The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-25
WRECK, FIRE DEATH
Concluded From Fourth Page.


to the respective rooms. In a little while
three rooms on the main floor
were filed with the wounded. The
sick that had occupied them were borne
out into the hall or carried into other
rooms less crowded. The work was low
ingly, anxiously done. Each sigh and
pain found an echoing response
in the heart Of the self-sac-
rifcing attendants. The scenes in
the rooms where the wounded we're re-
moved from the rough temporary filters
into the snowy touches we're heart
however, and much as the victims
shrisked and Rroaned, the work went on,
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 bleeding The
lips and noses were swollen and distorted
and the eyes were either burned out or
were fame-eateu. The hands of many
were burned to crust, fingers were miss
ing and arms broken.
some of the Victims.
Some of the victims when uncovered,
were found 70 be without cuticle, the
flames having cooked and burned it until
ID chung to the clothing or
fell away Of its own accord
When all arrangements had been made
the public were admitted. An eager
throng of mothers fathers, wives and
daughters hurried along the aisle and int
the chambers of the suffering. Here they
viewed each face, but in many cases with
out avail, for the forms and faces were
unacceptable. By dint OF questioning
many of the sufferers were induced to re-
veal their names. These were preserved
10 guide the inquirers. Soon, by each
bed. with tesr-stained faces and
dishevelled appearance stood the relatives
and friends whispering words OF comfort
into the doing ears, sobbing words Of
cheer that we're half choked in the utter
snce. Ii the patients recognized the
voices OF friends and relatives and moaned
appeals for aid or to be spoken to-,
cheered, lifted up and the like. In the
main hall stood athrongof anxious parents
whose boys had gone to the wreck in the
early morning and had not yet returned.
They appealed to the physicians,
the sisters and the attendants
generally for information concerning
the missing children. At $3.50 p. m.
a second train arrived from Wann with
four more bodies and the same scenes
were enacted. Several of the injured con-
ltantly begged TO be killed, that they
might be free from their pain. "Oh,
Pm blind" moaned one; II fell that
nv eyes are gone oh, could stand all,
everything ] could be burned with salts
faction could be crippled
or deformed forever, but to be
out forever That is too much!
want TO die, and then loving mother
bowed low over the moaning form and
buried her tear stained face and misery
convulsed form in the clothing that
shielded her SON Several little bows were
among the victims, and their meanings
were the source OF much distress to all.
The Scene mt Alton.
When the train bearing the dead and
wounded reached Alton little after noon
almost another panic ensued.
Great crowds had gathered at the stop
ping place of the train point some dis
lance from the station and but short dis
lance from the hospital; many of these
had loved ones among the victims Of the
burning oil. and IS fast as the bodies were
.aken ont Of the train, sobbing wives
mothers and daughters, in their attempts
10 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
iE agony and grief. Finally all the dead
and wounded were taken care of and the
crowd dispersed or gathered into little
knots and discussed the horrible affair.
Loss Very Heavy.
The financial loss to the railroad COM
pany will be very heavy. The engine and
tender, the four coaches. tbs seven tank
cars and a considerable section of the
track are totally ruined, nothing remain
ing but mass Of twisted iron and few
charred pieces of wood. Two small dwell
ings which stood near the track were also
burned with all their contents. 1t was
impossible to save anything; water would
have had little effect even had there been
water obtainable. which there was not.
Estimates OF the loss vary at from S75, 600
10 $4,000. The total will probably az
gregate SIPS 900.
A track has been constructed at one
side of the ruins and trains on both the
Alton and Big Four are running regularly
tonight.