The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-01-26
DEATH TO THIRTY PEOPLE
THE AWFUL RECORD OF AN
Accident on the Big -Four Railroad at
Alton Junction Caused by an
Open Switch.

AT the Alton Function, Alton, ILL.,, on
Saturday, 30 people were either killed out
night or fatally injured and many Others
badly hurt, by the fast express running into
IN open switch and colliding with a freight
train. TO add to theIhorror, an oil tank car
exploded, setting fire TO the wreckage and
burning up unfortunate passengers pinned
fast to the debris
The list Of dead is as follows
Webb Ross. Mattoon. Ills: Hirman Cor.
nelius; Iowa; Edward " Miller, Alton
Junction. two unidentified men; William
hhettuck, Upper Alton, H.; Henry,Penning
Wann, H., Willie McCarty, Alton, ILL.,; John
Locke, Alton Edward Maurin, Alton;
Daniel lIarer. Alton junction. William
Mantle, Foslerburg Ill. Charles Ut, Alton
William II. Miller, Alton, Charles Harms
Alton John wilkinson, Alton
OF the injured, IL cannot recover. They
ere otto Hagewan, Alton; John Frod, Alton
Joseph Hermann, Alton Henry Pilgrim,
Alton; John Luttell, Alton, William b.
Richardson, Alton; \. T. Frazer, st. Louis
Frank Barth, BrantiOrd, Canada; Frank
Scully, Alton; John Burke, Alton, William
Miller Alton Junction, ---- Murray. Upper
Alton; -- Rototf Cppe- Alton.
Those WHO sustained serious injuries. but
who will probably recover are. Mrs a. J..
gins, Alton Junction George Staples, Alton
Junction, John Pike, Alton Herr Musk. Al
ton, Irene McCaldwcll Alton; LOUIS Deufe
Montreal; Henry Staples Uniontown Ky.
- Montgomery, Alton Dalton Harris. Al
ton Junction; Frank Barton. stamford
Ont Louis Mcintosh, Alton Junction.
William Mcintosh. Alton Junction; John
Henry Alton Junction; John Nonahau
East ~. Louis; James Mullane. Alton juno
ton, Charles Harris Alton. W. &. Harris
Alton; Pamentine Valentine. Philadelphia
Charles Hamilton. Alton Junction; T. Men.
hans. Alton Pat O Meara. Alton. I. Il. job
Alton; John Seister, Alton, ltphriam Rich
nrdson Alton; John Finley. Alton; John
McPike, Alton Evan Caldwell, Alton. lat.
rick Finley Alton, Charles Crow, Alton.
Beside these there are more than score
who sustained injuries of a more or less SCI
lous nature whose names could not be-
learned. All the dead were burned to death
10y the flaming oil. OF the fatally injured
all are more or less seriously burned about
the limbs and body but the worst INJURIES
sustained are feariully burned hands and
faces Many are also injured internally
from inhaling the flames which scorChed
and parched their throats to such an extent
that their escape from instant death is al.
most miraculous.
SCENES on AWFUL suFFFRtSG.
The scenes In the wards occupied uy tn.
injured are heartrending living on cots
almost lose semblance to human being. and
surrounded by weeping relatives and sorrow.
ing friends they form picture that brings
tears 20 the eyes of even the phys aus
The meanings of The patients are piteous.
Every few moments some tortured soul
writhng IN agony, half rises iiom his couch
and then falls back, suffering more intense
pain than before. Seeming 10 know by in
tuition when the physician is near them,
they be- piteously to he relieved from their
pain 2 doctor, for God $ sake kill me and
put mff It of this misery said one "Oh
Tor eVeiran instants relief from this mis-
siy,' said another.
Perhaps the most pitiful sight OF all was
that of i yealt0fsWillie Mctarty. Sitting
q" M - ...-.- lg~-iniar. by -gentlv
words esd soothing caresses. while her voice
trembl, 'ith the grief that was breaking
her her, was his mother. The boys flesh
was cooked from head TO foot. His ewes
were burned out, the skin had peeled of his
face and head, taking with il large portions
of flesh. The only response the anxious
mother received to her inquiry as TO how he
felt was "Oh my head Doctor, why don't
/ die
No trace has been found of the runaway
twitchman, Richard Grattan, through
whose carelessness the accident occurred. A
rumor that he had returned to his work this
morning proved TO be uufounded and il j.
thought lie has gone for good.
The total loss to the company will be I've.
tween Sl25. eco and $50 OlO. II includes the
engine, combination baggage and buffet car
and - oil tanks and freight cars and then
contents.