1927 — April 6, Explosion and fire, Producers and Refiners Oil Refinery, Parco, WY —     17

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-27-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–17  Blanchard. It is clear that the death of Preston L. Welch on April 11 was 17th and last death.[1]

–17  AP. “Fifteen Dead From Explosion at Oil Refinery.” Sedalia Democrat, MO. 4-8-1927, p.6.[2]

–17  AP. “Refinery Blast Victims Seventeen.” Salt Lake Tribune, UT. 4-12-1927, p. 13.

–17  AP. “Seventeen Killed…Town Wrecked by Explosion.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 4-7-1927, p.1.[3]

–16  AP. “Parco Blast Fatality Toll May Reach 17.” Billings Gazette, MT. 4-11-1927, p. 1.

–16  AP. “Parco Windows Dark in Sorrow For Loved Ones.” Billings Gazette, 4-9-1927, p. 1.

–16  AP. “Refinery Blast Victim Buried at Parco.” Salt Lake Tribune, 4-10-1927, p. 7.

–16  Mast, Tom. “Refining Wyoming’s Oil for 120 years.” Wyohistory.org. 3-1-2015.

–16  NFPA. “Fires in Which There Was Loss of Life.” NFPA Quarterly, V21/N1, 1927, p. 103.

–15  Star Valley Independent, Afton, WY. “Fifteen Dead in Refinery Explosion at Parco..” 4-8-1927, 1.

 Narrative Information

Mast: “…April 6, 1927…at the Parco Refinery east of Rawlins…Sixteen men were killed when a chamber in a high-pressure still exploded, which set off a fiery chain reaction to other stills and oil storage tanks.”

Newspapers

 

April 6, Associated Press: “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….  The explosion rocked this unique oil town… 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….Sixteen bodies have been taken from the plant. Fourteen of them were identified….All of the men who were killed were married and most of them had one to three children.” (AP. “Seventeen Killed and Model Oil Town Wrecked by Explosion.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 4-7-1927, p.1.)

 

April 8, AP: “By The Associated Press. Parco, Wyoming. – The death toll in the explosion in the Producers and Refiners Oil Refining plant here Wednesday reached 17 at noon with the death of Calvin Smith in a hospital at Rawlins. Sixteen bodies have been taken from the plant, 14 of which have been identified.

….

“The identified dead were: [We add numbering]

 

  1. John Paul Palmer, 30.
  2. Frank Taylor, 30.
  3. W. Dobb, 42.
  4. Frederick Jesmer, 27.
  5. C. Speyerer, 49.
  6. Albert Smith, 25.
  7. Victor Nickerson, 35.
  8. Clarence Posey, 27.
  9. Victoriano Montoya, 37.
  10. R. Welsh, 32.
  11. G. Turpin, 26.
  12. Orcelo Martinez, 36.

 

“The missing were:

 

  1. M. Sherman, 41. [Died. Body forwarded to Fort Morgan, CO, for burial.][4]
  2. O. Eby, 27.
  3. Arthur Ayala. [Died – funeral services announced on April 8.][5]
  4. Calvin Smith. [Noted above as having died in a hospital at Rawlings.]

 

“George Evans Curry was believed to be fatally burned. He was in a hospital at Rawlins, as were P. L. Welsh, Calvin Smith and George Byron Polk, who were severely burned.

 

“All of the men who were killed were married and most of them had one to three children.” (AP. “Fifteen Dead From Explosion at Oil Refinery.” The Sedalia Democrat, MO. 4-8-1927, p. 6.)

 

April 8, AP: “Rawlins, Wyo., April 8. – (AP) – The death toll of the Producers & Refiners corporation oil refinery blast at Parco Wednesday may reach 17. Preston L. Welch, who suffered severe burns in the fire following the explosion has been unconscious in a hospital here since Thursday night, and his condition was described by attendants as critical. G. B. Polk and T. W. Whiting apparently will recover.” (Associated Press. “Parco Windows Dark in Sorrow For Loved Ones.” Billings Gazette, MT. 4-9-1927, p. 1.)

