1921 — Sep 14, Explosion/Fire, Atlantic Refining Co., Point Breeze, Philadelphia, PA–14-16
–14-16 Blanchard tally based on sources below.*
— 16 AP. “Cabin Fire Among Deadliest in State.” Daily Herald, Tyrone, PA, 3-23-1998, p. 1.
— 16 Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “Other Major Blazes.” 1-2-1963, p. 29.
— 14 AP. “Two More Die…Point Breeze Explosion.” Titusville Herald, PA, 9-23-1921, p. 2.
— >14 Gettysburg Times, PA. “Fiery Oil Takes Big Toll of Lives.” 9-15-1921, p. 2.
— 12 Bradford Era, PA. “Makes Death List Twelve.” 9-19-1921, p. 5.
— 11 AP. “Leaking Pipe Over Furnace Cause Explosion.” Daily Courier, PA, 9-15-1921, p. 1.
* The death toll of 14 is from the Associated Press report of Sep 23, 1921 noting the death of two more burn victims (bringing the total to fourteen). We have attempted a newspaperarchive.com search for additional information through the month of October and found nothing to add. The reports of sixteen deaths come from press accounts in 1963 and 1998. We do not know the source or sources. It is conceivable these numbers derived from early press accounts, later to become unfounded. Or, the newspaper reporting reflects information we are unaware of and have been unable to locate.
Narrative Information
Sep 15: “Philadelphia, Sept. 15 – Investigation of the explosion and fire yesterday at the Point Breeze plant of the Atlantic Refining company which resulted in the death of 11 workmen and injury of a score of others was ordered today by Director Cortelyou of the department of public safety. Several of the injured are in a serious condition and additional deaths are expected momentarily by hospital physicians. Yesterday’s fire is believed by officials of the company to have been caused by a loose connection in one of the tubes leading from naphtha stills to a nearby vat. The hot oil pouring from this leak, it was said, came in contact with the flames from the furnaces beneath the stills and resulted in the explosion. Only one of the stills was destroyed.” (AP. “Leaking Pipe Over Furnace Cause Explosion.” Daily Courier, Connellsville, PA, 9-15-1921, p.1.)
Sep 15: “Philadelphia, Sept. 15 – The most disastrous explosion that the Point Breeze plant of the Atlantic Refining Company has ever experienced yesterday afternoon snuffed out 14 or more lives and injured perhaps 40 other men more or less seriously.[1] All were killed or injured by the explosion of a naphtha still and most of the bodies were burned beyond hope of identification before the firemen could get them beyond reach of the fierce blaze that followed the terrific explosion and swept an area of at least 100 yards in all directions.
“The accident occurred on the north side of Passyunk avenue, the opposite side from where the explosion and fire occurred a month ago.[2] There are about 100 stills in the Philadelphia yard, divided into batteries of four or five stills each, but the battery in which the explosion happened contained a line of 16 high-pressure stills.
“The explosion was caused by the bursting of a feed pipe from one of the stills to a condenser. The naphtha leaked down to the fire beneath the still and about five of the 16 tanks at the top of the tall standpipe caught fire. The prompt response of the fire department to the two alarms prevented the other tanks in the line from taking fire.
Victims on Top of Tanks
“Around each one of the 16 stills at the top runs a sort of iron balcony inclosed with an iron railing and a balcony extends along the entire line of these standpipes, on top of which are large galvanized tanks. Most of the men who were killed were working upon these balconies. Some were inside of one tank it was said. The flames played around these high towers and the men killed up there could not be reached until the fire had been sufficiently subdued to enable the firemen to get to them. It was nearly four hours after the explosion when the last body was recovered. It was burned beyond recognition. It was known that William Brown, a boss rigger, and also a man named Kelly were up on this superstructure, but no one could say which one it was, or whether it was either of them.” (Gettysburg Times, PA. “Fiery Oil Takes Big Toll of Lives.” 9-15-1921, p. 2.)
Sep 17: “Seven victims of the fire at the Point Breeze oil works remain in St. Agnes’ Hospital. With the exception of one, all are expected to recover. He victim whose condition is considered most serious is James Keenan, of 2437 Wharton street.
“Investigations into the cause of the fire are still being carried on by Coroner Knight and James Mulherin, Acting Fire Marshal. It is expected that the findings of both will be made known in a few days. So far nothing has been found to indicate criminal negligence on the part of officials of the Atlantic Refining Company. The cause of the fire was attributed yesterday by W. M. Irish, general manager of the plant, to a broken flange connection on one of the high pressure feed pipes of one of the stills which exploded.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Seven Blast Victims Remain in Hospital.” 9-17-1921, p. 4.)
