Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-05-15
the COUNT
Fire Torrent Falls.

Sheraden, Pa. May 13.-A remark
able series of explosions between 4
and Z o'clock last evening caused the
death of at least twenty-five persons.
the burning and injuring of two or
three hundred others, and property
loss that will run into hundreds Of
thousands of dollars. The list of dead,
so far as obtainable, follows:
Albert Mexican and John Swan,
brakemen, Sheraden: unknown boy,
about IA years: H. e. Smithley,
Uhrichsville, o.; - Finerty, Sister
vile, w. Va: Charles Hertig, Chest
nut mines; w. w. Taylor. of Miller's
Station; G. e. Hunter, of Sheraden;
w. e. Wright, of Sheraden; Dallas
man; Douds; David Smith, aged
8 years, of Sheraden; James Keenan,,
Carnegie; Pascoe Nader; Italian Sec
ton hand; unknown boy, aged 10.
Those Most Seriously Hurt.
Partial list of seriously injured:
Among the more seriously burned are
Albert Haertig, aged u; Carl Eatings,
of Upton, Tenn; Henry Denzine, of
Allegheny; Sadie Seymour, deaf mute;
Flick Connidi, grocer, Cecil, Pa; Clyde
Grinnage; Roy Guthridge, aged 81;
Clyde Fair, McDOnald; Charles Kee-
nan, aged Il; w. H. Enoch, Pittsburg,
will die; Frank IDoerr, condition seri-
Gus; William Henderson, Elliott Bor-
Ough: Hugh Henderson,; ]. e. Hanna,
justice Of the peace, Bridgeville, seri-
Gus; j. J. Wallace, TreveScan, serious;
James Callahan, Elliott Borough; Al
bert Very. Sheraden, will die: Mrs.
Julia Ansell. Sheraden; Frank Culture,
Carnegie: Matthew Moreland. AIcKee's
Rocks, Will probably Gle. The many
others who We're injured live in all
parts of Allegheny county andA their
names cannot be secured.
Cause of the Terrible Horror.
The Sheladen yards of the Panhan-
ole railroad are a few miles below
this city, and Yesterday evening and
last night We're a merry furnace Of burn
ing cars. naphtha, oil and merchandise
The cause of the catastrophe was the
explosion Of a naphtha car, brought
about by leak in the car which COM
municated to a switch light Lear by,
causing a terrific explosion. Crowds of
peOple-men, women and Children
quickly gathered to look at the fire,
and were lined about the yard on the
hillsides to the number of thousands.
Second Did the Awful Work,
When all danger had apparently
passed a second explosion OF naphtha
followed, far worse than the first. The
flames from the second car were
thrown 500 feet into the air, complete
ly envelOping the onlookers. In an
instant the scene was one beyond de-
scripti0n. The air was superheated to
a degree impossible for human life
to exist in. Those nearest the exploded
cars were caught and fell to the
ground The clothing of those farther
away was soon afire, and the victims
ran frantically about, tearing their
burning garments from their bodies
and screaming for help.
Sewers Spread Death and Ruin.
In the meantime the fire had spread
to other cars and liz an incredibly short
time the entire yard was ablaEe. The
heat was so intense that tiremen were
unable to get anywhere near the fire
The burning oil was carried through
the sewers to distant parts of the dis
trict. one of the results being an ex-
plOsiOn in pool room at McKee's
Rocks. where hundreds of men were
ga .hered. Four men are reported xii ed
at this point. Hundreds of people
were lying around on the ground in
the railway yards. in all conditions of
injury and death.
Property Loss Ia 100000.
The Panhandle Railroad company
and has succeeded in keeping commu-
nication open. The property loss will
amount to at least 100000.