THE CONFLAGRATION.
The grandeur of the scene upon which George and Ralph looked was
indescribable, the slightest detail of which once seen could never be
forgotten.
The lurid flames, surmounted by the thick, black smoke, towered upward
as if to meet the lightning's flash, and then, as the wind and rain beat
it down for a moment, the heavy clouds of smoke rolled down the valley
like some funereal pall sent in advance of the death and destruction
that was to come.
"What can we do?" cried Ralph, when the awe which the scene had brought
with it gave place to fear for others, and a desire to avert suffering
and destruction.
"We can do nothing," replied George, in a low tone. "We do not even know
how to fight the burning oil, and are powerless to do anything, at least
until others shall come to direct the work."
"But we can surely give the alarm and arouse the people," cried Ralph,
as he attempted to rush out of the shed, but was prevented by George.
"Do you think there is any one within two miles of here who cannot see
that blaze?" asked George, as he pointed to the mountain of flame. "We
can accomplish nothing, therefore we will remain here quiet until those
who are familiar with such scenes shall come."
Ralph recognized the common sense of George's suggestion even when it
seemed impossible that he could remain idle, and while the two stood
outside the shed, regardless of the furious rain, waiting for those to
come who could direct their labor, they witnessed another scene, fitting
companion to the one already pictured.
The lightning flashes were as vivid and rapid as ever, save that the
glare may have seemed a trifle less blinding because of the flames, and
there was no sign that the storm was decreasing. Suddenly, even while it
appeared as if a small whirlwind enveloped a derrick that stood on the
hill on the opposite side of the valley, another storm of fire descended
from the sky, wrapping the heavy timbers in flames without shattering
them, and flinging angry tongues of fire on nearly every timber in the
towering pile.
For a few moments this lofty beacon burned as if trying to outshine the
larger conflagration, and then, as the heat grew more intense, the small
tank at its base became a receptacle for flames, which, overflowing,
poured an angry stream of fire down the side of the mountain, igniting
the various deposits of oil in its course.
In an incredibly short space of time, the valley, which had but a few
moments before been deluged with water, was covered with flames and
burning streams, which the rain appeared to feed rather than
extinguish.
Then, as rapidly as they had come, the storm-clouds cleared away, the
rain ceased, and the sun came out, clear and hot, but unable to send its
rays through the impenetrable clouds of smoke which overhung the
lowland, and wrapped the hills with a sable shroud.
Others besides Ralph and George had seen the first damage done by the
lightning, for, living where such scenes were not infrequent, they
feared, at each threatened storm, just that catastrophe which had
occurred, and a small army of men were already on the scene by the time
the two boys had recovered from the awe which had come upon them with
this second danger that was pouring down upon the valley from the
mountain-side.
It seemed a useless, because impossible, task to attempt to check the
progress of or extinguish the burning oil, and yet the assembled
multitude attacked it with a will that seemed all the more heroic
because of the well-nigh hopelessness of the labor.
Fastening the now thoroughly frightened horses so that they could not
release themselves from the shed, which was situated on ground
sufficiently high to prevent the burning torrent from flowing around it,
Ralph and George threw off their coats and vests, preparatory to doing
what they could to check the course of this servant of man, now become
master.
Quantities of shovels and pickaxes had been brought at the first alarm,
and, armed with one of these, Ralph and George joined the others in
throwing up embankments to check the course of the streams of burning
oil, in order to hold them confined until the liquid should be consumed.
Then women and children were aiding in the work, for it was to save
their homes from destruction that they labored, and foremost among them
ever was George, struggling against the fire-fiend, as if everything the
world held dear to him was in danger of destruction.
Then came the call for volunteers to get the cannon, which were nearly
two miles away, that solid shot might be fired into the tank to open a
passage for the oil not yet ignited, and Ralph was the first to offer
his services.
He had already had some considerable experience in artillery practice,
and when George explained this to some of those who were directing the
work, Ralph was gladly accepted to take charge of the guns.
He was a gunner without any artillery, but twice as many men as were
necessary started at full speed toward the town, and in a short time the
only two cannon that could be procured, without going to Bradford, were
on the ground, while Ralph was hastily preparing the charges of powder.
It may be thought that it would not require much skill to hit, at short
range, such a large object as an oil-tank capable of holding thirty-five
thousand barrels; but since, in order to send the ball through the iron
plates it was necessary to hit it full at the place aimed for, otherwise
the projectile would glance off, it can be seen that Ralph was obliged
to exhibit considerable skill.
While this was being done, the others were throwing up earthworks to
divert the course of the blazing streams, or to dam the oil in such
places as it could burn without damage to other property; and it can
safely be imagined that but little time was spent in watching what the
others were doing.
After George had announced that Ralph had had experience in the use of
artillery pieces, and after the cannon had been brought from the town,
he was left to superintend the work, a sufficient number of men
remaining near to follow his instructions.
