The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-11

Although the accident occurred at s
o'clock last evening the officials and fire.
men were unable, until early this morn
ing, TO descend into the tunnel owing to
the binding clouds of smoke from the
burning train. Frequent attempts were
made by heroic volunteers which 1t was
necessary TO rescue. half suffocated and
carry away to the hospitals.
At 10 minutes after three Sergeant
Ahearns, wearing respirator. succeeded
in making the descent. He remained
several minutes and brought the first in
formation TO the effect that corpses were
strewn all about the roadway OF the tun-
nell
WERE ASPHYXIATED.
Then he collapsed and was taken to the
hospital Twenty minutes later firemen
forced their way dawn through the tunnel
station at Menilmontant and returned
soon afterward with seven bodies, two
men. two young boys and three women.
These persons had been asphyxiated. as
their positions showed they had been
cropping through the smoke that filled the
tunnel, seeking a way TO escape when
they were overcome.
The work of bringing UP bodies went on
steadily after that under the personal di-
rection OF Prefect OF Police Lepine, who
sumoned a large reserve force 10 hold
back the surging crowd including the
relatives OF the victims.
Long lines az ambulances were brought
into requisition and the bodies were car
red to the morgue and the nearby milf
tary barracks. After daylight the crowds
at the entrances TO the tunnel increased
TO enormous proportions obliging the po-
lice 10 form n solid Gordon through which
were admitted only those seeking to iden-
tify their relatives among the victims:
A MASS OF BODIES.
The failure OF many women and chill
dren 20 return home during the night
gave many the first news OF the catas-
rying 10 the mouths OF the tunnel TO try
and find the absent ones. At the sec
ond descent the fremen found a great
number OF bodies massed near the ticket
office OF the station, where many had
eventually been overcome while seeking
tickets.
They had been surprised by the col
umns Of smoke and had sought 10 run
back up the stone stairway leading 10
the street. A struggle had ensued and
some escaped. but the others had been
trampled on. one woman had fed within
the ticket Office. where her body was
found The ticket seller succeeded in
escaping.
DEATH AND DESPAIR.
At the station OF Les Charonnes the
same scenes OF death and despair haG
been enacted. The accident occurred be-
tween the stations OF Menilmotant and
Los Charonnes. so that the work OF sal
wage proceeded from both ends OF the
tunnel In addition 10 the binding smoke
the tunnel belched forth a terrific heat
as one OF the trains was slowly burning
within.
The iremen succeeded in throwing sew
eral streams OF water In the direction OF
the wreck. while some firemen and mill
tary engineers at great hazard pushed on
inside tho tunnel They brought out two
bodies and soon afterwards three more.
The latter were laborers who had almost
succeeded IN reaching the exit when
they were overcome and suffocated.
STUMBLE on MORE BODIES
Further on. the hremen stumbled upon
a mass OF bodies They were the pas
sengers OF the burned train. They had
fed from the coaches when the FIRE broke
out and cropping through the clouds Of
smoke sought the exit at Les Charonnes
station. But the tunnel makes a sharp
turn near the scene OF the disaster and