The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-05-16
Awful CataStrO-
phe on the PAN
handle.
Naphtha Tanks
Explode Kill
ing Thirteen.


News-Democrat Leased Wire Service.
Pittsburg, May 13-The fire at Corks
Run is still raging. Twenty cars are
piled up and burning dangerously near
the natural gas main The firemen
are fighting the flames away from the
main. for If the flames should reach 1t,
another and more terrific explosion
would probably follow. The whole
burning wreck is saturated with naph-
tina.
More complete details of the fright
full explosion show that the bursting
of the naphtha tanks cost thirteen
lives. and injured 800 persons, possi-
bly, mo 'e. The hospitals and the
morgues are full of dead and injured.
Reports from the injured in the hos
pitals for most part are favorable
The total number of victims will prob
ably never be known as many, with
slight hurts, went directly home.
81
explosions of naphtha last evening in
the Panhandle railroad yards at Corks
Run. and in its immediate vicinity
caused the death of thirteen persons
and the injury of not less than three
hundred and possibly a much larger
number.
The telescoping of a couple of naph-
tha tank cars, during the process Of
drilling" or making up of trains,
caused the escape of the infiammable
stuff into a culvert; caused the ig-
milton of the oil at an open switch
light; caused later explosion of the
oil, with loss of life and damage to
property half a mile away, near the
river; caused a stiIl later and more
terrible explosion at the scene of the
first mishap after hundreds of peo-
pie had been attracted to the spot by
the magnificent spectacle presented by
the burning cars.
The second explosion was that Of
three other naphtha tanks close at
hand to the tanks that were burning.
AS result of the explosion the burning
oil was scattered over a radius of half
mile, deluging the people in the fiery
fluid, setting fire to houses and trees.
Hundreds of people scattered over
the hillside. their clothes afiame. mad
ly trying to save themselves, and all
unavailingiy.
The local hospitals are filled with
the injured.
The morgues show CHASTITY list OF
the dead.
Never in the history of Allegheny
county has there been such an acci-
dent, nor one attended with so many
narrowing details.
THE DEAD.
James Keenan,. aged 20. single, Car
negie. clerk on wreck train.
Charles Heartig, aged 13, Chestnut
Mines. Pa.
w. w. Taylor, age 27, brakeman,
Millers Station, o.
Harry F. Smiley, age 20, Uhrichs-
vile, o., levelman on Panhandle.
Finnerty, Sisterville, W. Va, age
G. f. Hunter, married, %, five chill
dren, freight conductor, Sheridan.
Walter Z. Wright, 26, Sheridan
killed at wreck.
Dallas M. Byrd, fireman, age 28,
Sheridan; killed at wreck
Pascal Nader, % years old, section
foreman.
Donald Smith, age 10, Sheridan. son
of Jerome Smith, train dispatcher.
George Wilson, aged Is messenger,
Of Sheridan; body almost cooked.
Two others unidentified.
FATALLY INJURED.
Carl Eddins, aged 10. single, works
for Western Union, lived at Upton,
Tenn; badly burned over body; little
hope for him entertained; at Homeo-
pathic hospitail
Matthew Marnon, teamster. aged "a.
single, 25 CHARTERS avenue, McKees
Rock: body fairly cooked; at Homeo-
pathic hospital.
Albert Berry, aged Is. of Sheridan,
burned badly about body; in great
agony; at Mercy hospital
David Lackey, aged 23, $50 Mary
land avenue, employed by Westing-
house company; hands burned and eye
injured; stomach in serious shape; at
Mercy hospital.
CANTON BOY INJURED.
Edward F. Ballinger, a reporter on
the Pittsburg Post, who was employed
on the Canton Repository up until a
few months ago. is named among the
injured. A dispatch says that his
hands and face are badly burned but
that his condition Is not serious Mr..
Ballinger Is now being cared for at tho
Southside hospital.
ATTACKED BY PET CAT.
Newark, o., May 13.--Mrs. Johannes