The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-08
SHOWERS OF BURNING OIL:
Explosions of Tank Cars Fol
: low Railroad Wreck.
Many Spectators of the Aoci-
dent Burned to Death.

Alton Junction, ILL.,. twentv-three miles
north of St. Louis, Mo-, was the scene of
series of accidents begun in railroad COLI
sion, and as a,result eight persons were in
stantly killed, twelve mortally injured ami
as many more seriously hurt. or the fatally
injured, eight died that night, making the
total number Of deaths sixteen. while at tho
time the last dispatch was sent ten more were
expected to die.
The first accident bsfsll the Southwest.
ern Limited express train, which runs be-
tween New York and st. Louis. The train
Chicago and St. Louis Railroad. The train
arrived at the edge of the junction yards at
$50 o'clock. Just outside OF the yard is o
curve. After rounding this curve. and
within hundred yards Of siding. the en-
gineer noticed that 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. ths
engine. and was applying tho air brakes
when it struck q string of twenty loaded oii
cars. The second oil car from the engine
exploded, and 1000 gallons Of oil were sent
flying in all directions.
It spread out over the tracks in fire. Ell
gineer Ross was unhurt up to that time, and
be jumped from the engine to escape. No
man could cross through the flames that sur
rounded the engine Before he had gone ten
feet he fell and was burned to death. =,
The flames spread to the other oil cars, and
seven Of them we're soon Kissing and roaring
and sending up volumes of smoke. Hun.
dreds of people flocked to the ,scene andper
sisted in standing in close to the wreck and
burning cars of oil. - 81 X
Whom the crash came the passengers were
khrnvw hO,, ho hr1f nj than
capped injury. The crowd of onlookers hae
been increasing steadily. It was ll:S
o'clock when one Of the tanks exploded, fol
lowed instantly by four more. Fully S5, OOq
gallons OF boiling and burning oil were tossed
INTO the air. The roar and vibration could
be heard for miles. - ....-." .~r
The instant the explosions came some Of
the spectators tried to run. The oil seemed
to be carried by the air over the great
crowd, and far out in the village. 1t scenes
to fall in streams and pools.
there was no escape. Their clothing was
burned, and literally fell from their bodies.
In moment those who could began run
ming hither and thither, waving their hands
and screaming for help.
Some went to the nearest water and other:
ran into the fields. Panic rsigned for
short time, until the uninjured recovered
their presence Of mind to cara for tho at
dicted.
Two barrels Of linseed oil were taken from
q grocery store and applied to the wounds
by several physicians who happened to b.
on the ground. Every house In the little
village was turned into temporary hospi'
tai, and every doctor in Alton and IT.
vicinity was summoned. ..- ....
As soon as possible train was made up,
and twenty OF the sufferers. were taken To
Alton, ILL.,, to st. Joseph's Hospital.
100, of the Limited, cafe and baggage cars,
seven tank cars full Of oa, eight box cars
and half dozsn fat cars. All of these wers
burned, and the rails were twisted out OF
shape by the farce heat. The loss will reach
at least sfO0, 900. The brave engineer,
Webb Ross, leaves wife and six children al
Mattoon. Ill .. IT,