REYNOLDS, Ferncroft avenue, Linwood Park.
HARVEY BEALE, SR., Linwood.
CORNELIUS VANESS, 1116 Green street, Marcus Hook.
JOHN CAPEL, 217 Ellsworth street, Chester.
ANDY DAVIS, Claymont Trailer Camp.
Admitted to Chester Hospital.
PENNEL AMOS, 45, 580 Market street, Linwood.
NICHOLAS BORCELLO, 1120 Market street, Marcus Hook.
DONALD CLEMENTS and RUSSELL CLEMENTS, Boothwyn.
ROBERT CURL, 21, 18 Walnut street, Marcus Hook.
JOHN CONTE, 22, Boothwyn.
WILLIAM FERGUSON, 108 Harvey avenue, Linwood.
JAMES GREEN, 8 Walnut street, Marcus Hook.
ANGIE DARNELLO, 151 Chichester avenue, Boothwyn.
JOSEPH HICKEY, 1550 Huddell avenue, Linwood.
HARRY HAYES, 1554 Huddell avenue, Linwood.
NELSON KING, R. D. 3, Wilmington.
MORRIS KULP, 15 Thornton road, Boothwyn.
ANTHONY KUGEL, 17, of 104 Meetinghouse road, Boothwyn.
THEODORE LAMPLUGH, 3 Norwood avenue, Linwood.
WILLIAM MacPHERSON, Naamans Creek road, Ogden.
WILLIAM MARSHALL, McCay avenue, Boothwyn.
CARL MONTELLO, 22, Boothwyn.
MANUEL MILLER, 203 Boothwyn road, Boothwyn.
HAROLD MYERS, 630 Post road, Marcus Hook.
GORDON NEWCOMB, R. D. 1, Millville, N.J.
JAMES NUGENT, 45, 1408 Huddell avenue, Linwood.
THOMAS J. O'DONNELL, Morehall road, Malvern.
CARL PLINY, 1919 Willet street, Linwood.
FRANK WOTHERS, 208 Woodrow street, Chester.
HAROLD RHOADES, Boothwyn road, Boothwyn.
EDWARD DEVONSHIRE, 205 Johnson avenue, Linwood.
ALLEN BROWN, 1442 Brookside avenue, Linwood.
HARRY FORREST, 1804 Huddell avenue, Linwood.
HOWARD POORE, 419 Sun avenue, Linwood.
Admitted to Delaware Hospital, Wilmington:
CLARENCE THAYER, Wallingford, chief engineer and director of Sun Oil Company.
D. CLIFFORD JOHNSON, 6 Hillside road, Claymont, plant engineer.
Treated at Delaware Hospital, Wilmington.
THOMAS SMITH, 1314 Perkins street, Chester, assistant zone manager at Sun Oil.
GEORGE E. WEBER, Linwood.
Treated at Taylor Hospital:
ROLAND MONTGOMERY, 34, 11 Spruce street, Marcus Hook, a Viscose Fireman.
Scores of other victims were given emergency treatment at hospitals and sent home without their names being recorded.

Chester Times Pennsylvania 1946-10-04
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!