The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-22

unknown.
All were burned to death. The following
were fatally burned:
WILLIAM eHArTUcK. Upper Alton.
FRANK SCULLES, Alton.
JOSEPH HERMAN, Alton.
JOHN WILREsON. Alton.
JOHN FRED. Etwardsville Crossing III
JOHN LouK, Alton.
A. I. FRASER, II. Louis.
EDWARD MAvPIN, Alton.
OrTo HAGERMAN.
WILLIE M'CARTHY.
DAN HARRIS
FRANK BARTON.
Louis MCINTosH.
WILLIAM MCINTOSH
GEORGE STAPLES.
JOHN HENRY
JOHN MoNAHAN
WILLIAM MILLER
JAMES MULLAEE
All were burned about the head and
body. The others injured are:
W. C. HARRISON, Wann.
HENRY PENNINGTON, Wann.
LOUIS DENEAvIE, Montreal, Canada
HENRY PILGRIM, Alton.
JOSEPH LUrERELL, Alton
WILLIAM E. RICHARDSON, Alton
HERMAN EsTKE, Alton.
FRANK BARTLETT. Brantford, Canada
B. MENHAUs.
PAT OMEAR-
Il. JoBE.
CHARLEs HARRIS.
JOHN BURKE.
JOHN SEIsLER
EPHRAIM RICHARDsoE.
JOHN FINLEY
JOHN MCPHIKE
EVAN CALDWELL.
fhe Southwestern limited was due at
Wann at AS. There is no sidetrack there
but about half mile beyond, at Alton
Junction. are several witches The
tender of these switches, P. Grattan by
name, also barber, upon who,n IS laid
the blame by the railway officials and
tralnmen tor the accident, fled during the
excitement following the disaster, and
offlcers are now searching for him. The
tram reached Wann twelve minutes late,
and at Alton Junction was running at the
rate OF forty miles an hour, the engineer
being desirous of making up lost time.
Ihe switch was so turned as to send the
Tying train onto one of the siietracks.
On the track We're seven tank cars filled
with refined lubricating OIL The en-
gineer called to the fireman, Dick White.
to Jump for his life. He then reversed the
engine and applied the air brakes, but he
was too late. The engine crashed entirely
through two tanks, splitting chem in
nall. and was then forced entirely
over the others. The oil from the
wre cked tanks caught fire, and a sea Of
dames instantly surrounded the engineer,
who Jumped Just as the plot of the engine
struck the first tank The brave man
struggled TO an embankment az ore side Of
the track. but as soon as he reached it he
sank TO the earth. crisp and b!ackened
corpse. The fireman escaped with slight
bruises. The engineers action il rcvers-
ing and app wing the brakes slack med the
speed sufficiently to prevent an serious
injury to the passengers, of wh.,m there
were about sixty. The mails and Baggage,
Ill pieces. and a corpse, were all burned
in few minutes. The flames 81 read to
the other coaches, and all were soon in
ruins. Three OIL tanks, together With the
engine and tender were also con umed.
Passengers and villagers crowded around
the burning wreck, anxious TO assist, If
possible, any unfOrtunates who might be
in need of help. At this time the culnina-
tion OF the horrible affair occurred. The
two tank cars left uninjured by the engine
sImu taneousIy and with fearful force ex-
ploded, throwing pieces of the iron sides
out into the fields and showering them
upon the ssembied crowd.
For O second after the noise of the ex-
plosion there was no sound save the whish
of seeming oil as it was forced through
the air. Then there arose agonizing ap.
peals for help and cries of terror 10 W which
no tongue or pen can do justice. For
several minutes the panic was iniescrib-
able. Those touched by the blazing oil
CROPPED about wildly. seeking in vain for
relief from the torture. Almost without
exception the injured were burned about
the face and head. eyesight being tempo
rarily, If not permanently. destroyed.
Those who were uninjured were so terror
stricken as to he unable To assist their less
fortunate companions for some time
Hastily improvised litters were framed
and willing hands tenderly carried the
dead and injured to Wann, where they
were piled in the depot until relief train
could be brought to the scene. Word was
dispatched 10 Alton by courier, heat hav-
ing melted the telegraph wires, TO have
train made up and sent for the wounded
When the tram bearing the dead and
wounded reached Alton 4 crowd gathered,
and heart-rending scenes were witnessed
when sobbing women recogn Zed among
the dead some relation or friend
The financial loss to the railroad com
pany will be very large, probably si25 900.
Tne engine and tender, four Goa hes,
seven tank cars ana a considerable sec
tion of track We're totally ruined Two
small dwellings which stood near the
track were also burned. with the contents.
A track was constructed at one side OF the
ruins. and trains on both the Alton and
Big Four are running regularly tonight
HARalsBUgG, Pa. Jan. 2i-The second
section OF an east-bound fast express on
the Pennsylvania road ran into the first
section near Steelton this morning de-
molishing and setting fire 10 the rear