The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-23


were lying on cots, wrapped andswathed In
cotton and bandages until they almost LOST
sernblance TO human beings. SURROUNDED
~ weeping relatives and sorrowing irlenos'
they formed a picture that brought tears
to the eyes of even the physicians, accus-
toned as they are to narrowing sights.
The meanings of the patients were piteous.
every few minutes some tortured soui,
from his couch. then fall back, saf-
ferlng more intense pain than before.
Seeming to know by intuition when the
ply stefan was near them. they would beg
piteousIy To be relieved from their pain.
Doctor. for Gods sake. kill me and put
for even an lnstants relief from this
TORTURE said another. Perhaps the most
pltiful sight of all was that of thirteen
year-old Willie McCarty. Sitting by hi
bedside. trying in vain by rentle words
and soothing caresses, while her voios
trembled with the grief which was breaks
ing her heart. was his mother. The boy
flesh was cooked from head TO foots
skin had peeled OFT bis face and head.
taking with it large portions of
the flesh. The only response
the anxious mother received to her in
quiries as to how he felt was: "Oh, my
head. Doctor. why can't diet" Some of
the patients Law perfectly quiet not a sigh
or moan escaping their lips. Poor fell
10 ws, said the offending physician. They
are past moaning now. and will soon be be-
yond all earthly suffering"
Only those thought TO be fatally injured
were allowed to remain at the hospital.
All the others were removed TO their homes
or to the homes of friends throughout the
CITY, that they might receive the undivided
attention of their friends Many volun-
teers. too, were at the hospital to admins
ter to the wants OF those then there, and,
II possible. lessen the pain of their last few
hours on earth.
So great was the crowd seeking admit
tance TO the hospital the attendants were
forced to lock the doors. and only admit
limited number at time. Many of these
were mere idiers. attracted by morbid
curiosity, but the greater number were
there for the purpose of inQuirlng regarding
friends. But there were none of the eXcit-
ing scenes of yesterday. when the crowd.
apparently panic-stricken, rushed at the
litters being conveyed into the hospital.
and snatched at the coverings of the bodies
in their anxiety to behold the features un-
derneath. Instead, as though in awe of the
presence of death and suffering. all queries
and responses were made with hushed
voices. and each patiently awaited his turn
to be admitted to the hospital. While the
reporter was at the hospital the bodies of
John Burke and William Miller were
brought In from Alton junction. where
they had been cared for over night. Both
are fatally burned.
AT THE MoRGUE.
1t wes not until a visit was made to the
morgue back of the hospital that the horri-
bic reality of the accident became ap-
parent. Here, awaiting the undertaken,
were the bodies of five of those who died
during the night. The bandages had been
removed from the bodies, and the fearful
ravages of the burning oil were plainly ap-
parent. Scarcely one of the five could be
recognized. even by relatives. The oil.
wherever 1t had touched the skin. had
burned deep into the flesh, while such por-
tions of the cuticle as escaped entire de-
blackencd by the intense heat. The lips
were terribly swollen and the eyes were
burned ont of five. Every vestige of hair
was burned Oft face and head, and in
many places the skull and cheek
bones were exposed. Wives and mothers.
sisters and daughters on being shown
the bodies OF beloved dead. shrank back in
horror and could scarcely be convinced
that the distorted features before them were
all that remained CT those so dear to them
and whose taking away meant, In come in
stances, the loss of their sole support and
reliance. Tho cOrOner's Inquest was held
at the hospital this evening, the jury hav-
ing previously been In session at Wann and
Alton junction. The verdict IN each case
states the death was ''caused by burning
oil accidentally exploded and thrown over
them" The funerals Of q number of the
victims of the explosion will he held to-
morrow. and the others will be consigned
to their last resting place on Tuesday.
Edward Miller was buried this afternoon
at Alton Junction.
There as q rumor on the street late this
afternoon that eleven student from Shurt-
left College had been missing since the ac-
cident. All efforts to verify the rumor
failed. however, and it is also the OPINION
of the majority of the citizens that there ia
no truth in the statement. But the fact
that there were found this morning near
the scene of the wreck. bodies additional to
those reported In last nights dispatch,
gives rise to probability that there may
be yet more bodies which have not been
found.
When Mrs. William Mantz reported to
the Alton police department this morning
that her husband, who had started for the
scene Of the accident about 10 o'clock yes
terday morning had not yet returned q
seaching party was organized, and after a
long time the dead body of Mantz was
found near Nutwood river, half a mile
from where the explosion occurred. The
suppOsition is that he started to run in the
direction of homeas soon as the explo sion
took place and was caught by shower of
have run some distance after be was
burned. and probably fell dead on reachin q
tho SPOT where his body was found.
The scene of yesterdays dreadful
Cat8btIOpuc Wbb NbSltGu Dy nuuQr6Q6 TO-
day. Every available vehicle in Alton wa 8
pressed into service to convey sight-seers
to their destination, every train running
between the two places was crowded and
scores made the distance of four miles on
foot Most of this crowd was attracted by
mere curiosity, but among them were many
seeking FOR some relic of departed loved
ones, some trinket of jewelry, or piece of
the clothing worn at the time of the
accident. Others, when they went away.
carried with them mementOes in the shape of
twisted bits of the wrecked tanks and
still others, mostly boys, scroped around
in the ruins of the baggage car, TO see If
aught of value renamed of which they
could obtain possession. Of the hundreds
who visited the place. however. few cared
to remain long. it seemed to
some as though the shrIeks of
pain ana cries of horror that awoke the
echoes yesterday still lowered in the crisp
atmosphere, and to others the memory OF
the grief and anguish of those who to-day
are In homes of mourning impaired q sa-
credness to the surroundings which even
the Sabbath could not give. Even the
wrecking crew, busily at work clearing 9
away the debris of the wreck and fire.
worked In subtued manner, as though
impressed with the solempity of the sur
rOundings.
WHAT THE ON-LOoKERS SAW.
William Hammond, Big Four track.
walker. who was quite severely burned
said to q reporter to-day: II was sleepine
soundly when my wife woke me up to tel