Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-02-03
WHAT A PASSENGER SAW.

Inc passengers on the train wrecked ut Tfogl
Station reached New York tonight. Among
them was Henry C.vilas, of Cleveland, General
Manager of the South Shore Line, one of the
passengers in the forward sleeping car. He
said to Tribune reporter: 1.-The crash oc
CURED at about II rs o'clock, 1 should think
some time after had gone to bed. 1t was
very severe, and woke with a start. Hastily
putting on my coat, rushed out and found
myself one of the first on the ground. At once
began to look out for the unfortunate people
In the forward cars. The scene that presented
itself was terrible. The postal car which was
directly behind the engine, had been
angles to the track, at O distance
OF nearly one hundred feet, and
1t was smashed all to pieces. The flames i'm.
mediately began to rise from it, doubtless
caused by the fire in the stoves and the ex-
ploson of the kerosene lamps with which the
car was lighted, and in less than five minutes
the whole car was in q blaze, which lighted up
the bare fields around with CHASTITY glare II
lay in heap under a large elm tree, which
soon took fire and was enveloped in flames.
Nothing could be seen at first OF the mail
clerks who had occupied the car, and no sound
was heard from them. But when the roof Of
the car caved in three of the bodies could be-
distinctly seen huddIed up in one corner OF
the car, where it is supposed they were thrown|
and killed by the first shock. The other body
was found in the opposite end Of the car, and
all were SO charred and blackened that identiI
fcation was almost impossible.
"The cars which followed the postal ca
were not thrown from the roadway, but wer&
lying across the track in the utmost confu
sion. The express and baggage cars and TN
smoking car were Off the track, and the frs
caught fire Immediately. The door to it wa
completely blocked by the express matter Il
the car, and Brewer, the agent, was imprid
Oned amid the flames. His cries attracte|
attention and great efforts were made to e.
tricate him from his terrible position, but
vain. He had managed to get his head out d
a small window in the end of the car, wher
he begged in piteous tones for those outsfd
to save him. The door was forced open a fe
inches, which let in the air, and the fam
bursting out of the window, he fell back wit
groan and was not seen again alive. IT
passengers had by this time collected from
parts of the train, and were supplied with sho
els from the village. They tried to ext
guish the flames by throwing snow up
the burning cars. They were so(
assisted by the Fire Department of Owes
The three forward cars were burning at
same time, and soon afterward the smokfr
car began to blaze. One Of these had been
cupied by the Alabama Negro Minst
Troupe, the members Of which had been a
to escape without any further injuries III
some severe scratches and bruises. This
was lying on It's side, and it was some time
fore all got out with the assistance of tho
outside. The baggage-master, Perry, W
found to have dislocated his arm, al
assisted two other men in pulli1
his arm into Joint while he lay
the snow. After this he worked Ii q
= Trojan, and with the help of some Of tie
passengers he was able tn save everv nioce n,
baggage. The GOODNESS and good discipline
displayed by the employees on the train was re-
1t was by their efforts that a seri-
,us panic was prevented. As It was. all the
passengers were at first much frightened,
many rushed from the cars, half dressed, but |
when they saw the danger was over they be- |
.ame quiet, and were very willing to lend their |
assistance in caring for those who were in |
ured and in putting out the fire."