Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-01-28
Fatal SHEETS OF FLAME.
A Terrible Explosion Follows a
Railroad Collision.
Fine Persons Killed And Nearly .
Hundred Injured.

Nine persons killed outright, twelve fatal
" injured, and nearly hundred more or
less seriously hurt, IL the appalling result OF
= series of accidents At Alton Junction, III.
Ausopen switch on the Big Four main track
was the cause of the disaster. The South
western limited ran through the switch into
freight train standing on the siding. and
Engineer Webb Ross, of the limited, was In
stantiy killed. This wreck took fire. and,
while great crowd was watching the spec
tacle, an oil tank car exploded with terrific
force, enveloping the spectators in sheet OF
burning oil. Eight Of them were instantly
killed, and scores were frightfully burned,
dozen Of whom, at least, will die.
TIE COLLISION.
Alton Junction, or wann, Is located two
miles east Of Alton, and Is watering, trans
fer aud feeding station for the Cleveland,
Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis and the
Chicago, Burlington aud Quincy Railroads.
The latter road o ms the Big Four at this
roint, running into st. Louis over the same
iracx The fast through train, known as the
Southwestern limited, was coming GUY from
st. Louis at nine O'Clock, thirteen minutes
late, and making up lost time OF forty-soven-
mile per hour speed, When it ran into q
switch and collided with long freight train
CO.'S sting mostly Of loaded tank cars. En-
gineer Webb X s., of Nation, saw the
danger too late, but he threw on the air
b, AKA and remained with his machine, be-
jns buried in tue wreck and burned to crisp.
Fireman White jumped and escaped unin.
lured. Tn passengers were fearfully shaken
up, but none were seriously hurt
FOUNTAIN OF BLAZING OIL.
An eyewitness says that the shock Of the
COLI ,ion was such as to split two loaded
tanks wide open, and the oil immediately
eau hit ii s,the flames shooting fifty feet into
the air. The locomotive and baggage cars
were totally wrecked, but the remainder OF
the passenger train wssremoved beyond the
reacn Of the flames.
In an incredibly short time the freight
train was mass OF flames. Fear Of an ex-
plosion prevented any attempt to save it,
The wrecking train came up from East 81.
Louis at eleven c'c.ock, but could do little,
ami half dozen swift h engines were run
out 10 clear the yards Tho traffic on the
Two roads was entirely suspe. det, and a
special train Was made up on the Chicago
AID Alton to carry debated passengers
through to st. Louis Hearing OF the wreck,
hundreds OF people from the city and viein-
ity were trac,ed by curiosity to the scene.
THE TANKS EXPLODE.
And then occurred one OF the most awful
d sasters on record. A few minutes past
twelve O'Clock there was slight explosion
Of one tank, which scattered the debris on
all sides, setting fire to the stock yards en-
closures. This produced the impression
that the dangers of explosion was passed,
and the throng OF bystapders rushed IN TO
-. tha stooE ward from destruction.
minute later there was deafening report
that shook the earth for half minute and
spread one sheet OF seething, burning oil In
All directions For those within circle OF
one hundred yards there was no escape.
Their clothing was burned and fell from
their bodies. In moment those who we're
not d sabed began running hither and
thither, waving their hands and screaming
for help.
some went TO the nearest water, and
others ran into the field and are missing yet.
A manic reigned for short time until the
niniured recovered their presence OF mind
10 care for the afflicted. Two barrels Of lin
seed oil were taken from grocery store ana
applied to the wounds by several physicians
wLo happened to be on the ground Every
house in the little village was tui Ned into
temporary hospital, AID every doesor In Al
ton and its vicinity was summoned. =.
The total loss, so far as can be ascertained
;rclndes the engine No. 109 Of the limi cd,
and baggage car no. 602, seven tank cars
full of oil, eight box cars aud half-a-dozen
fat cars, all OF these being comp etey de-
stroyed. No accurate estimate ., tne los.
can be made at present. but 1t will reach at
least 800, 100.
Webb Ross, the brave engineer who lost
his life leaves a wife and Fix children et
NATION. No attempt TO fix the blame for
the fatal wreck has yet been made.