The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-08-15
81 BODIES RECOVERED
Death Roll In Tunnel Disaster at
Paris May Exceed 100.
THE DEAD FOUND IN HEAPS
imprisoned In Tunnel, Victims Fought
Wildly to Escape, But Many were
sufocated BY Smoke From Burn

Wildly to Escape, But Many Were
suffocated BY Smoke From Burn
Ing Trains.
Paris. Aug. 12-Eightyfour bodies
have been recovered, and the deate.
list probably will exceed 100, In the
underground railway disaster when
occurred here. The accident, when
occurred on the Metropolitan Electric
railway assumed the proportions OF an
awful catastrophe. when more than
four.scOre bodies Of the burned ana
sumocated victims were removed from
the subtcrranoan passage. The work
continues. and indications are that
the death list will, perhaps. exceed
fiye-score.
one OF the trains broke down at
Menilmontant station, which IS IN
poor and populous section OF the clty.
This train was promptly empticd, ana
the train which followed was ordered
TO push 70 TO the repairing sheds. on
the way there these two trains caught
fire. but the employees succeeded III es'
GAPING. Meanwhile a crowded train
reached Les Couronncs, the preceding
station. and the officials, seeing smoke
mourning out OF the tunnel. gave the
alarm.
A panic ensucd. the passengers
struggling to escape from the station.
Amid the increasing smoke many at
tamufod 10 return along the line
toward Bellcyillc and were suiiocated.
Great masses OF smoke began to
pour out. preventing the officials from
entering the tunnel Men struggled
ont through the smoke. Screams could
Doe heard in the distance and the
cracking OF the fire.
Firemcn were unable for many
hours to descend into the tunnel owing
10 the binding clouds OF smoke from
the burning train. Frequent attempts
were made by heroic volunteers.
whom il was necessary 10 rescue, hall
sunocated and carried away TO the
hospitals.
Sergeant Ahrcns. wearing a respi'
rator. succeeded IN making the de-
scent ne remained seven minutes
and brought the first information To
the effect that corpses were strewn all
about the roadway of the tunnel. Then
he collapsed and was taken to the
hospital Twenty minutes later hre-
men forced their way down through
the tunnel station al Monilmontant
and returned soon afterward with
seven bodics-two men, two young
boys and three women. These per
sons had been cropping through the
smoke that filled the tunnel seeking
a way to escape. when they were over
come.
Further on the hromen stumbled
upon a terrible mass OF bodies These
were the passengers Of the burned
train. They had. fed from the coaches
when the IRE broke out and. cropping
their way through the sunocating
clouds of smoke. sought The exit at the
station But the tunnel makes a
sharp turn near the scene OF the dis
aster. 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
terrible.
The scenes al tho mouth OF the tun-
mel where the victims were brought
forth were OF the most heartrending
description-crowds OF weeping men.
women and children struggling for
ward in an effort 20 recognize their
missing relatives and friends. Most
Of tho victims are from the middle
and working classes. as the trains
were carrying them home from their
work.
Eugene oliver, one OF the few sur
vivors. describes the terrible panic
which occurred in the darkness. The
people. he says. rushed and fought
with one another. madly seeking TO
get away lie was sick. but, nerved
to desperation by the situation, man.
aged to get through the struggling
mass. As the went he passed over
the bodies of those who had fallen.
exhausted, but It was impossible TO
render them aid.