The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-09-12


proach to the company's bridge across
the Grindslone and at other points on il
line. TO the fact that il had been uset
for this purpose, almost to its exhaustion
about a hundred IIinckleyitcs owe thcil
lives. The whole area indicated had
been excavated to a depth IN the center
! of 80 or 40 feet There was stagnant
pool OF rain water in the center three
feet at the greatest depth The pit was
wide and deep, and to it fled those OF the
citizens who were willing to trust to its
friendly depths. There we're, probably a
hundred OF them. 1t was really the safe.
est place about IIinckley Here they
remained for hours, while the smoke and
flames from the burning city rolled over
their heads. They dashed water over
each other and covered their heads with
wet cloths to prevent sufIocation. One
unknown man succumbed to smoke, fell
in the water and was drowned. Others
Of the citizens sought refuge in the
Grindstone river, under the abutments
of the two railway bridges, and at the
foot bridge.
The exact number cannot be known,
as they were scattered along a consider
able stretch of the little stream. That
many escaped and some were drowned
is well known. Mrs Martinson and her
four little babes were taken, drowned,
from the water this morning, as pitiful
a sight as mans eye ever witnessed.
In the meantime Hinckley was burn
ing with the utmost rapidity, and in a
few hourWnothing was left but ruins.
The total loss to the city will exceed
81 100000, with comparatively light in
surance.
AS NIGHT CAME.
AS night closed in the people began to
come out from their hiding places and
made their way over the hot embers of
their city. They were absolutely dazed
by the catastrophe, and the night was
spent in an endeavor to find relatives or
ascertain their whereabouts. Commun
ication with the outer world was cut of
for hours as completely as if they were
on desert island. The fire had spent
its force, but the air was filed with
smoke, through which cleaned the dull
blaze of smoldering fire in the more sub
stantial stock of goods. The huge heaps
OF coal which marked the location of the
Duluth coal sheds were blazing and by
the fitiul light, people wandered about
picking out the places where, but six
hours before, their happy homes had
stood.
The fact that SO many had escaped by
train added to the anxiety of those
whose friends and relatives were not to
be found, while it furnished, at the same
time, a basis for hope that they were in
safety.
When the morning broke few ener-
getic spirits began to organize the work
of the recovery of the bodies. j. w.
Sargent, passenger conductor on the
Duluth road, got into Hinckley during
the wight and he organized a volunteer
crew, which manned two hand cars,
whose capacity was increased by the use
Of plank. They went up the Duluth
track to the north and picked up 81
bodies between the river and Skunk
Lake. The bodies were wrapped up in
blankets and such clothing as could be
obtained and laid out by the side of the
track where the depot had stood.
Here also were brought the two little
sons of Tom Henderson-Sandy and
Johnny, the corpses OF Mrs. Martinson
and her four children, Mrs. Blanchard
and her two children, who were burned
to death just above the Duluth round
house and the man Lambeson, who was
fouLd near the Martinson party.
Citizen volunteers harnessed up the
available vehicles saved in the gravel
pit, and went out to the swamp across
the Grindstone. They brought in 06
bodies, which were carried out to the
desolate burying ground, mile east Of
town.
HORRIBLE BURIAL.
There was neither time nor opportun-
ity to observe the sacred formalihes
usually surrounding death. The excite
ment OF the occasion, the horrible ex-
perience through which the living had
passed, and the more horrible form in
which death had come to the lost, had
temporarily blunted the finer sensibili-
ties and the dead were heaped high on
the wagons and laid in piles at the Gem
etery, among the smoking embers and
stumps that surrounded Gods acre. 1t
was grewsome sight.
DIR. ID. w. Cowan, the coroner, who
was here, there and everywhere, in gen
eIal supervision, directed the digging OF
OF two huge pits, "a by ~ feet, in which
the interment will be made tomorrow.
One OF the saddest features OF the cal
amity is the impossibility of identified
ton in such a large proportion OF the
cases The 96 bodies brought into this
point were examined by many of the
surviving residents of Ilinckley and but
four could be dentified-Charles Ander-
son, Axel Hanson, Dennis Riley and
Mrs. VIM. Ginder. The balance will
have TO be buried together.