Sep 18: “Six of the victims of the Point Breeze Oil Works fire were buried yesterday, and the funerals of two others will be held tomorrow. Three of those who were buried yesterday were close neighbors and their funeral services were held from the same church. They had been ‘pals’ since they came here together from Lithuania, and were married on the same day nine years ago in the church at Fourth and Wharton streets, where Requiem Mass was celebrated yesterday by the same priest, Rev. Joseph Klochus, who married them.
“Matthew Kulis, 2908 Cantrell street, was buried from the same church. All were interred in Holy Cross Cemetery.
“David Ayton, 40 years, 1217 South Twenty-third street was buried from an undertaker’s on Federal street near Seventeenth. The Rev. J. E. Jones, of the Taber Presbyterian Church, Eighteenth and Christian streets, officiated.
“The funeral of Albert H. Brown, of 2227 South Chadwick street, one of those, who were instantly killed in the explosion, was held yesterday afternoon. Employees of the Atlantic Refining Company and members of the Ellsworth Castle, K. of M. C., and of the Piute Tribe, I. O. R., attended. Interment was in Fernwood Cemetery.
“Alexander Fife of 1711 South Hicks street, who also lost his life in the explosion, was buried yesterday afternoon from the funeral parlors at 1820 Chestnut street. Burial was private.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Funerals Held for Oil Fire Victims.” 9-18-1921, p. 15.)
Sep 18: “Philadelphia, Sept. 18. – John Keenan, 37 years old, one of the most seriously burned of those who survived the naphtha still explosion at the Point Breeze plant of the Atlantic Refining company last Wednesday, died today, bringing the death list as a result of the explosion up to twelve. Three men are still in the hospital, two of whom are reported out of danger.” (Bradford Era, PA. “Makes Death List Twelve.” 9-19-1921, p. 5.)
Sep 22: “Philadelphia, Sept. 22. – Two more deaths of victims of the Atlantic Refining company’s naphtha still explosion at Point Breeze died today, making the total death list number fourteen. Those who succumbed were John Petrischin, 35 years of age, and Thomas Kalvitis, aged 42, of Fort Mifflin. Petrischin was from Philadelphia. The accident occurred Sept. 14.” (Assoc. Press. “Two More Die from Results of Point Breeze Explosion.” Titusville Herald, PA, 9-23-1921, p. 2.)
1998: “In 1921, 16 people died in an Atlantic Refining Co. fire in Philadelphia…” (Associated Press. “Cabin Fire Among Deadliest in State.” Daily Herald, Tyrone, PA, 3-23-1998, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Cabin Fire Among Deadliest in State.” Daily Herald, Tyrone, PA, 3-23-1998, p. 1. Accessed 8-9-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=126636329&sterm
Associated Press. “Leaking Pipe Over Furnace Cause Explosion.” Daily Courier, Connellsville, PA, 9-15-1921, p. 1. Accessed 8-10-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=32941442&sterm=fire+atlantic+refining
Bradford Era, PA. “Makes Death List Twelve.” 9-19-1921, p. 5. Accessed 1-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bradford-era-sep-19-1921-p-5/
Gettysburg Times, PA. “Fiery Oil Takes Big Toll of Lives.” 9-15-1921, p. 2. Accessed 8-10-2015: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=2914817&sterm=fire+atlantic+refining
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Funerals Held for Oil Fire Victims.” 9-18-1921, p. 15. Accessed 1-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-sep-18-1921-p-15/
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “Other Major Blazes.” 1-2-1963, p. 29. Accessed 8-10-2015 at: http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201963/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201963%20-%200058.pdf
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Seven Blast Victims Remain in Hospital.” 9-17-1921, p. 4. Accessed 1-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-sep-17-1921-p-4/
Associated Press. “Two More Die from Results of Point Breeze Explosion.” Titusville Herald, PA, 9-23-1921, p. 2. Accessed 1-23-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-sep-23-1921-p-2/
[1] As far as we have been able to determine, there were not fourteen deaths on the 14th, though several of the surviving burn victims died later, bringing death toll by Sep 22 (the last date we have located reporting) to fourteen.
[2] Aug 14, killing six men. Semi-Weekly News, Lebanon, PA. “Monster Fire at Philadelphia…” 8-15-1921, pp. 1, 3.