The Yellowstone journal., 1894-09-05
A TERRIBLE STORY
Experience of a Great North
ern Express Messenger
In the Fire.


ST. CLOUD. Mimi. Sept. i.-Great
Northern Express Messenger Wander
sluis Of this city. an eye witness of the
witness Of the horrible situation on the
HInckley line, made the following state
ment this morning. He is much used
other members Of the train crew who
came home last night via St. Paul:
When We got to Hinckley everything
was smoke. 1t had been that way for
ticular notice Of il. We left Hinckley
at 80 Saturday afternoon. When we
got one mile out everything was as dark
as night and one mass Of flames. Our
train consisted Of an engine and bag
gage car ,and coach. When We got five
or six miles out Of Hnckley We noticed
that the ties were burning under our
train. We went through this for about
five mile. expecting every minute Ia go
through bridges, as We felt them weak
ening under the weight Of Onr tram. All
Of a sudden the engine jumped the track
and turned over on its side, the coach
following, but keeping upright. there
were but two passengers aboard, and
these. together with Conductor Parr.
Engineer Will Voge. and myself, made
mp the list Of all on board.
About ) o'clock Saturday evening
the conductor and myself walked over
to Pokegama. two miles away. over the
burned ties, passing three charredl bod
les on the way. with their faces buried
in the sand. When we arrived at Poke
CANA creek we discovered that the span
bridge had been burned and also the en-
tire village Of Pokegama. All the vii
layers that were saved were in Poke.
gana creek, panic stricken. We returned
to the coach. finding that Pokegama had
been burned. and shortly after the peo
pie in the creek walked on TO our coach
/ about - men, women and: children
We stayed there until Sunday morning
al , o'clock. Ii was a terrible night
| The experience | shall never forget. We
tore up our shirts and everything in the
WY Of linen and soaked them with
water, and kept them over the faces oI
the two passengers and the people from
Pokegame. They we're suffering terri
bly,. being choked and blinded. Tn,
conductor. engineer. fireman and myself
left for Hinckley. leaving the brakeman
-. ha
TALLY So. We found nothing at Hinck
ley. except the Great Northern four
stall roundhouse and water tank an,
coal shed. We went into the waite
tank and found some good water. o
which we drank freely. We also foun,
several loaves Of bread. which we brok
and ate. We then went into the round
house and found some bread and crack
ers, which We sent back to the sufferer
in the coach, and this party was after
ward rescued by relief Grew from Pin
Bity.
"At least 100 cars Of wheat and othe
merchandise was burned in the Hinck
ley yards. We walked around to wher
the st. Paul and Duluth depot formerl
; stood. and took q train carrying suffer
! ers to Pine City. An abundant suppl
: of food and clothes had been sent fror
Pine City, and the sufferers were bein
taken care of as fast as possible. w
saw the dead lying all around. W
staid in Hinckiey about 20 minute
! Everything was filed with smoke. an
!. we could not see block away. l do ne
think that the reports are at all lexagge
ated. was told at Hinckley l25 wei
r lying dead in three-acre tract of lam
: where they had hope OF escaping tt
!. flames. The scene was heartrendin
and appalling. Whnn we arrived ;
Pine City we-took White Bear lal
train, and reached St. Paul safely, con
: ing home last night on the late train.