Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-24
A Burning Sleeping ar-Narrow Es.
CapeS.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, March Is.

PITTSBURGH, Pa, March ID.
The passengers occupying one of the Pull
man sleepers drawn by the Western express,
on the Pennsylvania Railroad, had a thrilling
experience at Wilmore Station, a few miles
this side of ALTOONA, shortly after five O'clock
thism morning. The train had passed Cresson,
and was nearing Wilmore, with all aboard
obllvious OF their danger, when a tiny tongue
of flame shot out from among the curtains
near the end of the rear car, gradually bu,
surely developing into an alarming blaze.
A passenger in berth No. ], Mr.. Pallern, of
Baltimore, who was not sleeping very heavily
ut the time, was aroused by the smell of the
burning tapestry, and an instant later he
sprang out of his berth, fully alert to the peril
of the moment, and gave the alarm. Imme-
diately all was confusion, and the occupants
OF the berths jumped out to find the car en-
veloped in flame. A dozen persons ran to the
doors, but finding the train still in motion
pulled the bell-cord. Owing to the right signal
not being given, however, the engineer paid no
attention to it until it had been pulled several
times. In the meantime tn widest excite
mont prevailed, and the passengers ran hither
and thither, not knowing what to do. Several
ladies tainted, and a number were! with diff
GUILTY prevented from jumping on.
The train was finally brought to q stand-still,
ana the occupants of the car rushed out Some
OF them were in their night-clothes, while 9th.
ers succeeded in saving enough of their eff
fects to make themselves appear respectable.
The fire had not been discovered a moment
too soon, as by the time the train stopped and
.he occupants of the burning car had escaped.
Ne whole sleeper was one mass of flame, and
inside of twenty minutes was a heap of smoul-
dering ashes.
Or the twenty-si4 passengers who had oecu-
pied the burned cur, twenty were gentlemen.
four were ladies, and the others were children.
fortunately none OF them were injured. As
tney stepped from the train they presented a
motley appearance. Some of them were
wrapped in blankets; others were without
hats and bonnets, and still others had no shoes.
Among the passengers were General Pension
Agent Dudley, Colonel Benjamin Wilson. an
ex-Congressman Of West Virginia; General
Calkins, of Indiana; Colonel Davidson. of
Beaver. Pa; and Colonel Porter, Postmaster
of Connellsville. Pa.
The makeup of q number Of the gentlemen
was ludicrous. Colonel Porter had on one
boot and one slipper, and was hatless. Colonel
Davidson had his head done up in a newspa.
per, while Colonel Ben Wilson,, attired in a
blanket and bare-headed, looked for all the
world lk an Indian chief on a foraging expo
dition. General Dudley is said to have been
the coolest person on the car, and by his wise
counse did much to allay the fears of the la.
dies and children. zsav,-a
The fire originated in the rrarof the car. and
1s supposed to have been cavsed either by the
overturning of alamp or frsm the stove. Con.
ductor Harry Hawkins, whe was in charge of
the sleeper, did all in his power to aid the pass.
engers to escape, and was the last man to leave
the burning car.
The loss can not be Appropriated. The
Pullman. Company estimate their share al
about $4,000. The loss to the passengers was
considerable in clothing, watches and jewelry.
Some of them also lost considerable sums of
money. Upon their arriva! here the unfortu.
nate were kindly cared for, and were soon.put
in presentable condition.