The record-union., 1898-08-10
DESTRUCTION OF FREIGHT.
ELEVEN CARLOADS BURNED AT
THE SUMMIT.
Caused by an Oil Car-Snowshcds
Burned and the Pine Forest
Set on Fire,

About 3 O'clock yesterday afternoon
the refined oil in a tank-car drawn by
a westbound freight train caught fire
While passing through the snowsheds at
point about five miles east of the Sum-
init on the Central Pacific line.
The flames, owing to the draught Gre
ated by the fast-moving train, spread
with alarming rapidity, and in a few
moments not only the tank-car, but the
ten cars following it, and the snoWshed
through which the train was passing,
We're roaring, seething furnaces vomit-
Ing forth sheets of flames.
That part of the rain in front of the
oil car was uncoupled and drawn to a
place of safety, but the ten cars
freighted with miscellaneous merchan-
disc, and the caboose, We're literally
wiped out of existence. 1t is utterly
impossible at the present time to eSti-
mate the loss on the cargo of the cars.
The snoWshedS burned like tinder, and
before the flames could be subdued over
1900 feet had been laid in ashes The
ties of the track were burned, and the
rails, subjected to the fearful heat,
warped and twisted like wire
When the fire along the track was
finally got under control the remains
of the cars, the rails and the iron bars
from the shed lay in one continuous.
twisted, smoldering line which stretched
out for over a third of a mile.
Three tramps were stealing ride on
the trucks of the oil car, and the flames
spread SO rapidly that they were seri-
ously burned before they could get out.
They were taken back TO Truckee for
treatment, and the extent of their in
juries was not learned.
The flames spread to the forest along
the track, and at late hour last night
st was still burning.
A wrecking train was sSnt out from
this city, and the work of clearing the
debris from the track was prosecuted
with vigOr. Railroad officials expect
the line to be opened and traffic re-
sumed by or o'clock this morning.
The loss to the railroad company will
be a heavy one.
WAS A NAPTHA EXPLOSION.
TRUCKEE, Aug. 9-An explosion in
a freight car containing two tanks Of
naphtha, which was caused by tramp
lighting a cigarette, started fire which
seriously burned three men, consumed
j 800 feet of snowsheds, destroyed elev-
en- cars of merchandise, and Will delay
all passenger trains until tomorrow
noon.
Three tramps got into the car at
Lovelock's last might, and the car was
attached to freight train No. u to-day.
About o'clock this afternoon, when
near Tunnel No. IS, the trainmen saw
the tramps enveloped in flames by the
side of the track in the snOwsheds. The
train was stopped, when it was discov-
cred that one car was on fire.
In a few moments an explosion oc-
CURED. lifting the roof of the snowshed
a hundred feet in the air and blowing
the sides far down toward Donner Lake.
In a few moments there was a second
explosion. more terrific than the first,
caused by a car of refined oil.
George Scheile inhaled the burning
gases. and is in a critical condition. Joe
Reichmuth and John Goheneix are
dreadfully burned about the head and
hands, but will recover. One of these
men admitted to the conductor that he
struck a match to light cigarette. The
other two were asleep on the bottom or
the car. When the fire broke out they
Jumped from the moving train, after
prying open the door of the car.
Trainmaster T. c.. Akers. with fire
trains from Truckee and the Summit.
made a heroic fight to subdue the
flames in the snowsheds, and had the
fire under control at Z o'clock tonight
A construction train is en- route for
Tunnel Is, but it will be impossible for
trains to pass before tomorrow noon.
The forest is still on fire above and be-
low the railroad, and fire trains will be
on guard all night.