The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1893-01-28
100 PERSONS AFIRE.
An AWFUL EXPLOSION FOLLOWS a
RAILROAD COLLISION.

Spectators At a Railroad Accident Del
uged with Burning on-Horror Added
to Horror-yictims Beg to be shet-A
Fatal Open Switch.
One Of the most terrible of modern
railroad accidents occurred at Alton
Junction. H.. on January Dist Some q
persons we're killed. and nearly 100 more
or less seriously injured
An open switch on the Big Four main
track was the cause of the disaster. The
Southwestern limited ran through the
switch into the freight train standing on
tie siding, and Engineer Webb Ross, of
the limited. was instantly killed.
The wreck to5k fire, aud willie great
crowd was watching the spectacle an oil
tank car exploded with terrific force, en-
ing oil. Nine of them were instantly
killed and scores were frightfuIIy burned,
dozen Of whom afterward died in the
greatest agony. and many of the injured
are disfigured for life.
The fast through train known as the
Southwestern limited was coming out
from St. Louis at 9 o'clock, Is minutes
late, and making up l2st time at IA Al
mile per hour speed when it ran into a
switcli AMI collided with long freight
train. consisting mostly of loaded oil
tank cars. Engineer Webb Ross. of
Nation, saw the danger too late, but
threw on the air brake and stayed with
his machine, being buried in the wreck
and burned to crisp. Fireman White
jumped and escaped uninjured. The
passengers were fearfully shaken up, but
none were seriously hurt.
An eyewitness said that the shock OF
the collision was such as 10 split two
loaded tanks wide open, and the oil inn
mediately caught fir. the flames shoot
ing 80 feet into the air. The locomotive
and baggage cars were totally wrecked,
but the rest of the passenger train was
removed beyond the reach Of the flames
In an incredibly short time the freight
train was mass Of flames, and fear of
an explosion prevented any attempt to
save it. The wrecking train could do
little, and traffic was entirely suspended,
special train carrying belated passen-
gers to st. Louis. Hearing Of the wreck
hundreds of people from Alton and Vi
cinity were attracted by curiosity to the
scene.
Then occurred one of the most awful
disasters on record. 4 few minutes past
IL O'Clock there was slight explosion of
enc tank, which scattered the debris on
all sides, setting fire to the stock yards
enclosures. This gave the impression
that the danger Of explosions was past,
and the throng of bystanders rushed in
20 save the stock yards from destruction
Z minute later there was a deafening
report that shook the earth for half a
minute, and spread one sheet of seething,
turning oil in all directions. For those
within the circle of 100 yards there was
no escape. Their clothing was burned
and literally fell from their bodies. In a
moment those not disabled began run.
ming hither and thither, waving their
hands and screaming for help. Some
went to the nearest water and others ran
into the fields. Panic reigned for short
time until the uninjured recovered their
presence of mind to care for the afflicted
Two barrels of linseed oil were taken
from grocery store and applied to the
wounds by several physicians, who hap
pened to be on the ground. Every house
in the little village was turned into &
temporary hospital and every doctor in
the vicinity was summoned.
The people in the hamlet soon came tc
the rescue. Every doctor in Alton went
TO the scene of the disaster as soon a.
possible. The railroad company sent {
special train from Litchfield and all the
available doctors in Bethalto and Bunker
Hill went to aid the stricken ones. Cal
doors were improvised for stretchers
Fences were pulled down for this pur
pose, and every available article tina
could be utilized was taken to help in re
moving the injured. The farmers in tn.
vicinity brought wagons and mattresses
and all afternoon the work was kept up
On each cot nothing could be seen but
neap of blankets, or perhaps foot O
arm covered with cotton or the fl.sl
peeling off. Many of the victims begged
% be shot to put them out of their suf
ferings.
The total property loss. so far as Cal
ne ascertained, includes the engine of TIN
limited, baggage car, seven tank cars full
Of oil and box cars and half dozen fla
ears, all completely destroyed. The tota
value was 100000