The day was a hot one, and the heat from the fire, together with that
from the sun, was almost insupportable; but, stripped of all clothing
that could conveniently be cast aside, each one continued at his
self-imposed task of averting the threatened destruction from the town.
Each moment, despite all that was being done, the flames were creeping
closer and closer to the town, which seemed doomed, and, as the time
passed, every one saw how useless their efforts would be unless the iron
tank could be pierced, allowing a portion of the oil to run off before
it could be ignited.
Many were the entreaties to Ralph to hurry with his work; but, fully
believing the old adage that "haste makes waste," he completed his
operations with deliberation, only hurrying when he could do so without
running any risk of a failure.
"Be quick, Ralph," cried George, as he came up, smoke begrimed, and
bearing many traces of his severe work. "Every moment is more than
precious now; and, even after you begin, you may have to fire several
shots."
"I shall fire only one at each tank," replied Ralph, calmly. "The pieces
were dirty and rusty, and it would have been a waste of both time and
ammunition to have shot with them before they were cleaned. I am ready
now. Both pieces are loaded, and you shall see both balls count."
Ralph had been working as near the blazing tanks as the heat would
permit, and as he finished speaking with George, he shouted for those
near by to stand back. Already had the weapons been aimed, and, with a
blazing stick in his hand, he stood ready to show either his skill or
his ignorance.
Quickly the crowd separated, knowing only too well the value of time,
and Ralph applied the torch.
The explosion was almost deadened by the roar of the flames and the
sharp reports of the iron plates, as they were broken by the heat, but
above all could be heard the crashing of the iron, as the ball, aimed
perfectly true to the mark, made its way into the oil, allowing it to
spout forth in torrents.
"Hurrah! hurrah!" burst from the crowd, as they realized that the boy,
whose skill a moment before they had doubted, had done that which would
have required hours for them to do so successfully, and then on every
side arose the demand that another outlet be opened.
Ralph was perplexed for a moment, since the other cannon was aimed at
the smaller tank, and he had believed that one opening would be
sufficient.
"You will have to put another shot in," cried George. "It will take too
long for the oil to run out of that one hole."
While the crowd were engaged in digging a ditch for the oil that Ralph's
shot had let out, in order that it should not be set on fire by that
which was already blazing, the young student aimed the second cannon.
Again the word was passed for the people to stand back, and a second
ball was sent crashing into the tank with as true an aim as the first.
Then, while all save those who were at work on the dam or helping at the
cannon worked at ditches to carry off the unlighted oil, Ralph made
ready for another volley.
Two perforations were made in the small tank, and two more in the large
one, which admitted of such a discharge of the contents, that all hands
could hasten to the relief of those who were working at the dams.
Already was the day nearly spent, and yet the fire-fiend was raging with
fury hardly abated. The trees had long since fallen before the fiery
blast; the derricks and buildings of the adjacent wells were consumed,
while inch by inch the oil-fed fire crept nearer the town.
George had paid no attention to his horses all this time; in fact, he
had hardly thought of them until, almost exhausted, he was obliged to
rest a few moments, or be entirely overcome by the heat.
Then the recollection of his team, in which he took so much pride, came
to him, and he started towards the shed where he had left them.
One glance back at the fiery torrent, which even the children were
trying to turn from the town, and he realized how important was even one
man's labor in this battle with the flames.
A man on crutches was standing near him as he paused irresolutely, and
to him George said, hurriedly:
"I left a pair of horses in a light carriage in that shed up yonder when
the fire first broke out. Not even one man can be spared from here now,
and yet my team must be attended to. Crippled as you are, you can be of
no service here; therefore, if you will go there and get them, and then
drive them to some stable in town, I will pay you well for your
trouble."
"I'll see that they are well taken care of, and come back here to tell
you where they are," said the cripple, as he started towards the shed.
And George returned to the fight once more.
Had the men been working where it was cool, by their very numbers they
could have checked the advance of the flames; but hot as it was, fully
half who entered the conflict were overpowered by the heat in a very
short time, or obliged to cease their exertions for a while, as George
had done. Therefore, although fresh recruits were arriving each hour,
not one-third of all the force there could be counted upon as able
workers.
It was an hour after George had cared for his horses, as he supposed,
that the cripple whom he had engaged to do the work, approached where he
was, by the side of Ralph, strengthening the banks of the ditch that
carried off the escaping oil.
"I went up to the shed," shouted the man, "but there wasn't any horses
there, nor carriage either."
"Where are they?" asked George, in bewilderment.
"How should I know?" was the reply, in an angry tone.
And then, before anything more could be said, a shout, almost of
despair, arose from those who were working nearer the town--
"The waste oil has caught fire!"
The oil which had been drawn off from the tanks, through the
perforations made by the cannon balls, had been set on fire by the heat
of the blazing stream by its side, and the flames were moving rapidly
toward the two other large tanks in the immediate vicinity.