Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-14
FIRE ON WHEELS.
A Sleeping Car on the p. r. r.
Burned to Ashes.
The Passengers Escape With Their Lives,
But With Scant Attire-Ex-con-
gresham Ben Wilson Among
the Number.
A LUOICROUS STREET SCENE.

PIrTsBURGH, March 13.-This morning,
about daybreak, the passengers on the
Washington sleeper, attached to the first
section Of the western express on the p.
r. r., which was due here at 5:46 A. NJ,
were startled by the cry Of fire" Imme-
diately all was confusion, and the occu.
pants of the berths jumped out to find the
car enveloped in flames. A dozen differ.
ent parties ran to the doors, but finding
the tram still IN motion, pulled the bell
cord. Owing to the right signal not being
given, however, the engineer paid no at
tention to it until it had been pulled sew
eral times. In the meantime
The widest Excitement
preysiled. and the passengers ran hither
and thither, not knowing what to do.
Several ladies tainted, and a number were,
with difficulty, restrained from jumping
Off The train was finally brought to
standstill and the occupants OF the car
rescued without injury. Some of them
were in their night clothes, while Others
succeeded in saving enough of their effects
to make themselves presentable.
The FIRE had not been discovered a mo-
msnt too soon, as by the time the train
stopped and the occupants Of the burning
car escaped, the whole sleeper was one
mass of flame, and inside of twenty min
utes was a heap of smOuldering ashes.
During the progress of the fire the pasSen-
gers who were without clothing
Suffered intensely
from the cold, and many were standing
around on the cold gronnd in their bare
feet. They were soon furnished with
g. IL hnxvarar onI
eyerythin done to make them as cOmfOrta-
bic as possible. After delay of half an
hour, the train started again, and arrived
here shortly before 10 o'clock. As they
stepped from the train, the unfortunate
passengers presented motley appearance.
Some of them were wrapped up in
blankets: others were without hats and
bonuets, and still others had no shoes.
Among the passengers were General Pen-
sion Agent Dudley, Col. Ben Wilson, ex-
Congressman of West Nirginia Gen.
Calkins, of Indiana, Col. Davidson, OF
Beaver, Pa, and Col. Porter, Postmaster OF
Connellsville, Pa. The make up OF num-
Der of the latter gentlemen was
Especially Ludicrous-
Col. Porter had on one boot and one slip
per, and was hatless. Col. Davidson had
his head done up in q newspaper, while
Col. Ben Wilson, attired in q blanket and
tarehead. looked for all the world like an
Indian chief on q forsging expedition.
The ladies and children aud several OF the
male passengers were conveyed to the
Seventh Avenue Hotel in carriages, where
they were soon rugged out in comfortable
wearing apparel. General Dudley, Col.
Davidson and Col Ben Wilson took quarters
at the Monongahela House, and on their
way there, in the street car, created aSensa-
ton by their grotesque costumes. Gen.
Dudley's berth was near the place where
the fire started, and he was one Of the first
10 discover il. He quietly went to
each berth and awakened the occupants
and thus perhaps saved some lives. Con-
ductor Harry Hawkins who was in charge
of the sleeper, did all in his power TO aid
the passengers TO escape, and was the
last man to leave the burning car. The
loss cannot be aPproximated. The Pull
man Company estimate their share at about
$2O eco. The loss to the passengers, OF
course, cannot be given.
Wilmora station, the point at which the
tire was discovered, is ninety-two miles
east of this city and about twelve miles
west of Gallitzin tunnel. II the fire had
taken place while the train was in the tun-
mel il is quite possible that there would
have been more serious damage, il not in
Jury TO some of the passengers.