The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-12
WATCHMAN SLEPT
Disastrous B. & O. Wreck in a
Tunnel.
Seven Persons Killed Wreck
age Catches Fire.

Philadelphia, May 1z.-Frank Lantel,
a tower operator in the employ of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad company,
stationed at the entrance of the tunnel
under Twenty-fifth street just outside
of F'airmount Park, it is claimed slept
at his post. As a result a, disastrous
rear-end freight collision occurred early
today in the tunnel, causing the death
of Engineer George Loeb and Fireman
George Hinchnan, and it is believed
five tramps who were stealing a ride.
Fire followed the wreck and a dozen
or more firemen were injured while
fighting the flames and are now in the
hospitals.
All OF the dead were still in the wreck
age this forenoon ID the fire depart
ment was unable to extinguish the
flames, which slowly consumed the de-
molished cars. Operator Lantel dis
appeared and the police are looking for
him.
The vicinity of the tunnel after the
accident became the scene of wild ex-
nearer than within 200 feet of either
OPT ming, owing to the volume OF flame
and smoke which issued therefrom.
The fast New York bound express
freight train of 3S cars reached the tun-
nel on time and slowed down so that
some of the cars could be shifted. The
second section of the same train com
posed of 80 cars was due about ten
minutes later. 1t was Towerman Lam
tePs duty to signal the second section
that the first had stopped in the tunnel.
This Lantel failed to do having, it is
said fallen asleep. The second section
approached the tunnel at a rapid rate
| of speed and crashed with full force in
| to the first section. Engineer Loeb and
| Fireman Hinchman of the second sec
! tion were Immediately crushed to death
l. Id s,,1f 1fz~r.y- -fr,1fr 10 q
! mass began to burn. Four oil cars ex-
! ploded, adding to the horror of the sit
! uation and feeding the flames. A fire
| alarm was sent in and firemen immed-
| lately began an endeaVor to eXtinguish
| the flames No attempt was made to
secure the bodies of the dead, as it was
| impossible to get near the point where
/ they lay The loss to the company is
| estimated at $4,000.
-Four men who were the most Sc
| riously injured are:
John Jordan. inhaIing gas. may die.
John Alderman, burns and internal
| injuries.
Joseph Davis. burned.
Charles Rau, burned.
Twenty additional firemen have been
I treated for minor injuries
Each of the oil cars contained about
| 10000 gallons of the fluid, and the
| burning oil spread with great rapidity
to the other cars.
is about midway in the tunnel. The
latter is about twenty-eight hundred
feet long and extends along Twenty
fifth street to the edge of F'airmount
| Park, close to the famous Washington
monument at the Green street park en-
trance. Up to neon the fire was not
under control, and the firemen were ex-
periencing the greatest difficulty in
fighting the flames Dense columns of
smoke poured from both ends of the
tunnel and from holes which had been
cut from the street. and the hremen
could penetrate but a short distance
before they were forced to return Sew
eraI attempts were made to reach the
spot where the bodies are believed to
be located, but without success, and il
is the opinion that they have been
burned beyond hope of being identified
Day Watchman George J. Robertson is
authority for the statement that Oper-
ator Lantwell was asleep at his post.