Parco, WY Oil Refinery Explosion, Apr 1927

OIL REFINERY EXPLOSION IN WYOMING WIPES OUT SEVENTEEN LIVES.

STILLS TAKE FIRE AND NINE GO UP IN FEARFUL BLAST.

DETONATION IS FELT SEVEN MILES AWAY; FLAMES ARE EATING PLANT UP YET.

SIXTEEN OF THOSE LOST ARE IDENTIFIED; ALL MARRIED AND LEAVE FAMILIES.

Parco, Wyo., April 6. -- (AP) -- At least seventeen men were killed early today when an explosion occurred in the Producers and Refiners oil refining plant here.
One man was missing shortly before noon and was believed to have died in the blast and subsequent fire which caused damage of $500,000 to the refinery.
Explosion Felt Seven Miles.
The explosion rocked this unique oil town, laid out only a few years ago by FRANK E. KISTLER, head of the Parco organization, on model architectural lines, and the detonation was felt in Rawlins, seven miles West.
The disaster was caused by the explosion of a chamber in a high pressure still which set fire to nine other stills and two storage tanks. The fire still was burning late this morning but was under control.
Bodies Taken From Plant.
Sixteen bodies have been taken from the plant. Fourteen of them were identified.
The identified dead were:
JOHN PAUL PALMER, thirty.
FRANK TAYLOR, thirty.
W. W. DODD, forty-two.
FREDERICK JESEMER, twenty-seven.
F. C. SPEYER, forty-nine.
ALBERT SMITH, twenty-five.
VICTORY NICKERSON, thirty-five.
CLARENCE POSEY, twenty-seven.
VICTORIANO MONTOYA, thirty-seven.
ORCELO MARTINEZ, thirty-six.
E. R. WELSH, thirty-two.
G. G. TURPIN, twenty-six.
R. N. SHERMAN, missing.
H. O. EBY, missing.
Victims All Leave Families.
GEORGE EVANS CURRY and ARTHUR AYALA were believed to be fatally burned. THey are in a Rawlins hospital, as are P. L. WELSH, CALVIN SMITH, GEORGE BYRON POLK, who were severely burned and SMITH died late this afternoon.
All of the men who were killed were married and most of them had to three children.

Reno Evening Gazette Neveda 1927-04-06
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!