Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 190, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1918 — LIGHTNING . HIT OIL HOUSE [ARTICLE]

LIGHTNING . HIT OIL HOUSE

TEN THOUSAND GALLONS OF GASOLINE WAS NEAR Lightning struck the Standard Oil house Tuesday evening during the storm, and how the large tank containing over ten thousand gallons of gasoline escaped being exploded is more than any one can tell. There was a tank of coal-oil near by of about the same size which also miracuously escaped. A large hf greases and oils in small containers were destroyed and the fine house was burned to the ground. Chief J. J. Montgomery and his firemen worked cautiously, expecting every moment that the big gasoline tank, which had just been filled, would explode, and would scatter fire and run for a large radius. Some, of the pipes leading to the top of the tank were broken off and this allowed the gas from the heated gasoline to escape, and possibly thus prevented a more disastrous explosion.

E. P. Warren, the local manager for the Standard Oil company, estimated the loss to be from $2,500 to $3,000. Had the big tank of gasoline exploded the damage would have been enormous, possibly burning a number of houses, and might have resulted in several fatalities. Fire Chief Montgomery had notified residents in that part of the city to get out of their houses and get as far away as possible. He told his men the great danger attached in trying to put out the fire, and those who worked with him were fully advised of the great peril. Fortunately the tank did not explode, but its failure to do so must be considered a miracle. Directly after the fire men had arrived at the Standard Oil fire the whistle was again blown, and this time the lightning had struck the house of Herman Messman, who lives about four blocks north and east of the Monon station. Here the lightning did but little damage and the small blaze started was put out by Mr. Messman before help arrived.