Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-14

Martin Naughton, Sheraden.
bridget Seymour. 5s, Corks Run.
Frank Cultuer, 30, Carnegie.
Matthew Moreland, 20. McKees Rocks,
will probably die.
John Cowley, South Side.
Albert Berry, drug clerk, shersden, 1s,
burned all over body.
Thomas Wilson, Is, Sheraden.
George Wilson, Is. sheraden.
John Davis, 19. carpenter, Elliottbor-
ough.
Robert Henderson. engineer OF train haul
ing oil cars, slightly burned.
Chris keenan,, Carnegie, badly injured.
Casper Moran, 1S. Carnegie
James Reagan. s5. Carnegie.
James Neeley. Pittsburg.
Albert Wettengel, Elliottborough.
- Davidson, II, Elliott.
- Davidson, IL.
Herbert Goethe, 8. Esplen.
Edward spath, John Gillen and "Red"
Calvert. McKees Rocks, flremen, seriously
burned about hands and faces.
Mrs. McDermott and four children Car
rie,' age 1S, Harry, 10, Aida, 6, and Emily
4, all burned about face and hands
Bert Roseberry, 13.
Minnie Brown and Caroline Benhart, 13
each.
Charles Wright, colored.
Frank Jones.
Town in PItifuI Plight.
The scenes in and around Sheraden to-
day were pitiful in the extreme. Prac-
tically every house in the village had one
or more injured inmates and In many
ZONES mourning families were gathered
about the charred and distorted remains
OF loved ones who were victims of the ter
rible calamity. Many children were caught
by the hames yesterday and as a result the
two public school buildings today were
almost deserted. OF the 100 pupils en-
rolled there were but 200 In attendance at
the sessions today. OF the 500 absent
Prof. Hannum estimates that 100 were
injured. The children have started fund
for the aid Of their unfortunate school
mates, some OF whom are in need OF nnan-
cial assistance.
The damage to property by the explosions
and fire will be heavy. The loss at the
mouth of Cork's Run tunnel will alone
probably exceed 100000. In addition to
the heavy loss by the railroad company,
twenty-five houses were destroyed either
by the force Of the explosions or by the
fire which followed.
Series of Four Accidents.
This long list is the result Of series
OF four accidents eliminating In one of the
most trightful disasters in the history Of
Greater Pittsburg. The telescoping OF
naphtha tank cars in the yards OF the Pan
handle Railroad company in Corks Run
was followed by the igniting Of the naphtha
by an open switch lamp; by the flowing
Of the naphtha, first free, then ignited,
through the culvert leading to the Ohio
river, half a mile away. and It's explosion
| with attendant damage to life and prop
erty, and by the explosion OF three other
naphtha tanks at the point Of the original
mishap after hundreds Of people had been
attracted to the spot by the FIRE. which
was sending up flames hundred feet high.
The explosions were heard as Ear away
as Duquesne Heights. Grim, ironic fate in
vited the populace to magnificent spec
tacle so they might be made victims.
TeIescOping of Cars.
The telescoping OF the cars was one of
those things that not infrequently happens
without serious consequences Its subse-
quent ignition by an open switch lamp is a
matter which will later be given full inves-
tigation. The cause OF the explosion at
the point where It once again broke out
into the open is still a matter Of conjecture.
II may be that the flame followed fast the
naphtha that had gone before and resented
ing, sending out sheet OF naphtha and
flame that ruined half a dozen houses in
the neighborhood, wrecking them. setting
them on fire, injuring not less than 100
people incidentally. The shock OF the can
non culvert was felt across the river in
Allegheny, where windows we're broken.
The burning OF the nRphtha at the fountain
head, the two naphtha tanks was spec
tacular In the extreme. II was a giant
pillar of hre. People came from far and
near 20 view the sight
Full two hours after the FIRE had started
there came second explosion. There
were three n.S.Itha tanks In the immediate
neighborhood Of the two tanks that had
been telescoped and were burning. These
had been growing hotter and hotter and ef-
forts to get them out OF range had. for some
reason, been Intellectual. With mighty
splash of flame across the heavens and a
noise that made the hills quake the tanks
let go almost at the same moment.
People Fall before Heat.
From the heavens there descended
streams OF burning naphtha. flaming tim
Ter and red-ho iron. The people on the
hilltops were beaten down one after an
other by the force Of the falling, flaming
missiles. Maddened BY pain. the injured
dashed hither and thither. Those that es-
capped gave aid to the less fortunate tore
the burning clothes from them, beat out
the names. carried the desperately injured
to more secure spots and sent for medical
aid. Of which they were in need.
Speedily all OF the local hospitals were
notified OF the second and greater catas-
! trophe. II was soon seen that the am
balances Of all the hospitals in the city
would be able TO adequately give atten-
| tion to the injured. Doctors were sent
for in all direetion4 and they were hurried
10 the spot on special engines provided By
| the railway company, The southern diVi-
sion Of the Pittsburg Railway company.
moreover, sent out a number OF cars
specially for the transportation OF the in
| iured. and these Mera lined un hoth on