Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-09-04
REFUGEES FROM HlNckLeY.
Mrs. Lawrence Tells of Terrible Expe-
 riences on Railroad Train.


 riences on Railroad Train.
 MINNEAPOLIS, Sept 1.-The first train over tue St. Paul and Duluth road, di- rect from the scene of the great fire, reaching Minneapolis had only about a dozen persons on board, including Mrs. Lawrence, the only one of the passen- gers on the limited which started Satur- day afternoon from Duluth who has yet reached Minneapolis. The other pas sengers from this end of the line finding that they could go no further stopped at Pine City and returned to Minneapolis on the first train coming this way.
 Mrs. Lawrence says the first evidence of the fire was noticeable about 10 miles the other side of Hinckley, when the air became almost suffocating. One mile the other side of Hinckley about 90 per sons rushed toward the train, screaming frantically The engineer seeing the danger they were in if they remained, stopped the train to let them aboard. The heat became intense and the whole volcano of fire seemed to burst out in n mighty effort to wipe the train and it's occupants off the face of the earth.
 At the first rush of the flames toward the cars the window panes went out with crash and the train began slowly to return toward Skunk lake.
 Women screamed and men Jumped through the car windows. The wild scramble was horrible. Every person was for himself and did not care how he got out of the swirling, rushing mass of flames. Mrs. Lawrences dress caught on fire, but she extinguished the flames.
 'I saw two Chinamen," she said, "who were paralyzed by fright, and made no effort to get away, but simply hid their heads under the seats and were burned to death. I stood it as long as could and then l rushed out of the car, jumping over one or two persons that were lying on the ground, injured. Some of the people jumped into Skunk lake, but simply ran along the ties the fire had burned away, and after keeping it up until my strength gave out l fell down between the rails. 1 expected every moment that my dress would burn away from my body. I put out the fire half dozen times, and I had to hold my hands over the baby's face to keep it from sutfocating." 7"
 Sunday morning Mrs. Lawrence was picked up in the middle of the track about two miles the other side of Hinck- ley by relief party out of Duluth, that had made the trip on hand car. There were 125 persons aboard the limited, but two persons only were burned outright.
 These were the Chinamen, who made no effort to get away. About dozen persons, according to the story of Mrs. Lawrence. injured in the melee which resulted when the people tried to leave the car. Some jumped through car win dows; others rushed to th platform and jumped off vhiie the train was moving. ard others fought their way through the mass of passengers in an effort to get away from the crowd. The result was that many persons suff rel severe injury, such as broken bones and limbs.
 Mayor Eustis received a telegram from a citizens committee at Rush City, Minn., stating that l50 lives had been lost at Htnckley and the situation was terrible. A carload of provisions was procured, but no engine could be had Sunday to take it to the sufferers. It went early yesterday, however, and to- day meeting of business men of Minne- apolis will be held to provide relief.