Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-08-14

probably will exceed 100 in the under
ground railway disaster which occurred
here Monday night.
The accident, which occurred on the
Metropolitan electric railway, assumed
the proportions of an awful catastrophe
during the early hours Tuesday when
more than four score bodies of the
burned and suffocated victims were re-
moved from the subterranean passage.
The work continues and indications are
that the death list will, perhaps, exceed
five score.
The scenes at the mouth of the tun-
mel where the victims were brought
forth were of the most heart-rending de-
scription-crowds of weeping men,
women and children struggling forward
in an effort to recognize their missing
relatives and friends. Most of the VIC
Tins are from the middle and working
classes, as the trains were carrying them
home from their work.
Although the accident occurred at
eight O'Clock Monday evening, the Off
Gals and firemen were unable, until
early Tuesday morning, to descend into
of smoke from the burning train. FIRE.
quent attempts were made by heroic vol
unteers whom it was necessary to res
cue, half suffocated and carried away to
the hospitals.
Cause of the Accident.
The causes of the accident are engag-
ing the attention of the officials. Sew
eral versions of the disaster are given,
but the main facts which have been es-
tablished are the following:
Train No. 43, which caused the acct
dent, came from Porte Dauphine at the
entrance to the Bots de Boulogne, in the
western part of Paris, and passing I'M
der the Place de L'Etoile circled the
northerly quarter of the city In this
northern quarter-a manufacturing sec
tion-the train picked up numbers of
workmen, who, after their days work,
were returning to their homes in the
populous eastern ACCOMPLISHMENTS Of
the city. In reaching the neighborhood
of the cemetery Of Pere La Chaise the
electrical motor failed to act properly
and the train waited at the station of
Les Charonnes until the arrival of a sec
ond train which pushed the crippled
train forward, making total of 16
coaches
After proceeding about 200 yards to-
wards Menilmontant station, the dam
aged dynamo set fire to the engine Of
the first train. The fire burned fercely,
raising quantities Of smoke Stimuli
taneously the electric lights on the
trains went out, leaving the passengers
in total darkness, except for the light of
the burning engine far ahead This i'm
peded the progress of the trains toward
Menilmontant. The stricken pas
sengers got out and tried to grope their
way back. The powerful electrical cur
rent, which continued in the rails, is be-
lieved to have stunned or killed many
number Of the passengers managed to
reach Les Charonnes station, but the
main body Of the passengers was over
come by the heat and smoke.
Awful Horror Increased.
A terrible panic occurred among them
behind and the horror of the situation
was increased by third train crashing
into the fiery mass and adding another
crowd Of panic-stricken passengers to
those seeking an outlet The officials at
the stations were the first to become
aware Of the disaster by the clouds of
smoke rising from the tunnel and the
staggering forms of few of the strong
er men and two women who had been
able to make their way through the
dense smoke. Those who got out were
unable to give any information concern
ing the others left behind, but they told
of stumbling over dead people all along
the tracks. The cars continued to burn
until 20 were consumed. The burning
debris gave forth fierce heat which
pulled out Of the mouths of the stations
OF Les Charonnes and Menilmontant.
Most Of the trainmen escaped, but the
conductor Of the train causing the acct
dent was seriously injured. The escape
of the trainmen is attributed not to their
lack Of attention to the passengers but
to their superior knowledge of the sub
terranean passage which enabled them
to hasten forward in spite Of the OBJ
scurity Several soldiers were among
those who effected their escape. They
taken to hospital. Two women who
escaped were partially asphyxiated.
A number of heroic incidents occurred.
One of the employees of the road nearly
lost his life In seeking to make his way
through the smoke to aid the victims
and is now in the hospital. Several SOL
diers and firemen risked their lives in
attempting to succor the passengers.
Well-KnOwn Marksmnn Dead.
Boston, Aug 12.-B. L. Woodward.
who had national reputation as trap
shooter, is Gead at his home in Brock
ton. aged 49, He was considered one of
the best marksmen in the country, and
was member of the All-American team
which took part in the international
shooting contests two years ago in Eng
land.
Died Suddenly.
Knoxville, Tenn, Aug. 12.-Dr. R. N
Rhea, one Of the leading business men
Of Knoxville, member of the wholesale
dry goods firm of Cowan, MCGOWAN &
Co., died suddenly Tuesday morning,
Just after arising. Heart affection was
the cause of his death