The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-13

pany. The southern division of the
Pittsburg company, moreover. sent out
number of cars especially for the
transportation of the injured and
these were lined up both on the Shera-
den road and the McKees' Rocks road.
and the unfortunate ones were carried
to them.
Despite the fact that the rain came
pouring down all morning thousands
went to Sheraden today to the scene of
the disaster. The Sheraden yards lie
between two hills Lined up on these
nils are 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
on the siding covered with clothing
picked up during the night. The ma
JorIty of this is eharred rags
1t IS common sight in Sheraden to-
day to see people with their head and
hands bandaged, on the porches, the
streets and a [ the wreck.
Many were burned whose names have
not yet appeared, and While they are
not seriously hurt they are suffering
more or less pain.
Regarding the big N ain beneath the
burning Wreckage, it is feared that the
intense heat from the fire will get down
TO the pipes if the fire is not soon ex-
tlngulshed. If the concussion has not
caused any breaks it is feared that the
intense heat might and this is the rea-
son that the officials are anxious to get
A4AE 4ldAltS SuDuueQ. Inc freight IN the
debris is a complete loss.
TO BE INVESTIGATED
superintendent Mccarthy, of the Pan
handle Railroad company, was asked
this morning regarding his theory for
the cause of the explosion. He replied
that as yet he had not decided what
caused the explosion. The people about
the place seem to think that the leaking
naptha caught from a switch lamp or
the hre-bOx of one of the engines. They
hold that the nanhfha did not oOr,,a ~, n
rect contact with a light. but that
fumes arising from it would catch from
light, even if it were high above where
the naphtha flowed. Instead of burning
upward, the ignited fumes would fol-
low the column down to the base of
supply or the running naphtha and
then the combustion would become COM
plete. Mr.. Mccarthy said he would in
Vestigate the matter thoroughly and
would announce his finding and decis-
ion in a few days.
WORSE EXPLOSION IS FEARED
Pittsburg, May 13.-The officials of the
Panhandle road fear a worse explosion
than the three which wrought so much
damage yesterday A danger line has
been established 800 yeards on all sides
Of the burning wreckage and the rail-
road police are keeping the curious
crowd back. A few feet below the
burning wreckage the big 36-inch main
of the Philadelphia company which
comes from the gas fields in the south
western portion of the state and which
supplies the McKees Rocks and lower
Allegheny districts with natural gas,
lies.
1t is feared that the conclusion was
SO great yesterday that some of the
joints, or even the pipe itself, might
have been damaged, and if such is the
case the gas, which is under great pres
sure, will soon force its way through
and another terrific explosion viii fol-
low
About 20 cars are piled up between
the Sheraden station and Corl's Run
in the Sheraden yards This is stiIl d
mass Of flames. In this there are all
kinds Of merchandise. Little headway
is being made to extiN guish the FIRE
owing to the fact that the entire wreck
age is saturated with naphtha and
kerosene and every now and then d
fresh volume of flame shoots out from
various places in the smoking ruins.