Evening journal., 1891-05-12
FOREST FIRES.
A Train Overwhelmed by the
Fierce Flames.
sUPT. BADGER BURNED.T0 DEATH,

And Thirty of His seventy Men Severely
Injured Near Austin, Pa.-They Fled
TO q Creek, but the Water WAS Heated
to the scalding Point.
HEATING SUMMIT, Pa, May 12.-News
of a most terrible accident has just reached
here from the fire scourged lumber region
near Austin, Pa While the forest fires
were raging fiercely a work train on the
Sinnemahonng Valley railroad, in charge
Of Superintendent Badger with seventy
men on board, steamed out Of town and
up into the woods to fight the flames. The
air was dense with smoke and as the train
sped along the men on the car bent their
faces to shield them from the fierce heat
Of flames that were occasionally encoun-
tered along the road, and by the time the
train had gone four miles the forests that
line the track were burning and the train
was rapidly nearing the very centre Of the
great fire
Running the Fiery Gauntlet.
The heat became more and more intense
The air was so warm and so thick with
smoke that breathing was difficult Show
ers of sparks and burning limbs from trees
overhanging the track fell upon the open
fiat car, burning the men, who began to
murmur against going further. But Su-
perintendent Badger was plucky and ON
the train flew. Another mile had been
covered, when the heat suddenly became
doubly intense. The very core Of the great
forest fire had been reached and further
progress was impossible.
Overwhelmed by the Flames.
The clothes of the men caught fire now
and then and hands grew red and blistered.
! Superintendent Badger gave the order to
reverse the engine and retreat, but the or
der came too late The train had gone but
few rods on its new course when with an
awful roar the flames swept down upon IL.
The cars caught fire aud the men were
driven from them.
run for the creekr' shouted one Of the
men.
Sealded in the Creek.
The words were scarcely uttered before
the seventy men made wild stampede for
the friendly water Through the binding
smoke and the scorchng, roaring flames
most Of them staggered and plunged into
the creek. Screams Of pain at once escaped
them, for the water was literally boiling
and one by one they scrambled up the
bank and ran on until they reached place
/ of safety
superintendent Badger Burned TO Death.
During the stampede Superintendent
Badger became separated from his men
and must have run directly into the heart
of the fire. for today his charred remains
were found not far from the railroad
track. Several others of the crew are
missing and it Is believed they perished
| also The fire is now under control
\ Thirty persons are badly injured, fifteen
of them seriously 1t is impossible to get
the names Of the injured or to approximate
the loss.
Thirteen More May he Dead.
Later-A later report than the above
from Austin says that it is now known
that six others perished, and that thirty
others of the party were badly burned,
many probably fatally, owing to their in
haling the flames Several Others are miss
ing and their fate is yet unknown, though
their bodies are probably among the
charred remnants of the train and logs.
Relief parties started for the scene as soon
as the news was known.
As to the damage, il is known that 40,
900 feet of helmlock logs and timber
and q, 900 cords Of valuable bark have al
| ready been destroyed.