Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-14

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road, and the unfortunate ones were car
ried to them
Despite the fact that the rain came pour
ing down all morning, thousands went to
Sheraden today, the scene Of the disaster.
The Sheraden yards lie between two hills.
Lined upon these hills were thousands
watching the crews of the wreck trains at
work. Passenger trains are gliding by
the wreck quickly since the news OF the
gas main became known In the city. TWO
fatcars lie on the siding covered with
clothing picked up during the night. The
majority Of this is charred rags.
1t is a common sight in Sheraden this
morning TO see people with heaas and hands
~bandaged on the porches, In the streets
and at the wreck. Many were burned
whose names have not appeared, and while
they are not seriously hurt they are suffer-
ing more or less pain.
Regarding the big main beneath the burn
ing wreckage It is feared that the intense
heat from the fire will get down to the
pipes II the hre Is not soon extinguished'
II the conclusion has not caused any
breaks 1t is feared that the intense heat
might, and this Is the reason that the
officials are jealous in their efforts to get
the flames subdued. The freight in the
debris is a complete loss.
Opinions az TO Cause,
superintendent Mccarthy of the Pan.
handle Railroad company was asked thit
morning regarding his theory for the cause
OF the explosion. He replied that as yet
he had not decided what caused the ex-
plosion. The people about the place seen
to think that the leaking naphtha caughi
fire from a switct lamp or the hre box Of
one OF the engines. They hold that the
naphtha need not come In direct contact
with a light, but that fumes rising from 4
would catch from a light even II 1t wal
high above where the naphtha flowed. In
stead Of burning upward the ignited fumes
would follow the column down to the base
Of supply of the running naphtha and Their
the combustion would become complete
Mr.. Mccarthy said he would investigate
the matter thoroughly and would announce
his finding and decision In a few days.
The officials q the Panhandle road feai
a worse explosion than the one which
wrought so much damage yesterday.
danger line has been established 500 yard
: on all sides Of the burning wreckage ant
the railroad police are keeping the curious
crowd back.
A few feet below the burning wrecksgl
3 the big thirty-six-inch main Of the Phila
delphia company. which comes from the ga
fields in the southwestern portion OF tn
i state, ana which supplies the moKses Rock
5 and lower Allegheny districts with nature
q gas. lies.
Z II is feared that the conclusion was .
e great yesterday that some Of the Joints, o
: even the pipe itself, might have been dam
b aged, and II such Is the case the gas whie
e Is under pressure will soon force its wa
I through and another terrific explosion vii
{ follow.
About twenty cars are piled up betwee
the sheraden station and Cork's run in tn
sheraden yards This is still q mass
lame, In this there are all kinds OF mel
l ehandise. Little Roadway is being made I
n extinguish the IRE, owing to the fact tina
the entire wreekage is saturated wit
e naphtha and kerosene and then fresh vol
. umss Of fame continue 70 shoot out frol
various portions Of the smouideFing luin