The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-05-15
LIST is GROWING
SCORE DEAD AND OVER THREE
HuNDRER INJURED IN SHER-
ADAM (PA.) DISASTER.
FIFTY OF LATTER WILL DIE

Series of Accidents Follows the TeIe-
scoping of Naphtha Tank Cars, Gull
minatine in a Terrific Explosion
Which Covers the Hundreds of
sehtseers With Burning Oil, FIam-
ing Timbers and Red Hot Iron.
Pittsburg, May 14-Twenty-one are
dead and not less than 800 others in
jured as the result of the terrible ex-
plosion of naphtha at Sheridan Mon
day evening. Of the 300 injured the
physicians say at least so will die.
Many of the dead have not been re-
ported to the coroner and an accurate
Ike canont be obtained at this time.
The long list of dead and injured is
the result of series of four accidents,
eliminating in a frightful disaster.
The telescoping of naphtha tank cars
in the yards of the Panhandle Railroad
company in Corks Run was followed
by the ignition of the naphtha by an
open switch lamp; by the flowing of
the ignited naphtha through the cul-
vert leading to the Ohio river half a
mile away, and to it's explosion with
attendant loss of Lire and property and
by the explosion of three other naph-
tina tanks at the peint of original mis-
hap after hundreds of people had been
attracted to the spot by the burning
naphtha, which was sending up flames
hundred feet high. The detonations
Of the explosions were heard as far
away as Duquesne Heights.
Ali the story can hardly be told, for
no words can picture the horror of the
scene.
The telescoping of the cars was one
of those things that not infrequently
happens without serious consequences.
It's subsequent ignition by an open
switch lamp is a matter which will
later be given full investigation. The
cause of the explosion at the point
where it once again broke out is still
matter of conjecture. 1t seems that
the flames followed the flowing naph-
tina, and, exploding at the culvert's
opening,
Ruined Half Dozen Houses
in the neighborhood, setting them on
fire and injuring not less than hun
dred people. The shock from this ex-
plosion was felt across the river in
Allegheny, where windows were bro
ken.
The burning of the naphtha at the
fountain head, the two naphtha tanks,
was spectacular. 1t was giant pillar
of fire, surmounted by glorious crown
of iridiscent hue. People came from
far and near to view the sight.
Fully two hours after the fire had
started there came the second eXplC-
sion. There were three other naphtha
tanks in the immediate neighbOrhood
of the two tanks that had telescoped
and were burning. These tanks were
growing hotter and efforts to get them
out of range had for some reason been
Intellectual. With a mighty splash of
fame across the heavens and a can
nonade that made the hills quake the
tanks ignited almost at the same mo-
ment.
Following the explosion burning
naphtha, flaming timber and red hot
iron rained upon the people who had
congregated to view the conflagration
from the hilltops. Many of these were
instantly killed. Others were injured
or set on fire. Maddened with pain
and fright they ran hither and thither,
tearing their burning clothes from
their backs.
By the freaks of chance there were
some few left unscathed. These hur-
ried to give aid to the less fortunate,
put out the flames and carried the
desperately injured to more secure
spots.
Speedily all the local hospitals were
notified, but the ambulances of all the
hospitals in the city were not adequate
to give attention to all the injured.
Doctors were sent for in all directions
and they were hurried to the spot on
special engines provided by the rail
way company.
Not the least exciting of the many
scenes attendant on the catastrophe
was the scene of the arrival of the
victims in this city. People lined the
roads all the way in and eagerly look
ed at the vehicles that carried the
dead and dying to the morgues and
the h0SDjta1S f..