The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-30
TWIN HORE) RS OF THE RAIL,
Sixty Men Imprisoned in a Burning
Car in a Flying Railway Train,
With Only One Small Window by Which to
Escape Nine Men Burned so as To
Be Unrecognizable.
A TERRIBLE SCENE.
sixty Sleeping Men Imprisoned In a Burning
Car in a Circus Train.

sixty Sleeping Men Imprisoned In a Burning
Car in a Circus Train.
GREELEY Col, Aug. 29.--The burning of
circus car, nine miles north of Greeley, was at
tended with indescrbable horrors. The burned
car was next to the engine, in train Of seven
teen cars, containing the Orleans Anglo-Amer
can Circus, which left Fort Collins about mid
night for Golden, over the Greeley, Salt Lake &
Pacific railroad. The train was nearing Wind
sor, a small station near Greeley, running about
twenty five miles an hour, when Engineer Collie
priest discovered the car on fire. He reversed the
engine, and threw open the whistle valve. There
were sixty men in the car, which was arranged
in three tiers of berths on either side. On the
forward side the door was closed and the men in
the hunks were sleeping against it, the rear-side
door was also closed, and the men who awoke
discovered the lower unoccupied berths next to
it, containing rubbish, on fire, filling the car
with smoke, cutting off escape in that direction.
The only means Of egress was through small
window between the car and the en-
opening and tried to pass in
water from the engine tank. Owing to the suf
locating gases, it was difficult to arouse the
sleepers Some were kicked and bruised in
shocking manner, and pitched out the window.
The screams of those unable to get through the
blocked aperture were terrifying. The wild
glare of the flames and the light of the burning
car showed the victims outside, writing on the
cactus beds, and, this caused the wild beasts in
the adjoining car to become frantic with terror,
making the scene appalling. The farmers who
1sed fhnr cd Of
the awful picture.
In the midst of the confusion two or three
heroic souls appeared equal to the occasion, and
bravely cut their way to their companions al
ready in the agonies of death. An old Pacific
coast sailor named Mcdonald, formerly with
Forepaugh's show, was terribly burned, his flesh
hanging in shreds. The heartrending cries of the
men on the prairie smotherod the appeals of the
dying within the car. The roaring of the flames
and the bowling of the animals made the scene
terrible beyond description. The odor of roast
ing flesh and the distant cry of coyotes added to
the horror Of the scene
Meantime the engine had gone to Greeley for
assistance returning with DR.. Jessie Halves,
president Of the State Medical Association
Many of the rescued, on being pulled through
the small window had limbs broken, and Joints
dislocated; hands and feet were found burned
OF; roasted trunks, and piles of roasted and
Shriveled carcaSses were pulled out of the ruins.
At daylight fat car carried the charred bodies
into Greeley for interment The county COM
missioners buried the remains in a huge coffin
seven feet wide and ten feet long, in the Greeley
cemetery. The coroner empanneled q jury,
who were unable to learn the cause Of the fire.
or any important facts as the mana
gers with the remainder Of the
company left Immediately for Golden to fill
their afternoon engagement It is impossible to
get complete list Of the dead, as many had
been engaged but day or two. The names of
the dead as far as known, are as follows:
Thomas Mccarthy, Independence Ia; John
Kelly New York city. The others were known
as Silverthorn, Andy, Frenchy, Frank, George,
Smithie and one was unknown.
Following is list of the sufferers from the
circus car now in ST Luke's Hospital,
at Denver: Albert Borden, aged eight
cen, of Logan, Kan, arms and face badly
burned; Thomas Golden, aged seventeen, Of
Detroit very badly burned on back and legs
Frank King of Menpminee, Mich, badly burned
about the hands and feet: M. McGlinn aged
twenty eight, of Holton, Mich, face and hands
injured and badly burned about arms, hands
and back; will probably die.
A number Of the rescued agree that in the car
were two barrels Of gasoline, which were ex
ploded, either by sparks from the engine or
from a naked torch with which the men were &C
customed to light themselves to bed.