Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-12
ABOUT 100 DEAD.
Continued from page ~

Les Couronnes station. But the tunnel
makes a sharp turn near the scene of
the disaster and at the angle the entire
mass of humanity apparently became
tightly wedged. The panic which took
place at this point within this dark
subterranean passage must have been
terrific.
The corpses from this death angle
soon swellcd the list until at $50 A. M,
Perfect Lepine placed the number of
victims at 45 already recovered, while
the steady file of firemen bringing up
bodies continued.
NJ Lepne summoned a large force of
doctors and municipal officials who
superintended the removal of the
bodies. The number of corpses brought
up from the angle where the mass was
Wedged was SO large that four and
eight bodies were placed in each ambu-
lance. Many of the victims had hand
kerchiefs stuffed IN their mouths; they
had evidently tried to keep out the
asphyXiating smoke. Some women had
their children tightly clasped in their
arms
AS the fremen brought out the bodies
agonizng cries went up from women
and children who recognized their dead
husbands and fathers. The clothing of
the victims indicated that they were
most entirely second-class passengers.
There were several first-class coaches
on the trains and it is believed that
their occupants We're also among the
victims. The body of one woman was
handsomely dressed while two of the
male victims We're evidently persons of
importance.
About A. NJ, the bodies of 10 women
were brought out at the same time.
They had evidently been together in the
compartment for women and had
sought to escape in a company when
they were overcome. The bodies of two
little girls and three infants were
found with them, clinging to their
mothers.
Many poor people claimed the bodies
of their children and relatives, and
tried to take them home, but the police
gently but firmly insisted on the bodies
being taken to the morgue and bar
racks in order that the magnitude of
the catastrophe might be determined.
The president of the municipal coun-
Gil announced that the city of Paris
would bear the entire expense of the
funeral of the victims
BY $50 A. NJ, the total of the bodies
lying at the morgue had reached 40,
and the total at the barracks of the
municipal guard, Al. making "a all to-
gether.
At o'clock the number of bodies
was unofficially estimated at above 100.
The cause of the accident is engaging
the attention Of the officials. Several
versions of the disaster are given, but
the main facts established, are:
The train which caused the accident
came from Porte Dauphine, in the
western part of Paris. and circled the
northern quarter of the city. In this
quarter, a manufacturing section. the
train picked up number of worl,men,
who. after doing their days work, were
returning to their homes in the eastern
ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the city. On reach
ing the neighborhood of Pere La
Chaise, the electric motor failed to act
properly and the train waited at the
station at Les Couronnes until the ar
rival of a second train, which pushed
the crippled train forward, making a
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 fiercely,
raising quantities of smoke Smulta-
neOusly the electric lights of the trains
went out leaving the passengers in to-
tai darkness, except for the light of the
burning engine far ahead. This i'm
peded the progress of the engine to-
ward Menilmontant. The terror
stricken passengers got out and tried to
grOpe their way back to Les Couronnes.
The powerful electric current which
was in the rails is believed to have
stunned or killed many A number of
the passengers managed to reach Les
Couronnes station, but the main body
of the passengers were overcome by
the heat and smoke.
The catastrophe has caused intense
excitement throughout the city, even
the Humbert trial being forgotten, in
the widespread feeling of horror and
grief. At noon, Col. Meaux ST. Mare,
on behalf of President Loubet, visited
the morgue. and Premier Combes went
to the scene of the disaster M.
hui leduN. pIoCufuT Vi lHe IepuDllc, anu
Judge Jolliot of the Siene tribunal,
have proceeded to Les Couronnes sta
ton to open a judicial investigation
into the affair.
The chief station master at Les
Couronnes, NJ. Didier. has given a
graphic description of the events pre-
ceding the accident. He says he saw
the flames trimming along the gear of