Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-13
1N[NIY-0N[ D[AD,,
FIFTY MORE DYING
Loss of Lie in the Sheraden. Pa,
Explosion Worse Than First
Suspected.
Spectators at a Fire Coveret
With Blazing Oil Without a
Moments Warning.
Hospitals Filled With the Vic
Tins. Of Whom There We're
Three Hundred.

Pittsburg, May 13.-Twenty-on deat
and not less than 800 others injured is
the result of the terrible catastrophe al
Sheraden last evening. OF the 800 in
jured, the physicians say at least fifty
will die.
The dead are: James Keenan,, aged
90, Carnegie; Charles Heartig, lS
Chestnut mines; w. w. Taylor 81
Miller's Station, O.; Harry F. Smiley
90. Urichsville, O.; w. Finnerty, 40
Sistersville, w. Va: G. e. Hunter, 2S
Sheraden; Walter E. Wright, &c. Sher-
aden; Dallas NJ. Byrd, %. Sheraden;
Pascal Madeer, 2S; unknown boy; Don
aid Smith, 10, Sheraden; George VIII
son, Is, Sheraden; Matthew Marnon
"a. McKees Rocks; John Swan, 80; AL
bert Mexican, %; Hugh Flaherty, 65;
Tony Leo. laborer, 80; Lewis
unknown boy; unknown woman; Law
renee Keenan,, Carnegie.
This large number of casualties is
the result of a series of explosions Gull
minating in one of the most frishttul
disasters in the history of Pittsburg
The first explosion was caused by the
telescoping of two naptha tank cars IN
the Yards of the Pan Handle railroad
The naptha was ignited by an open
switch lamps. the burning fluid rapidly
f,owing into a culvert leading to the
Ohio river. Here occurred second ex-
plosion in which the culvert was blown
m. the burning oil setting fire to halt
a dozen dwelling houses, and ln1urins
nearly 100 people. Full two hours after
the fire had started there came another
explosion, which caused the greates1
loss of life and property. There were
three other naptha tanks IN the lm-
mediate neighborhood of the two that
had been telescoped and which We're
burning. These three had been grow
ing hotter and hotter and efforts to
get them out Of range had been inef-
fectual. Suddenly with terrific roar
and a mighty splash of flame the tanks
let go almost at the same moment.
Thousands of people had gathered
upon the hilltops to witness the grand
spectacle presented by the burning
fluid and property. The last explosion
scattered the burning oil, flaming TIM
bers and red hot iron among the spec
tators, setting fire to their clothing and
burning their flesh. Maddened and
crazed by the pain the unfortunates
dashed ay in every direction, tearing
their clothing from their backs as they
ran. But many fell dead in their
tracks, either from being struck
by f1ying missiles or from fatal burns or
from inhalation Of flames from burning
oil or clothing. Those who escaped
hurried to give aid to their less fortu-
nate fellow beings, stripping the blaz-
ing garments from their backs, putting
out the flames, and carrying the injured
to secure spots and seeking for medical
aid. Physicians were hurried to the
scene by special engines furnished by
the railroad company and the injured to
hospitals or homes in any conveyance
that could be forced into use. there be-
ing not enough ambulances available IN
the city to convey the large number of
injured.
Today the scene of the disaster was
visited by thousands, the hills being
covered by people searching for cloth
ing flung from the backs Of victims of
the explosion.
i