 

April 9, AP: “Rawlins, Wyo., April 9 (AP) – Funeral services were being held here today for the last of the sixteen victims of the Producers & Refiners’ oil refinery explosion and fire on Wednesday.

 

“Preston L. Welch, suffering from severe burs and whose condition yesterday was regarded as critical, had improved today….” (Associated Press. “Refinery Blast Victim Buried at Parco.” Salt Lake Tribune, 4-10-1927, p. 7.)

 

April 10, AP: “Rawlins, Wyo., April 10. – (AP) – The condition of Preston L. Welch, who received severe burns in the refinery explosion and fire at Parco last Wednesday, when 16 workmen were killed or fatally injured, was said by attendants Sunday night again to be extremely critical. T. W. Whiting and G. B. Polk are slowly recovering…” (Associated Press. “Parco Blast Fatality Toll May Reach 17.” Billings Gazette, MT. 4-11-1927, p. 1.)

 

April 11, AP: “Rawlins, Wyo., April 11 (AP) – The death toll of last week’s Producers and Refiners Oil refinery explosion and fire at Parco, which reached seventeen with the death early today of Preston L. Welch in a hospital here, likely will remain at that figure, hospital officials said. T. W. Whiting and G. B. Polk, although severely burned, show every indication of recovery. Welch leaves his widow and a daughter, 7 years old, which brings the list of dependents to fifteen widows and thirty-four children.” (Associated Press. “Refinery Blast Victims Seventeen.” Salt Lake Tribune, UT. 4-12-1927, p. 13.)

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Fifteen Dead From Explosion at Oil Refinery.” The Sedalia Democrat, MO. 4-8-1927, p. 6. Accessed 2-28-2025: https://newspaperarchive.com/sedalia-democrat-apr-08-1927-p-18/

 

Associated Press. “Parco Blast Fatality Toll May Reach 17.” Billings Gazette, MT. 4-11-1927, p. 1. Accessed 2-28-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/billings-gazette-apr-11-1927-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Parco Windows Dark in Sorrow For Loved Ones.” Billings Gazette, 4-9-1927, p. 1. Accessed 2-28-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/billings-gazette-apr-09-1927-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Refinery Blast Victim Buried at Parco.” Salt Lake Tribune, 4-10-1927, p. 7. Accessed 2-28-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-tribune-apr-10-1927-p-31/

 

Associated Press. “Refinery Blast Victims Seventeen.” Salt Lake Tribune, UT. 4-12-1927, p. 13. Accessed 2-28-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-tribune-apr-12-1927-p-13/

 

Associated Press. “Seventeen Killed and Model Oil Town Wrecked by Explosion.” Beatrice Daily Sun, NE, 4-7-1927, p.1. Accessed 2-28-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/beatrice-daily-sun-apr-07-1927-p-1/

 

Mast, Tom. “Refining Wyoming’s Oil for 120 years.” Wyoming Historical Society. 3-1-2015. Accessed 2-28-2025 at: https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/refining-wyomings-oil-120-years

 

National Fire Protection Association. “Fires in Which There Was Loss of Life.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 21, No. 1, July 1927, p. 103.

 

Star Valley Independent, Afton, WY. “Fifteen Dead in Refinery Explosion at Parco, Wyo.” 4-8-1927, p. 1. Accessed 2-28-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/afton-star-valley-independent-apr-08-1927-p-1/

[1] We sought to search for notices on the condition of Polk and Whiting through the end of May without success.

[2] Despite headline, article states death toll had risen to 17 [incorrectly]. Sixteen dead or missing are named.

[3] Premature. 17th death was that of Preston L. Welch on April 11.

[4] Associated Press. “Parco Windows Dark in Sorrow For Loved Ones.” Billings Gazette, 4-9-1927, p. 1.

[5] Associated Press. “Parco Windows Dark in Sorrow For Loved Ones.” Billings Gazette, 4-9-1927, p. 1.