Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1892 — OIL WILL BURN. [ARTICLE]

OIL WILL BURN.

Seven Vessels Destroyed by a Lighted MatchEnormous Loss at Barcelona, Spain, Through the Carelegsneß of 'a Workman—A Sea of Fire. o During the transfer of an American cargo of petroleum to a lighter Sunday at Barcelona, Spain, one of the lightermen accidentally dropped a match on a barrel of oil. Almost instantly the lighter was ablaze from stem to stern, and the men aboard barely had time to escape with their lives before the vessel alongside was in flames. The hatches were open and the flames were soon issuing froth every opening of the vessel. The timbers of the hull broke away, and soon blazing petroleum converted the still waters of the harbor into a sea of fire. Vessels hastened from every direction to leave the harhorl and many escaped, but six 1 were encircled by the flames and destroyed. The corvette Thyra was the first to catch fire, followed by the steamers Cassila Abono. Waller and Pisoon. Then the man-of-war Lepanto, which was lying at anchor, was enveloped with the launch Caiman* AU seven vessels were sunk. The spectacle from' the shore was one of terrible grandeur. The blazing vessels resembled columns of flames under a canopy of dense drown smoko. The loos ia enorious. No personal injury ia reported.