Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-11-23

miles east Of Cumberland, about 3
O'Clock Sunday morning last. The Pull
man palace sleeper, containing So pas
sengers, including anumber of ladies
and children, took fire from an explo-
sion of an oil lamp and was consumed,
with all the personal effects OF the pas
sengers, who made All almost miraculous
escape from being burned alive. The
train was composed of two oyster cars,
the Pullman sleeper, for st. Louis; the
Pittsburgh sleeper, Immediately follow
ing, and several coaches. Every berth
in the sleeper was occupied, the passen,
gers including Mr.. VIM. Renshaw and
S. p. Thompson, of Baltimore, who were
en- route to st. Louis Mr. Michael Ban
non occupied berth in the Pittsburgh
sleeper following. He describes the
scene in the burning car as the most
exciting he ever witnessed. The tram
was running at the rate OF 20 miles an
hour, and nearly all the passengers were
asleep. when he was aroused by the
voice of a woman, appa entity crying,
proceeding from one of the berths. MIR.
Renshaw who was occupying berth NO.
6, near the middle of the car, at once
leaped out and was terribly startled at
discovering the curtains over one of the
forward berths in blaze, and volumes
of smoke were being carried through
the car by the current OF air that swept
through the yentlators. In few mo-
ments a scene of the most intense eX-
citemeut prevailed Neither the con-
ductor nor porter of the Pullman sleeper
was on the train. Mr.. Renshaw thinks
if they had been at their posts the fre
might have been checked. The flames
swept quickly from curtain 10 curtain,
a ID the woodwork iGnited and began
burning briskly. Mr. Renshaw seized
the bell rope promptly and pulled it
several times, ana in few minutes,
which. however, seemed ali age to the
terror-stricken passengers, the train was
brought to a Stand-still. In the mean
time the cracking flames, leaping from
berth to berth, and dense smoke had
aroused every passenger, and they rush
cd frantically from the bcrths, clad only
in their night-dresses. The ladies and
children were almost paralyzcd with
terror, and their screams for he p added
10 the horror of the scene. The ladies
were all in their stocking feet, and so
swiftly did the flames spread that they
were prevented from saving single
article of wearing apparel and when the
train was stopped they rushed in their
half clad condition into the Pttsburg
sleeper that WAS following. Captain
TAYLOR, the conductor of the train, acted
with great presence OF mind in prompt
" cutting off the toward cars and also
the Pi,tsbug sleeper, by which time the
ST Louis sleeper was enwrapped IN
flames from end to end. 1t was not
deemed possible to attempt TO extin-
nuish the fire and the car continued to
burn until every part of it was consum-
ed with the contents. Many exciting
incidents occurred. One Of the ladies
in her terror attempted to leap from the
train, but was prevented by Mr.. Ken
shaw and others. An unknown man,
supposed 10 have been intoxicated, in
getting from an upper berth tell TO the
floor aud complained of a fractured rib.
None of the passengers saved q single
article except the scanty apparel they
had OIL their backs. Mr. Renshaw lost
his hand valise, containing money, watch
and other valuables. Mr. Thompson
also lost gold watch, money and other
valuables. Among the passengers was
Mr.. Henry Shepherd, of New Orleans,
with his wife and several children, who
with number OF others were returning
TO their homes. Their aggregate losses
are heavy. After getting the rescued
passen gers into the Pittsburg sleeper
every effort was made by Conductor
TAYLOR TO make them comfortable No
clothing could, however, OF course be
procured, and the ladies especially suf
fered severely from exposure, fright and
cold. The male adult passengers equal
ly slmly clad and shoeless, also suffered
considerably. In transferring them to
the Pittsburg sleeper from the burned
Pullman car they were compelled to
tramp through the mud in the midst Of
a rain-stora. The procession is spoken
of as decidedly unique, the costumes OF
both males and females being of the
scantiest description possible. They
were all promptly forwarded to Cum
berland, where they obtained supplies
of clothing from their baggage in the
baggage car and nearly all continued
their journey. Mr.. Thompson was
among those who were en- route to St.
Louis and continued bis trip. The train
was delayed about three hours. Soon
after daybreak the track was cleared
and a search made by Mr.. French, sup
erintendent, of the Cumberland division,
for valuables among the debris of the
wreck. A pair, of valuable gold brace
lets, a coral breastpin, several gold
watches, half melted, and other jewelry
was found The burned Car cost $751;
900 and this loss falls on the Pullman
company, while it is presumed the Bal
timore and Ohio company will make
good the losses OF. the passengers. The
origin Of the explosion is enveloped in
mystery. The lamp, glass one OF the
usual pattern, was filled with mixture
OF coal aud lard oil, presumably dan
gerous compound, judging from the
manner Of the explosion. Mr.. Renshaw |
regards II as most remarkable and pro-
vidential that during the alarm aud ex-
citement in the burning car none of the