Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-01-28
A SEA OF FIRE.
An Express Train Runs Into Oil Tanks
on a Switch.
Vast Throng Congregates at the Scene.
When the Tanks Explode, Scattering
the Flaming Oil In Every Direction
--Seyenteen Dead, Many Injured.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 23.--Saturday the ex.
press train between New York and ST.
Louis arrived at the outskirts of the
Junction yards at $50. Just before
reaching the yard is a curve and after
rounding this and within a hundred
yards of a siding, the engineer noticed
that the switch was turned. The train
was running at the rate of fifty miles
an hour and it was impossible to stop.
Webb Ross, the engineer, stuck to the
engine and was applying the air brakes
when the engine struck string OF
twenty loaded oil cars. Al the moment
when the collision occurred, the second
oil car exploded, and 1000 gallons Of oil
were sent flying in all directions and
spread out over the tracks in sea Of
fire.
Engineer Ross was, so far, unhurt,
and he jumped from the engine 10 es-
cape No man could cross through the
flames that surrounded the engine. Be-
fore he had gone ten feet he was a
corpse The flames spread to the other
oil cars, and seven of them were soon
Kissing and roaring, and sending up
volumes Of smoke. Hundred of people
flocked to the scene and persisted in
standing in close proximity to the
wreck and burning cars of oil. When
the crash came the passengers were
thrown about the cars, but most Of
them escaped through the bravery Of
the engineer.
But the worst casualty was yet to
come. The crowd of on-lookers had
been increasing and stood about in
large groups discussing the accident to
the train.
1t was 1882 when one of the tanks
exploded. And so nearly thereafter as
to make it seem as If it was all in one,
four other tank cars exploded. AS if
by magic $4,000 gallons of boiling and
burning oil was hurled high in the air
The roar and vibration could be heard
for miles. In the instant between the
explosions some had tried to run, and
one of the dead men found with his
limbs in such position as to indicate
he was trying to save his life,
The oil seemed to be carried by the
air out and over the vast assemblaqe OF
on.looliers, and far out in the village
| did it fall in streams and pools, Hiram
Cornelius, a student, whose home is in
Iowa, was standing with Edward Mill
Ter, young man from Alton Junction.
! When the flames abated their charred
bodies were found side by side and be.
yond recognition, save for the articles
in their pockets Their bodies lay near
the engine, but little further on could
be seen the bodies of two men and a
boy Who they are is not known, nor
will it be known until it is ascertained
who is missing.
! Thirty-siX of the bystanders were in
iured, and twenty of them will proba'
i bly, lie from their hnrne.
Since Saturday night the death roll
resulting from the terrible wreck on
the Big Four railroad at Alton Junction
Saturday, and the explosions of the
oil.tanli cars following has grown very
rapidly.
Nineteen persons were reported fatal
ly injured Saturday night. OF these
eleven have since died, making seven.
teen lives destroyed by that seething
hell of burning oil that engulfed the
spectators at the wreck.
The scene of suffering has for the
most part been transferred from Alton
Junction to the hospital at Alton, and
now that the soreness has set in from
the burns the victims writhe and scream
in their agony,
, AT least fourteen of the wounded
will die. At the Junction there are
four men who can not recover.
All the dead were burned to death by
flaming oil Of the fatally injured all
are more or less seriously burned about
the limbs and body, but the worst in
juries sustained are fearfully burned
heads and faces, All are also injured
internally from inhaling the burning
flames, which scorched and parched
their throats to such an extent tina,
their escape from instant death is al
most miraculous
The other injured suffer from burns
on various parts of the head, limbs and
| body.