The Washington times., 1903-08-11
Gross Circuit" Causes
Train to Burn Be-
tween Stations.
A VERITABLE DEATHTRAP
Absence of Air Holes Results
IN the Asphyxiation of
Many Passengers.

PARIS, Aug. 11.-Firemen who pene.
trated the Metropolitan tunnel early this
morning found that the railroad train
which caught fire In the tunnel last even
ing caused one of the most terrible ca
tastrophes that has ever occurred in this
city. So far ninety corpses have been
found and the search for victims has not
ended.
AT O'Clock this morning the smoke
IN the tunnel had cleared sufficiently to
allow descent at the Menilmontant sta
ton On the stairs seven corpses lay.
They were those of peopl who were buy
ing tickets and had been instantly suffo-
Gated Farther on the corpse of the
ticket agent was found, but the wicket
OF his booth had not been damaged The
fumes were so dense at this point that
the fremen were not able to proceed
farther.
Corpses on Every Step.
More horrible discoveries were made
at the Couronnes station. Corpses were
strewn on every step. At o'clock this
morning forty-hve bodies had been
found and removed to the surface Later
thirty-seven more bodies were removed.
bringing the total number OF casualties
to ninety.
The people had left the burning train
and were trying to reach the open air
when they fell asphyxiated. The bodies
were lying in convulsed attitudes AMI
many were holding a handkerchief 10
the mouth. The face of each was
swollen and the skin in a number of
cases was. peeled of. The victims are
about equally divided between men. wo-
men and children. Some were hand
somely dressed and were apparently
persons Of prominence. They have not
as yet been identified
A Veritabie Deathtrap.
The engineer of the first train at
tributes the catastrophe to bar OF iron
falling from the car to the track. A
cross circuit" was formed and the
wood or the car was ignited by the
electric current. The terrible mortality
was caused by the smoke having no es-
cape except through the stairways
Eighteen months ago the Paris fire
department warned the officials OF the
Metropolitan Electric Railway Company
to put air holes at regular distances of
100 yards the whole length of the route,
in order to allow the fumes to escape
Neglect to obey this order is RESPONSE
BILE for the number of deaths last night
Collapse of Street Feared.
The exploration of the tunnel for
bodies continues. but with extreme pre-
cautions. as the collapse of part Of the
street is feared. Here and there In the
tunnel are large pools Of blood. which
reveal the fearful struggle for life that
took place.
The only prominent person so far
found among the dead is the artist San
dillon. As the official inquiry proceeds
fresh details are brought TO light and
the catastrophe assumes most horrible
proportions.
Stationmaster's Story.
The most vivid and consistent version
o. what took place is that of Station
master Didier at the Couronnes station.
He said:
AT 7:S5 o'clock last night train No.
Is. coming from the Bois du Boulougne.
should have stopped at the Barbes sta
tion. Before the station was reached
the engine became disabled, and 1t was
Impossible for the train to proceed. The
cars were then emptied, the passengers
walking to the station. Then train No
50 coupled to train No. IS for the pur-
pose Of taking it to the terminus to
clear the track
The two trains rapidly passed Chapel |
lie Allemasne, Aubervilliers. Combat, and |
Belleville stations. When nearing Cou- |
ronnes station flames were seen issuing
from under the flooring. and some OF the |
cars took fire, endangert2S the lives ,of
the employees. I motIoned desperately |
and cried Stop! stop! you can never
reach the terminus
At Dizzy Speed.
Leave us alone. answered the me-
trains swept into the tunnel at dizzy
speed toward the Menilmontant station. |
The station was almost reached when a !
violent explosion occurred. and the next |
instant the eight cars were one sheet |
of flame. giving the employees barely !
time to jump and run for their lives.
The flames rising to the top of the |
tunnel, melted the electric light wires |
and tunnel and stations were plunged |
into darkness. save for the lurid glare |
from the connagration.
Train No. As arrived just then It |
was filled with passengers. 1t stopped |
about 500 yards from the burning train |
and a panic followed among the people |
who were between the two stations
Some tried to run for the Couronnes
-fus 30 h
Belleville station. Some succeeded in |
escaping TO the street. carrying with |