Gilpin observer., 1903-03-12
TANK CARS EXPLODE
SCORE OF PERsoNs KILLED AND
MANY ARE MANNED.
Spectators Are Covered With Burning
FIuid-faany Fall in Their Tracks
and Are Incinerated, While Others
Flee With Clothes Abla=e.


Olean, N. Y, March 10.-A score. or
more persons were killed and large
number were injured by an explosion
of oil near here. A freight train Gu
the Erie, made up principally of OH
tank cars filled with oil, broke in
two near this city at about p. m.
The two sections Of the train came
together with crash and one of the
oil tanks was demolished. Fire broke
out almost instantly and the sky was
lighted up for miles. A large crowd
Of people left this city for the scene
Of the fire. While they were lined
up along the tracks a terrific explo-
sion occurred. The flames communl-
Gated quickly with the other tank cars
and a second and third explosion
followed each other in rapid success
sion. Sheets of flame shot out in all
directions. Scores Of persons were
cauth within the zone OF the
fire and enveloped in flames.
Men and boys ran screaming down the
tracks with their clothing ablaze.
Others fell where they stood. over
come by the awful heat. Just how
many were killed is not known. as
many of the bodies were incinerated.
The number of dead is known to be
at least eighteen and some estimates
place it as high as twenty-five. More
than two score were more or less seri-
ously burned. Some of them will die.
It is out Of the question to identify
any OF the bodies recovered.
Some of the Injured.
The following were treated at the
city hospital: James Mcdonald. con-
dition serious; Richard Mcdonald, con-
dition serious; James McCready. legs
and face badly burned; Walter Jack
con. head, back and arms burned. in
hailed flames, will die.
Sydney Fish, prominent business
man. said When l was within
quarter of a mile of the wrecked train
there was terrific explosion. Flames
shot outwards and upwards for great
distance | saw several persons VINO
started to run away drop on the rail-
way tracks. They never moved again.
Others who had been standing close
to the wreckage were hurled through
the air for hundreds of feet. The
scene was awful. Half a dozen young
boys ran down the tracks with their
clothing on fire. They resembled hui
man torches. could hear their agon-
ized screams distinctly from where
stood. They ran some distance Down
the track and then threw themselves
to the ground, grovelling in the
bitches in their frantic efforts to ex-
tinguish the flames. Then they lay
still, some of them unconscious. 9TH
ers dead do not know how many
were killed. but l counted twenty
bodies before came away
Word was sent at once to Olean
police headquarters by telephone.
Every doctor and ambulance in the
city was summoned. Grocery wagons
and carriages of all kinds were
pressed into service and everything
possible was done to bring the in
jured without delay to the hospitals
for treatment.
The first o. the injured to arrive
at the hospital were four boys. Their
injuries are frightfui. Great patches
of flesh were burned of and hung in
ehreds from their bodies.
1t will be difficult to ascertain the
names of great many of the dead.
as their bodies were burned to ashes
in the intense heat. A canvass is be-
ing made Of the city as rapidly as
possible to find out the names of
those missing. There is great excite
ment in the city and the streets are
thronged with people.
Large crowds gathered at the hos
pital and the faces of the injured were
anxiously scanned as they were borne
into the building on stretchers. Heart
rending scenes were witnessed when
one of the poor, blistered bodies was
recognized by father or a mother
or brother. aud II was with difficulty
that persons were restrained from In
vading the operation room.
Street Cars Arc Only Splinters.
Fall River. Mass. March 10.-A