Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-03
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Deeds or mRROIsM.
Engineer Ront and Fireman Mellow
nnis Terrible Ride.


st. Paul, MINI, Sept. From the
stories OF passengers on the limited
train which was burned near Hinckley
the entire crow deserve to be placed
on the roll Of honor for horosm.
Engineer James Root OF white Bear
heads the list and will have thrilling
story to tell II he RECEIVERS from his
injuries. He was badly burned and
almost blinded and fell from his seat
unconscious Immediately on getting
through the fres. Fireman John Nc
Gowan was n good companion for him
In the cab and tho other members OF
the crew, Conductor Jerry Sullivan.
Brakeman Monahnn. BnEgRgeman
George Morris and Porter Blair. were
fit associates Tor the hero who led
them to what was literally u fiery
furnace, When two miles north OF
Hinckley. Engineer Root first dlscov-
cred that the fires which had been rag
ing on both sides OF the track were
racing him FOR his life and the lives
Of his passengers Cinders We're ny
ing In every direction, ana the smoke
was so dense II was well night Inn
possible 10 see beyond the cab win
dows even with the aid OF the powerful
headlight. At firHt he thought to out
run the flames which were coming
after and bearing down upon him at
a slxty-mlle gait When about IL mile
and half from HlnclSley he discovered
that the fire was too fast for him,
having overtakcn the train and over
leaped II so that the train was sur
rounded with flames. The air was
stirling and tho clothes Of both en-
glneer and fireman caught fire, Nc
Gowan lsaped into the water tank. ex-
tingulshing the FIRE In his own clothes.
ana then SELLING bucket dashed the
water several times over the burning
engineer. Root steadily Kept at his
post, although scarcely able to- sit up
right.
In the meantime the passengers could
see nothing but heard the roaring OF
the oncoming tornado OF rre and soon
the glare outside was too much for the
reason ~ "A number of them. The rear
car caught fire and as the flames over
took 1t and the passengers rushed head
long into the forward cars. Conductor
Sullivan. with his plucky associates.
walked up aud down the aisle, doing
their best to suothc the frightened pas
sengers, The shrieks OF the women
aud children as well Bs the terrified
shouts OF the men Increased the terrible
feelings aroused by the uproar Of the
flames on every hand The windows
broke from the heat and several OF the
men passengers, too terrified for fur
Their self control, with terrible cry
leaped headlong through tho windows
and We're swallowed up In the flames
outside Others seeing this act quickly
followed and lin the next ten minutes a
dozen men leaped TO death In the flames
in like manner. The women. whose
terror had been a pitiful sight few
minutes before. now came herolcally to
| the help OF the trainmen In endeavor-
ing to soothe the frightened children, a
number OF whom We're on the train.
The engineer saw that there was no
outlet apparently for his train ahead
ana concluded TO turn back through
I the distance already burned over. rath-
I er than encounter possibly greater
/ perlls before them. lie backed at a
| fast speed to skunk Lake. a little
[ settlement five miles north Of Hinckley
\ and the passengers deserted the burn
I ing train at that place. seeking refuge
I In a swamp where they spent the night
/ This morning a relief train from the
north brought them through Hlnclyley
aud on 10 this city The relief train
carried supply OF hand cars which
I were used Ia picking up the bodies OF
the dead along the track.
one hundred bodies were picked UT
Z and brought into HfnClxlaV