Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-23


Two of the tank cars were left uninjured
by the engine. The heat of burning oil all
around them generated from their contents
a gas, the pressure of which became too
great for the huge iron casks to withstand.
simultaneously and with fearful force
they exploded, throwing pieces of their
iron sides far out into the adjacent fields
and showering upon the assembled crowd
Of sight-seers a mass OF flaming liquid.
For one second after the noise of the eX.
plosion there was no sound save the whish
of the oil as it was forced through the air
Then there arose a confusion of agonizing
appeals for help and cries of terror to which
no tongue or pen can do justice.
A Wild Panic Follows.
For several minutes the panic was indie.
scribable. Those touched by the blazing
oil groped about wildly, seeking in vain for
relief from their torture. Almost without
exception the injured were burned about
the face, and had their eyesight Temporal
rlly, If not permanently destroyed. Thoss
who were uninjured were so terror-strick-
en- as to be unable to assist their less for.
tunate companions for some time. The
crowd that surrounded the burning train
was estimated at several thousands by the
"itbhiiS SItN, anu GHc IdI1eS Spredu over
the entire territory occupied by them and
into the adjacent fields and even the village
itself. The oil flew for hundreds of feet
and fell i'll blazing masses upon the people,
80 that the loss of liz, and property is
surprisingly small, ,but il is fearful enough.
Looking for the Loved Ones.
Those who were left unhurt Immediately
went to the assistance of the wounded and
they were, many of them, taken to St.
Joseph's hospital in this CITY, When the
train bearing the dead and wounded
reached Alton little after noon almost
another panic ensued. Great crowds had
gathered at the stopping place of the train.
point some distance from the station and
but short distance from the hospital
Many of these had loved ones among the
victims of the burning oil, and as fast as
the bodies were taken out of the train
sobbing wives, mothers and daughters in
their attempts to catch sight of the
features would snatch frantically at the
covering and finding that which they
dreaded to see, would throw themselves
upon the body in an agony of grief Final
ly all the dead and wounded were taken
care of and the crowd dispersed or gathered
INTO little knots and discussed the affair.
Appearance of the Unfortunates.
Before the hospital door another immense
throng was gathered, anxious to view the
unrecognizable faces that passed on litters
through the entrance way. Inside all was
confusion and hurry. In a little while
three rooms on the main floor were filled
with the wounded. Lying on the couches
the dirty, oil-soaked rags were cut away
from the bodies and laid bare the horrible
work of the burning oil The hands and
faces of all were scorched, torn and bleed
ing. The lips and noses were swollen and
distorted, and the eyes were either burned
out or were flame-eaten and encrusted with
blood and dust. Several of the victims
when uncovered were found to be without
cuticle, the flames having cooked and
burned 1t until it either clung to the cloth.
ing in removal or fell away of its own ac-
cord.
Begged To BE Put Out of Misery.
Several of the injured constantly begged
to be killed that they might be free from
their pain. "Oh, I'm blind,n moaned one:
Il feel that my eyes are gone. Oh, could
stand all, everything; l could be burned
with satisfaction; l could be crippled or de-
formed forever, but to be without eyes.
want to die" and then a mother bowed
low over the moaning form and buried her
face and convulsed form in the clothing
that shielded her son. Several little boys
were among the victims and their moan
ings were the source of much distress to
all the others.