Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-19
RUDELY ROUSED.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE BURNT
SLEEPER 2
Narrow Escape Of Thirty-fiye Passengers
from Being Burned Alive-excitins,
Scenes and Incidents.

BALTIMORE, November ls.-The en-
tire particulars OF the thrilling accident
to the Pullman sleeper are "a follows:
At three o'clock Sunday morning the
Pullmrn palace sleeper, containing
thirty-five passengers, including a
number of ladies and children, took
fire from an explosion OF an oil lamp,
and was consumed, with all the personal
effects of the passengers, who made an
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 birth
in the sleeper was taken, the passengers
including VIM. Renshaw and ;. L.
Thompson, OF Baltimore, who were ell
route to st. Louis. Michael Bannon
occupied q birth in the Pittsburgh
sleeper following.
Mr.. Rensha returned to Baltimore
this evening at a late hour and registered
at Barnum's. He describes the scene on
the burning cars rs the most exciting
heeyer witnessed. The train wasrunning
at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour,
and nearly all the passengers were
asleep, when he was aroused by the
voice of a woman, apparently cry
ing, proceeding from one of the berths.
Mr. Renshaw who was occupy berth
No. 8, near the middle oil
the car, at once leaped out, and was ter
ribly startled at discovering the curtain
over one OF the forward berths in a
blaze, and volumes of smoke were being
carried through the ear by the
current OF air that swept
through the ventilators. In a few
moments scene of the most intense ex-
citement prevailed. Neither the con-
ductor nor porter of the Pullman sleep
er were on the train. Mr.. Repshaw
thinks ii ithey had been at~their posts
the fire might have been checked.
The flames swept quickly from cur
tain to curtain, and the woodwork
ignited and began burning briskly. Mr.
Renshaw seized the bell rope promptly
and pulled it several times, and in few
mInutes-which, however, seemed an
age to the terror striRked passengers-
the train was brought 10 stand still.
In the mean time the cracking flames
leaped from berth to berth, and the
dense smoke had aroused every passen-
ger, and they rushed frantically
from the berths, clad only
in their night-dresses. The ladies
and children were almost par
alvzed with terror, and their screams
for help added to the horror OF the scene.
The ladies were all in their stocking feet.
and 20 swiftly did the flames spread
that they were prevented from
saving a single article Of
wearing apparel, and when
the train was stopped they rushed into
the Pittsburgh sleeper following. Capt.
Taylor, the conductor of the train, acted
with great presence of mind in
promptly cutting off the forward
cars, and also the Pittsburgh sleeper, by
which time the st. Louis sleeper was
wrapped in flames from end to end. 1t
was not deemed possible to extinguish
the fire, and the car continued To burn
until every part Of it was consumed
with the contents.
Many exciting incidents occurred.
One of the ladies', in her terror, attempt
Ell to leap from the train, but WAS pre-
vented. An unknown man, supposed
To have been intoxicated, in getting from
an upper berth fell to the floor, and
complained OF fractured rib. None OF
the passengers saved a single article,
except the scanty apparel they had on
their backs. Mr.. Renshaw lost his
valise, containing money, watch and
other valuables. Mr.. Thompson also
lost gold watch and money.
Nmong the passengers was Mr.. Shep-
herd, of New Oaleans, with his wife and
teveral children, who, with number of
other refugees, were returning to their
homes. Their aggregate losses are heavy.
After getting the rescued passengers fn-
20 the Pittsburgh sleeper, every ell
tort was made by Conductor Taylor 10
make them comfortable. No clothing
could, however, OF course be procured,
and the ladies especially suffered severe
" from exposure, fright and cold. The
male passengers, equally slimly clad
and shoeless. suffered considerably. In
transferring them to the Pittsburgh
sleeper from the burned Pullman car
they were compelled to tramp through
the mud in the midst Of a rain storm.
The procession is spoken of a decided
" 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 continued their
journey. The train was delayed about
three hours.