Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-17
ENlVELOPED IN FLAMES
Explosion of Eaphtha Cars Brought
Death to 0nlookers. p
"a ARE DEAD AND 200 INJURED

While Crowds Of People Were Watch
ing a Fire. Car Exploded. and Thos,
Nearest Were killed-sewers FIiIec
With Burning Oil.
Pittsburg, May Is. - The Sherader
yards of the Pan Handle railroad was
the scene last evening OF one of the
most disastrous explosions and fires
known In this section for many years
Twenty-four lives were lost and abou
two hundred persons were so badly
burned that, according to the judg
ment OF physicians in attendance, ii
per cent. of them will die from the
effects Of their injuries.
The cause of the catastrophe was the
explosion of a train of naphtha cars
which were being switched at the yard
and In the switching the rear car tele
scoped q car forward. The leakine
naphtha ignited from a switch light
causing an explosion which threw the
flames fifty feet high Much of the es
Gaping naphtha ran through Corks Run
to Esplen borough. a distance OF one
and one-half miles. and caused another
explosion. blowing to atoms the Sey
mour hotel and the Collins house. Oh
River road. and badly wrecking 6
frame building nearby. in which were
congregated two hundred or more
sports from Pittsburg and vicinity. bet
ting on the races base ball. etc Few
OF the occupants of this building es-
capped injury. many being badly hurt
Mrs, Seymour and her daughter, of the
Sheradeu hotel, were seriously. and ii
is feared. fatally injured.
The 6rst car OF aaphtha exploded
about 40 O'Clock and the spectacle
soon attracted large crowd on streets
lining the hills on both sides of and
parallel to the railroad The second
car exploded about o'clock. but il was
els o'clock when three more cars OF
the deadly stun went up with roar
that could be heard for miles. that the
work OF destruction really began.
A torrent of fame belched forth or
each side of the track. sweeping back
the terrified spectators like a charg,
OF artillery. and sending a shower o
flame over their heads, resembling
Mont Pelee on a small scale. The
scene that followed beggars descrip
ton The successive explosions haC
heated the air to such an extent thai
before the third explosion many wer,
rendered unconscious by the extrem,
heat Rad the gaseous fumes and wer,
being carried away when the torrent
of flame swept over the excited crowd
There was an awful hush for a mo
msnt. then followed a scene OF frenzy
Men and women. their clothing ablaze
their faces scorched and blistered anC
their hair burned of their heads, rar
wildly shrisking. hither and thither
only intent on escape from that aw
ful furnace OF IRE. some gave vent t.
frsnIisd appeals 10 kill them and pu
them cut Of their nissry, and littl,
children. with their curly locks anC
light summer clothing small pillars o
IRE. cried piteously az they were sweep
along by the tide of burning humanity
The townspeopls cid all in thei
power for the stricksR victims. and al
the Ptttsburg ambulAnsss were imme
diatsly despatched - the scene, will
corps Of physicians Many OF thos
not seriously burned were removed {,
, their homes in Sheradsn, while other
were sent to the various Pittsburg hos
pitfalls. and the dead removed TO un
, dsrtskinE establishments IN Sheradel
; and visiAity and TO the Pittsbur,
morgua.