Gilpin observer., 1902-05-15
SCORE DIE In FIRE
TWO HUNDRED OTHERS SURVIVE
IN GREAT AGONY.


Railroad Yardo Near PittsburJ 4 Mo -S
Of Flamcs-Men, Women and Child
rem Are Enveioped in Raging Fire.
Many VIII Die.
Pittsburg, May 13.-The Sheraden
yards of the Panhandle railroad was
the scene last evening OF the most
disastrous explosion and fire known
in this section for many years. a
score of lives were lost and about 200
persons were SO badly burned that
according to the Judgment of physl-
clans in attendance, rs per cent or
them will die from the effects OF their
injuries. The property loss is $780,
900.
The dead: Ia ID Smith, Albert Nc
Kean. John Swan, H. F. Smithley,
Charles Hertig, w. w. Taylor G. E.
Hunter, Dallas Bort. w. F. Wrignt,
w. E. Resi-, Tony Leo, Lawrence Kee-
nan, James Keenan,, +. Nader four
unknown.
The injured Albert Hartigen, Carl
A1otihSS, ileuIy DeuHlue, oduIe ioGy-
nour, Flick Conadi, Clyde Grinnage,
Roy Guthridge, Clyde Fair, Charles
Keenan,, w. H. Enoch, Frank Doors,
William Henderson, Hugh Henderson,
]. e. Hanna, ]. ]. Wallace, James Cal
lahan, Albert Very, Mrs. Julia Han
son. Frank Culture. Matthew More
aud.
Cause of Catastrophc.
The cause Of the catastrophe was
the explosion of train of naphtha
cars being switched in the yards and
In the switching the rear car tele-
scoI 4 a car forward. The leaking
naphtha ignited from a switch light
causing an explosion, which threw the
flames so feet high. Much of the es-
Gaping naphtha ran through Corh's
Run to Esplen borough, a distance of
one and alf miles, and caused an
other explosion, blowing to atoms the
Seymour hotel and the Collins house
and badly wrecking frame building
| nearby. In which were eongregated
200 or more men from Pittsburg and
vicinity, betting on the races and base
ball games. Few of the occupants of
this building escaped injury. Mrs.
Seymour and her daughter of the
Sheraden hotel were seriously, and
1t Is feared fatally, injured.
Explosion Of Cars.
The first car of. naphtha exploded
about 4:40 o'clock and the spectacle
soon attracted large crowd on
streets lining the hills on both sides
of the railroad.
The second car exploded about 5
o'clock. but It was at 6:15 o'clock,
when three more cars of the deadly
stuff went up with a roar that could
be heard for miles. that the work OF
destruction really began. A torrent
of flame belched forth on each side
of the track, sweeping back the terri
fled spectators like charge Of artil-
lery. and sending a tower of fame
over their heads resembling Mont
| Pelee on a small scale. The scene
that followed was beyond description.
The successive explosions had heated
the air to such an extent that before
the third explosion many were rem
dered unconscious by the extreme heat
and the gaseous fumes and were car
ried away when the torrent of flames
swept over the excited crowd
There was an awful hush for a mo-
ment, then followed scene of frenzy.
Men and women. their clothing ablaze,
their faces scorched and blistered.
and their hair burned off their heads.
ran wildly shrieking. hither and
thither. only intent on Escape from
that awful furnace of fire. Some gave
vent to frenzied appeals to kill them
and put them out of their misery, and
little children. with their curly locks
and light summer clothing afire, cried
piteously as they were swept along.
The townspeople did all possible for
the stricken victims and all the Pitts
burg ambulances were Immediately
dispatched to the scene with a corps
OF physicians. Many of those not seri.
ously burned were removed to their
homes In Sheraden, while others were
sent to the various Pittsburg hos
pitals and the dead removed to under
taking establishments in Sheraden
vicinity and to the Pittsburg morgue.
HAYTi HAS A REVOLUTION.