The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-02-04
WHAT A PASSENGER SAW.
NEW YORK. January


Station reached New York tonight. Among
them was Henry C.vilas, of Cleveland, 4 General
Manager of the South Shore Line, one of the
passengers in the forward sleeping car. He
said to q Tribune reporter: 1.-The crash Oc-
CURED at about IL :55 o'clock, should think
some time after had gone to bed. 1t was
very severe, and woke with a start Hastily
putting on my coat, I rushed out and found
myself one of the first on the ground. At once
began to look out tor 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
thrown of into field at right
angles to the track, at a distance
of nearly one hundred feet, and
it 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-
plosion of the kerosene lamps with which the
car was lighted, and in less than five minutes
the whole Car was in a blaze which lighted up
the bare fields around with CHASTITY glare. 1t
lay in heap under 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 tho car. and no sound
was heard from them. But when the roof OF
the car caved in three of the bodies could be
OlSlIuCIIy SCC1 uuuuiCu ny IA OAS SoA"SA "a
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 identi-
fication was almost impossible.
"The cars which followed the postal car
were not thrown from the roadway, but were
lying across the track in the utmost confu-
sion. The express and baggage cars and the
off ha and tho first
caught fire immediat ely. The door to it was
the car, and Brewer, the agent, was impris-
oned amid the flames. His cries attracted
attention and great efforts were made to ex-
tricate him from his terrible position but in
vain He had managed to get his head out of
q small window in the end of the car, where
he begged in piteous tones for those outside
to save him. The door was forced open few
inches, which let in the air, and the flames
bursting out of the window, he fell pack with
groan and was not seen again alive. The
passengers had by this time collected from all
parts of the train, and were supplied with shov-
els from the village. They tried to extin.
guish the flames by throwing snow upon
the burning cars. They were soon
assisted by the Fire Department of Owego.
The three forward cars were burning at the
same time, anu SOOu dltcTWdIu Tue bIuOhluB.
car began to blaze. One of these had been oc-
cupied by the Alabama Negro Minstrel
Troupe, the members Of which had been able
to escape without any further injuries than
some severe scratches and bruises. This car
was lying on its side, and it was some time be-
fore all got out with the assistance of those
outside. Tho baggage-master, Perry, was
found to have dislocated his arm, and
I assisted two other men in pulling
his arm into joint while he lay on
the snow. After this he worked like
Trojan, and with the help Of some Of the
passengers he was able to save every piece Of
baggage. The GOODNESS and good discipline
displayed by the employees on the train was re-
markable. It was by their efforts that seSi-
Gus panic was prevented. As 1t 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.
came quiet, and were very willing to lend their
assistance in caring for those who were in
jured and In putting out the fire."