The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-17

Further Detail. or dr. Terrible Railroad
Disaster Near Bradford, Penn'-stntements
or Passengers.

terrible and singular railroad accident re-
ported in our tclegraphic columns yesterday
morning:
One OF those calamities peculiar TO the
oil regions startled the people OF Bradford
to-day. A passenger train on the Brad
ford, Bordell and kinzua railroad was to-
I tally destroyed by fire.
The train which was due In this city from
Wellsville, N. Y, at 10 O'Clock this morn
ing when within three miles OF the city ran
into river OF oil which had escaped from
bursted tank on the hillside, and run
ming down the snow had covered the bed
OF the railroad track for over half-mie.
The grade ut that point Is very steep. and
the oil coursed down It's bank as II 1t were
stream OF water. There Is sharp curve
close by, and before the engineer knew 1t
his train was passing over the hjghly-in-
flammable oil. II ignited from the furnace
OF the engine, and Immediately set the
entire train on fire. Then followed
scene not easily portrayed.
The train, which was made up Of bag
gage-car and ladies' coach, was filled with
passengers. so great was the crush that
many went into the baggage-car. The ter
rble heat from the burning river OF oil in-
stantly cracked and shattered every vim
dow in the ear. The flames lelped in
through the doors, the windows. and
through the ventilators. The car-wheels
splashed through the burning oil, scatter
ing IL along the bottom OF the cars.
There were seas OF flames on all sides
and death seemed to stare every passenger
In the face. Those nearest to the ends OF
the ears dashed through the doors to be
met by Kissing flames, which. tapping their
heads, faces, and hands, left terrible burns
behind. The high snow banks which lined
the road and came almost to a level with
the car-windOws afforded the imprisoned
passengers possible means OF safety.
Men, women, and children jumped or
were forced through the windows. The
majority fell into the snow and rolled over
and over down the steep hillside. All who
were in the baggage.car escaped with
their lives, although several were badly
burned.
The heat in the engine cab was terrible.
The engineer. Patrick Sexton, could see
nothing but flame and smoke ahead OF him.
When the train entered the oil he thought
It would speedily pass through it without
great danger. and he pulled the throttle
wide open. The burning oil, however,
ran faster than the engine. and the wood
work OF the cab was soon In flames.
Down the grade. through the heat and
| flame and smoke, Numbered the train.
| Seeing that he could not run through the
flames, the engineer reversed his engine,
and with bis fireman, Mike Walsh, jumped
INTO the snow. They were terribly burned,
but both managed to walk to the nearest
clearinghouse, two miles away. The en-
nine and cars were thrown down the eni-
| bankment.
Mrs. i. G. Fair, OF Kinzua Junction,
was burned beyond recognition. She had
been married two years. Her husband
was in the baggage-car. and was unable to
20 10 her assistance. George Mccartney,
the train news agent, was badly burned IN
attempting her rescue. Miss Katie Moran,
of Aliens, Pa, was burned to a crisp.
Mrs. Libias Jones, OF Rev City, was burn
ed to crisp. Mrs. Connolly, OF Rev City,
who was at one time reported dead, es-
capped with slight injuries, and was able to
90 home this afternoon.
or the injured, Professor Taught Tar
port is not expected to live. Patrick Sex
| ton. the engineer, is terribly burned about
the face and hands. Mike Walsh, the fire
man, is horribly burned about the face and
arms. w. III. Belnap, Aiken, jumped from
the train and was injured internally. Jer-
~ Denegan. a brakeman, had his hands
badly cut. Charles Heidicke. the express
messenger, was burned about the
hands. Captain Hoe, OF Boston. Mass,
was burned about the face and head. o..
II. Peabody, OF Rochester, n. u, was
burned about the head and face, and his
hands were cut. X. Il. Crane. OF Bradford,
was badly burned about the face and
hands. Mr.. Wright, OF Rev City, Penn,
was badly burned about the face and
head. f. W. Townsend, the conductor,
was badly burned about the face and
hands. George Mccartney, ncw>boy,
was terribly burned about the head and
hands, and is not expected to live. \. n.
Carpenter. OF Little Genesee. \. Y, had
his head. face, and left hand burned.
Jerry Haggerty. OF Ceres. \. l.. was
badly burned about the head. Mrs. Black,
daughter, and son, OF Aiken, were burned
about the heads and hands. Mrs. Black
was the most severely burned. q. w. Van,
wife. and son, OF Indianapolis, were Sc
riNlsly burned. The boy was badly
burned about the face and hands. John
Kofoer, OF Aiken, was terribly burned
about the face and hands. L. p. Fletcher,
OF Bolivar, y. Y, was badly burned about
the face and head. Il. c. Farley, OF An
| dover, ". Y. was burned about the face,
head. and hands. Maud Proctor, aged
ten. jumped through window and was
uninjured. Mrs. Thomas Parker, OF Bor-
dell, Penn, threw her iour-y ear-old girl out
OF the window and followed after her. and
escaped with slight burns and bruises.
As soon rs word reached Bradford OF the
disaster relief train supplied with cots
was made up and sent to the scene OF the
wreck. President Carter was on board
with full corps of surgeons, and rendered
all the relief possible.
John Burke, of Dunkirk, y. T., with
his sister, was on the train. His account
OF the disaster Is rs follows:
s.Tbe train was running ut the rate OF
fifteen miles an hour. Suddenly the cal
became dark. Jets and tongues OF flames
leaped upon the sides and through the ven
tilators OF the car. The glass cracked with
n snap and the heat became uncomfortable.
I knew at once that we were passing
through an oil fire. Turning to my sister
Mary / said, We are passing through an
oil fire be quiet, it will soon be over.
People began to jump through the win
dows, ON all sides were heard the crashing
Of the glass and the deafening roar OF
the flames. II seemed as il we wert
all doomed to burn to death. The situa
ton was terrible. Women and children
were picked up by strong hands and bodi
w thrown through the windows. They
Jared better than the few who dasheC
through the doors into the ocean OF flame'
which surged to and fro like huge wa,e
upon the bed OF the road. Those wh'
Jumped from the windows landed in grea
drifts Of snow, while those who wen
through the doors had their hands, faces