McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-09-04
A MIDNIGHT HORROR.
Ton Mem Roasted to Death In Circss Car on
a Colorado Railroad.


zsn Mem Roasted to Death In a Csrcss Car on
a Colorado Railroad.
Denver telegram: Last night train be
longing to the Anglo-American circus, Miles
Orton proprietor. left Fort Collins for Golden
via the Greeley. Salt Lake and Pacific road.
Forty minutes later, when near Greedy, a
sleeping car, In which seventy-five men en-
ployed as roustabouts of the circus we're
asleep, caught fire and was wholly consumed.
Ten men persisted ana two were seriously and
five slightly burned. The fire was commune
Gated from an open torch with which the car
was lighted to quantity of gasoline which
was being carried In the same car, causing an
explosion. The accident was attended with
Understandable horrors. The burned car was
next TO the engine In train Of seventeen
cars, containing 0rton's Anglo,American cir
Gus, which left Fort Collins about midniIht
for Golden over the Greeley, Salt Lake and
Pacific road. The train was nearing Windsor,
small station near Greeley, rum ng about
Colleprie t discovered that the car was on
fire. He reversed the engine and threw open
the whistle valve. There were sixty men on
the car arranged in three tiers of hunks on
either side. The forward door was closed and
the men were in hunks sleeping against 1t.
Inc rear side door was closed, and the men
who awoke discovered the lower unoccupid
berth next to 1t on fire, billing the car with
smoke and cutting OFF escape in that
direction. The only means of egress
was through small window between the car
and the engine. John Pine, of Edgerton, Wis,
and Elmer Millett, of Iowa, crawled through
the opening and tried to pass In water from
the engine tank, but owing to suffocating
gases ii was difficult to arouse the sleepers.
Some were kicked and bruised In shocking
manner and pitched out of the window. The
screams of those unable to get through the
blockade were terrifying The wild glare of
the flames and light of the burning victims
outside, who were writhing in agony on cac-
tus beds, caused the wild beasts in the adjoin-
ing car to become frantic with terror, making
the scene appalling. The performers, who
occupied the rear cars gaZed with viii faces
confusion two or three heroic souls appeared
equal to the occasion, and bravely cut their
way to their companions to find them already
in the agony of death.
OAlbert Lake, in charge of the animals, and
his friend Keat walked over the cactus in
their bare feet, pouring oil on the blistered
unfortunates and wrapping them in blankets
An old Pacific coast sailor named Mcdonald,
formerly of Forepaugh's show, was terribly
burned, his flesh hanging in shreds.
The heart-rending cries of the men on the
prairie smothered the appeals of the dying
within the car. The roar of the flames and
the bowling of the animals made the scene
terrible beyond description. The odor Of
roasting flesh and the distant cry of coyotes
added to the general horror Of the scene. The
voices OF the dying grew fainter and soon
ceased.
assistance, returning with DIR. Jesse Harris,
president of the state medical association.
Many of the rescued, in being pulled through
the small window, had limbs broken and
joints dislocated. Hands and feet were found
burned off. Roasted trunks of bod es were
found in one place, legs in another and piles
of roasted shriveled carcasses were pulled out
of the ruins.
At daylight fiat car carried the charred
bodies into Greeley forinterment. The coun-
ty commissioner buried the remains in huge
coffin, seven feet wide by ten feet long. in the
Greedy cemetery. Rev. Mr.. Reed, of the Pres
byterian church, conducted the funeral SER
vices. The coroner empaneled q jury, who
were unable to learn the cause of the fire or
any important facts, as the managers, with
the remainder of the company, left Immediate
ly for Golden to fill the afternoon engage
ment.
The names of the dead as far as known are
as follows:
Thos McCaftoy, Independence, Ia.
John Kelly, New York city, and others
known as "Severthorn," ANDY" "Frenchy."
Prank" George and 'Smithie,' and one
The following is list of the sufferers:
E. E. Fairbanks, age y, arms, legs face and
body burned.
face and body badly burned.
Thomas Golden, aged IL, Detroit, Mich, very
badly burned on back and legs.
N. j. Zimmerman, aged lS, ST. Louis, Mich,
Frank King, of Michigan, was badly burned
about the hands and face.
Michael McGlinn, aged %, Holton, Mich,
face and hands badly burned.
Hugh O'Donnell aged 81, New Orleans, La,
badly burned about the face, arms, hands and
back, and will probably died.
A number of the rescued agree that in the
car were two barrels of gasoline, which were
exploded either by sparks from The engine or
from a naked torch with which the men were
accustomed to light themselves to bed.