The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-01-25
Cremated in Burning Oil.

ALTON, ILL.,, Jan. 2l.-The Southwest
ern limited express, west-bound, on the
Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and st.
Louis Railroad, due here at o. clock this
morning ran into an open switch at
Wanna, four miles east of here. The
passenger engine smashed a number of
freight cars and oil tanks and set the
wreck alire. Engineer Ross of the pas
senger engine was caught in the wreck
and burned to death. Both trains were
burned up. Loss 100000.
While the great crowd stood watching
the burning wreck, an oil tank car ex-
ploded, 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. Six bodies,
burned to crisp, were not identified.
Two were identified, as Hiram Cornelius,
student of Shurtliffe College, from
Iowa, and Edward Miller, Of Alton juno
ton. twenty-five people were so badly
burned that the majority will probably
die, and the total list embraces over ono
hundred. A large proportion of the
killed and injured are toys and young
men, students in educational institutions.
An eye witness says that the shock of
the collision was such as to split two
loaded tanks wide open, and the oil i'm
mediately caught fire, the flames shoot
ing fifty feet into the air. The locomotive
and baggage cars were totally wrecked,
but the remainder Of the passenger train
was removed beyond the reach of the
flames. In an incredibly short time the
freight train was a mass Of flames.
Fear of an explosion prevented any
attempt to save it. A wrecking train
came up from East st. Louis at II o'clock,
but could do little, and half a dozen
switch engines were run out from here
to clear the yards. Traffic on the two
roads was entirely suspended, and q
special train was made up on the Chicago
and Alton to carry the belated passengers
through to St. Louis.
Hearing of the wreck, hundreds Of peo-
pie from this city and vicinity were
attracted by curiosity to the scene, and
then occurred one of the most awful dis
asters on record. A few minutes past II
o'clock there was slight explosion Of
one tank, which scattered the debris on
all sides, setting fire to the stock yards
enclosure. This produced the impression
that the danger of explosions was passed,
and the throng of bystanders rushed in
to save the stock yards from destruction.
A minute later there was deafening
report that shook the earth for half q
minute and spread one sheet of seething,
burning oil in all directions. For those
within circle of 100 yards there was no
escape. Their clothing was burned and
literally fell from their bodies. In a
moment those who were not disabled be-
gan running hither and thither, waving
their hands and screaming for help.
Some went to the nearest water and 9th
ers ran into fields and are missing yet.
4 A panic reigped for short time, until
the uninjured recovered their presence Of
mind to care for the afflicted. Two bar
rels of linseed oil were taken from gro
Gerry store and applied to the wounds by
several physicians who happened to be
on the ground. Every household in the
little village and its vicinity was sum-
moned. AS soon as possible train was
made up and twenty sufferers were
brought here 10 st. Joseph's.
Webb Ross, the brave engineer who
lost his life, leaves wife and six children
at Mattoon.