The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-23
ROASTED TO DEATH H.
Explosion Of 0il-Tank Cars After a
Rear-End Collision.
MANY SPECTATORS PERISH H.
switchman Grattan's Carelessness the
Cause OF One eth Most Terrible Ac-
cidents Ever Recorded IN the Annals of
Horrible Railroad Accidents.

ST. LOUIS, Jan 23.-Alton junction, Q
miles north OF this city, was the scene Of
series OF accidents, begun in a railroad
collision, and as a result nineteen per-
sons are dead, fourteen MORALLY injured
and thirty-one seriously hurt.
The first accident beiell the Southwest
srn Limited express train, which runs be.
tween New York and 81. Louis. The
train is operated by the Cleveland, Gin
%cinnati, Chicago and s.. Louis railroad.
The train left So. Louis at sos O'CLOCK
Saturday morning and arrived az the edge
OF the junction yards az $50 o'clock.
Just outside OF the yard is a curve. After
rounding this curve, and within a hum
dred yards OF a siding, the engineer mo-
ticed that q switch was turned. The train
was running at the rate OF fifty miles an
hour, and il was impossible to stop.
Webb Ross, the engineer, stuck to the
engine, and was applying the air brake.
when II struck a string of twenty loaded
ell cars. The second oil car from
the Engine Exploded
and 1000 gallons Of oil were sent flying in
all directions.
1t spread out over the tracks in fire.
Engineer Ross was unhurt up to that time
and he jumped from the engine 10 escape.
No man could cross through the flames
that surrounded the engine. Before he
had gene ten feet he fell and was burned
to death.
The flames spread to the other oil cars.
and seven OF them were soon Kissing and
roaring and sending up volumes Of smoke.
Hundreds OF people locked to The scene
and persisted in standing in close to the
wreck and burning cars OF oil.
When the crash came the passengers
uFQrc fhrnx~., 49,. Il. -
tnem escaped injury.
The crowd OF oniookers had been in
creasing steadily. Il was Ll.32 o'clock
when one of the tanks exploded. followed
instantly by four more. Fully 5000 gal
Ions OF boiling. and burning oil were
tossed into the air. The roar and yibra-
ton could be henrd for miles.
The instant the explosions came some
OF the spectators tried 10 run.
The oil Seemed to be Carried
by the air over the great crowd and far
out in the village. 1t seemed to fall in
streams and pools.
For those within the circle OF 100 yards
there was no Escape. Their clothing was
burned, and literally fell from their bod
les. I'm a moment those who could began
running hither snd thither, waving their |
hands ara screaming for help.
some went 10 the nearest water and 9TH
eTs rSn TITO ths nCfls and are missing.
Panic reigned for q snort time, until the
u~niniured recovered their presence OF
mind TO care for the afflicted.
Two barrels of linseed oil were taken
from a grocery store and applied to the |
wounds by several physicians who hap
p-ned TO be on the ground. Every house |
In the little village was turned into n tenn |
porary hospital. and every doctor in Alton |
srd its vicinity was summoned.
A soon "a possible n train was made IN |
and twenty Of the sufferers were brought |
here to st. Joseph's hospital.
This is the list of killed and injured 30
far as is known:
Dead. |
Ross Webb, engineer of the express.
Hiram Cornelius, student Shurtliffe
College, from Iowa.
Edward Miller, Charles Utt, VIM.
Mantle, w. II. Miller, Alton junction.
VIM. S~hattuck, Henry Rerrming, Willie
Mccarthy, JOIN Loche, Edward Mawhlin.
Daniel Parers, Charles Paris and John
died at the hospital at Alton.
Five other bodies not yet identified
burned to a crisp.
Webb Ross, the brave engineer. who
bost his life, leaves a wife and six children
Vt Mattoon.
No trace has yet been found OF the run
away switchman, Richard Grattan.
The total loss 10 the company will be
Sl25,0o0 and $4,000. 1t includes
he engine, combination, baggage and
ounet cars and twenty oil tankss and freight
and their contents.