Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-11


viii probably exceed 100 In the under
ground railway disaster which occurred
here last night. The accident, which
occurred on the Metropolitan Electric
railway assumed the proportions of an
awful catastrophe during the early
hours today when more than four
score bodies of the burned and sutfo-
Gated victims were removed from the
subterranean passage. The work con-
tlnues and Indications are that the
death list viii perhaps exceed FIVE
scores.
SCENES AT TUNNEL
The scenes at the 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 forward
in an effort to recognize their missing
relatives and friends
Most Of the victims are from the mid
hlt anu " VI hAnk NldNH'Ns 10 lAN AaNAi0
were carrying them home from their
work. Although the accident occurred
at O'Clock last evening the officials
and 6remen were unable to descend IN
to the tunnel this morning. owing to
the binding clouds of smoke from the
burning train. Frequent attempts We're
made by heroic volunteers whom It was
necessary to rescue, half suffocated, and
carry away TO the hospital.
FIRST INFORMATION.
At 10 minutes after 3 o'clock sergt
Ahrens, wearing respirator, succeed
ed in making the descent he remain
ed 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 10 the hospital. Twenty minutes
later fremen forced their way down
through the tunnel station at Menil-
montant and returned soon afterward
with seven bodies-thee men. two
young boys and two young women.
These persons had been asphyxiated. as
their positions showed they had been
cropping their way through the smoke
that filled the lunnel seeking n way
to escape when they were overcome.
The work OF bringing up bodies went
on steadily after that under the per-
sona direction OF Project Of Police lie.
pine, who summoned a large reserve
force to hold back the surging crowd
including the relatives Of the victims,
LONG LINES OF AMBULANCEs.
Long lines Of ambulances were
brought into requlston and the bodies
were carried to The morgue and the
nearby military barracks. After day
light the crowds at the entrance Of the
tunnel increased 10 enormous proper
tons obliging the police TO fotm a solid
Gordon through which We're admitted
only those seeking to identify their rel
atives among the victims The failure
OF many men. women and children to
return home during the night gave
many the first news Of the catastrophe.
Fathers and mothers came hurrying 10
the mouths Of the tunnel to try to find
the absent ones.
men found great number
OF bodies massed near the ticket Office
OF the station where many had evil
IDENTITY benS overcome while seeking
tickets. They had been surprised by
the columns Of smoke and had sought
to run back up the stone stairway
leading TO the street A struggle had
ensued and some escaped. but the 9TH
ers had been trampled on. One woman
had fled within the ticket Office where
her body was found.
The ticket seller herseslf succeeded in
escaping.
DEATH AND DESPAIR.
At the station Of Les Charonnes the
same scenes Of death and despair had !
been enacted. The accident occurred |
midway bNsween the stations of Menil- |
montant and Les Charonnes, 80 that !
the work Of salvage proceeded from
both ends OF the tunnel In nddiS~
TO the binding smoke the tunnel |
belched forth a terrific heat. az one OF |
the trains was slowly burning within |
The fremen succeeded In throwing sew. /
the entire mass OF humanity apparent |
ne wreck. while some firemen and mil !
Itary engineers az great hazard pushed /
On Inside the tunnel. They brought out .
two bodies and soon afterwards three I
more, The latter were laborers who /
had almost succeeded in reaching the
Exit when they were overcome and suf-
located.
A MASS OF BODIES.