Providence, RI Harbor Oil Fire, Jul 1909

BLAZING OIL SWEPT PROVIDENCE HARBOR

Every Available Tug Towed Shipping Away from the Quarter Mile of Fire.

OIL BARGE STARTED IT

When Its 135,000 Gallons of Oil Began to Burn---Several Craft Harmed and Two Men Hurt.

PROVIDENCE, R. I., July 10.---A drifting barge, sending forth frequent explosions from her cargo of burning oil, and a quarter of a square mile of the harbor waters covered with flames from the same cause, endangered the entire water front and shipping of this city to-day. Beginning shortly after midnight the Texas Oil Company's barge Harrison, loaded with 135,000 gallons of oil, burned furiously, destroying the company's wharf and several of its building, and damaging the company's tug Edmund Moran, which had the barge in tow, besides scorching other craft in the harbor. The danger was over at sunset to-night only when the oil had become exhausted and the barge was burned to the water's edge, a total loss.

The loss is estimated at $50,000. Capt. Frederick May and Albert Defosse, who were on the Harrison and were badly injured, were reported to-night to be improving. An official of the oil company said to-night that in his opinion the fire resulted from spontaneous combustion.

When the barge broke adrift and headed directly for the shipping on the water front the situation became too critical for Harbor Master John J. Maguire, and he laid the matter before Acting Mayor W. H. Higgins. After a brief consultation the Board of Fire Commissioners was authorized to impress all available tugs for the work of pulling vessels out of danger.

The tug men worked valiantly, but despite their efforts the Harrison swept alongside the three-masted barge Helen A. Wyman, which was badly scorched before a tug darted in and pulled her to a safe anchorage.

The harbor was will filled with shipping, half of which consisted of barges and schooners loaded with coal and lumber. About the time the last vessel was towed to a place of safety the tide turned and carried with it out of the harbor the blazing quarter of a square mile of oil from the Harrison.

Firemen could not put out the fire on the Harrison, which burned until the oil was consumed, eighteen hours after the fire's start. The barge had been equipped with iron compartments, into which the oil was pumped in bulk. It was this method of construction that kept the barge afloat.

The New York Times, New York, NY 11 Jul 1909
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!