The Washington times., 1903-03-10
Shocking Disaster on the
Erie, at North Olean, N. Y.
The Wreckage Hurled
With Force of Projectiles
Among Spectators.
Victims Principally Boys,
Ignorant of Their Danger.
Accident Caused by Part
ing of Train of Gasolene
Cars, Which Took Fire.


before O'Clock last evening a west
bound freight train. made up principally
Of tank cars. on the Allegheny division
OF the Erie Railroad, broke in two. a
short distance rom the Erie station
at North Olean- The forward section OF
the train was brought TO a stop aad' the 2
rear section crashed into it.
Fire broke out and an explosion OF
some OF the cars followed. shatterinS
the steel tanks and sending fragments
OF metal with the force of proiectiles in
all directions. killing many persons out
right The explosion also scattered the
cars contents. gasolene. which caught
fire Immediately and enveloped a num-
Der OF persons who had been attracted
by the original blaze.
Fifteen Dead-Fifty Injured
An estimate OF the dead and injured
made this morning places the dead at
hfteen AID the injured at upward OF
fifty
Fifteen OF the dead have been idsn-
tilted as follows:
MARTIN V. DRIsCoLL. aged p.
WILLIE ROSS, IS
HARRY GODDEN, IS
RICHARD CONNELL. 19.
HARMON vOLMAN. Is.
JOHN MCMAHON, 1s.
WALTER SWIFT, 10.
JOHN TOBIN, 16
JOHN McCREADY. 13
JOHN STEMLINGER, II.
NORMAN BROWN. 81
FALLAILO QUARANTIO-
CARMIN SICLIANO.
WALTER JACKSON.
MARTIN GALLAGHER
OF those injured and at the general
hospital the names OF the following are
known.
James Mcdonald, fatally burned; Rich
ard Mcdonald. fatally burned. and James
McCreedy. legs and face burned
Train Parted on Bridge.
The train was approaching the Erie
station at North Olean when the acci-
dent happene@ There IS small bridge
east OF the station. As the middle OF
the train rested upon this structure one
OF the couplings is supposed to have
parted. The automatic brakes were set
at once and the front end OF the freight
came TO a standstiM
The detached rear end crashed into Il
and one of the eight tank line cars in
the center was broken squarely In two.
The tank cars weIe filed with gasolens.
which aowed out upon the tracks. Fire
followed the wreck. and the reflection OF
the burning gasoIene could be plainly
seen at this place and for miles around.
Throng Attracted by Fire.
great crowd of Olean people soon
gathered to watch the progress OF the
FIRE. The Erie tracks al the point where
the wreck and fire occurred are banked
high for a long distance on each side Of
the bridge. and the sightseers climbed
upon the bank and tracks. at what they
thought was safe distance from the
flames There were several heavy ex-
pIosions soon after the fire started. but
the crowd at that time was so far re-
moved from the burning cars no one was
injured Gradually. as the cars one by
one caught FIRE and the flames became
more spectacular. the curious edged
closer and closer, until they had to be
warned back.
Boys Ignorant of Danger.
Despite the warnings OF the tIainmen
and others in authority. a small knot OF
adventurous boys persisted in going as
close TO the wreck as the heat would
permit. and seemingly ignorant OF their
danger. they stood in the ravine below
the bank and track. watching the de-
struction OF the tank cars
At 1910 O'Clock the flames had crcPt
through the train. and reached one Of
the largest cars OF the string \ second
or two later there came an explosion
which shook the ground. and small pieces
OF the iron sides Of the car were hurled
in every direction
The boys were enveloped in flames
The crowd OF sightseers on either side
OF the track was driven back by dying
missiles and heat waves which followed
the explosion. and nearly every one OF
the small group OF youngsters below the
embankment is believed to have per-
ished-
Hospital Facilities Taxed
At 1 O'Clock this morning five OF the
injured had been received at the Olean
General Hospital and a message ask
ing for additional ambulances stated
that many more were on their way 10
the hospital 1t is said that the dead
were mainly boys and young men, who
had been standing near the bank and
tracks when the heaviest explosion oe-
Cured The injured are from the body
of the crowd of sightseers-
The bodies of the dead lay in full
sight OF everyone gathered at the fre.
but for hours the heat was so intense
that no attempt could be made TO re-
move the bodies. Many were burned be-
yond recognition