Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-01-20
A TUNNEL DISASTER.
Two Santa Fe Officials Fatally and
Two Laborers Seriously Hurt
THOUGHT SATAN Was AFTER THEN
A Revival Service Closed By ths Drowning
Of 10 Woman While Being ImmsfssA
-Trustsd Clerks Robbery
broke All His BOnsA

hou VhAt hAiAs uou To- 1CSUcIu0ys
while attempting to extinguish Q fire
In johnson canyon tunnel, on the Santa
Fe road, ten miles east OF here, Charles
Mathews, superintendent II bridges,
and Pat Lyons, roadinaster, were fatal
ly injured by rock falling from the
roof In the tunnel, and two Mexican
laborers were badly hurt. probably
fatally. Lyons died within an hour
after he was taken out Mathews is
still alive, but unconscious. The fire
broke out in the tunnel Sunday after
noon. All yesterday q large force
were fighting the fire, water being
hauled on special trains from
Williams, but Immediately after
the accident in the afternoon
all efforts to subdue the fire were
abandoned, and all the timbers were
soon mass Of flames The tunnel is
400 feet long, and it is the opinion Of
railroad men that 1t is permanently
destroyed, as the rock formation is
lime conglomerate, which the heat has
disintegrated, and the roof has caved
to an enormous extent. Trains No.
and II, which left Kansas City Satur.
day, were the first to arrive at the fire
yesterday, and passengers with hand
baggage were transferred by walking
q quarter Of mile through the snow
to train waiting on the west side,
after eight hours delay. An effort
will be made to build track on the
surface around the tunnel, but the
task presents grave engineering
problem.
THOUGHT SATAN WAS AFTER THEM
BOURBON. Ind, Jan. lS-Rev. Mr..
Akin, pastor Of the flock Of Bethal
church, Sunday night took for his
theme, "His Satanic Majesty" He Is
an eloquent man, and he painted the
arch-Aend in vivid colors. At the
climax Of the description being,
dressed to represent the devil, with
large head and switching tail, ambled
up the aisle, blowing smoke from Its
uostrils and believing: II am the
devil and l want all of YOU" The au-
dience became panic-stricken. Men,
women and children we're hurled to
the floor and trampled in the mad
rush for the door. In the confusion
the stove was upset and the building
caught fire. Before the Mortified mem.
bers regained their senses the fire had
gained such Roadway that all attempts
to save the church were in vain. Yes
terday morning George Akin, son Of
the pastor, confessed that he, with the
help of other boys, knowing the sub.
ject Of his fathers sermon, rugged up
devil suit, concealed himself behind
chair and awaited the arri val Of the
audience.
IMMERSION ENDS IN DEATH.
HUNTINGTON, W. Va, Jan. 1s.-Word
came last night from Hamlin, Lincoln
county, Of distressing accident on
Ten Mile creek, near there Rev. Mr..
J. G. Enoch Monday closed revival
service in the Baptist church and hun
dreds gathered to see ten converts bap-
tized in the creek. After several can
didates had been immersed in the icy
waters, Mrs. Henry Kirk, weighing
200 pounds, was led into the stream.
As she was leaning backward upon the
minister's arm his benumbed hands
lost their grip. Mrs Kirk apparently
became unconscious from the cold
water and she sank. Several men
rushed to the rescue, but during the
excitement Mrs. Kirk drowned. Efforts
to resuscitate her proved unavailing.
The other three converts were not i'm
mersed.
TRUSTED CLERKS ROBBERY.
BosToN, Jan. lS.-Edward A. Knight,
confidential clerk for DR.. j. +. Can
ming banker and broker, is reported
to the police as missing, and with him
are supposed to have gone diamonds,
jewelry set with precious stones, and
$1,000 in cash. the total value Of the
property being somewhere between
$4,000 to $40,
BROKE NEARLY ALL HIS BONES
LIMA, O., Jan. ls.-Shortly after noon
yesterday Joseph Graft, a cornice
worker, fell from the top of new
block on which he was working to the
ground below, distance of 100 feet
The fall did not kill him, but nearly
every bone in his body was broken,
and he was taken home in dying con.