Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-11
Frightful Catastrophe Occurs
In Tunnel In the Great
French Metropolis
ELECTRIC TRAIN is SET ON FIRE
Passenger. Confused and sewildered
in the Darkness Are Unable to Grope
Their Way Out and Are suffocated
BY the Heat and smoke-Terribie
Scene at Station.

| Paris. Aug. 11.-Eighty-four bodies
have been discovered and the death list
will probably exceed a hundred in the
underground railway disaster, which
occurred here last night.
The accident which occurred on the
Metropolitan Electric Railway, assum-
| ed the proportions of an awful catas-
trophe during the early hours today,
when more than four score bodies Of
the burned and suffocated victims wer.
removed from the subterranean pas.
sage. The rescue work continues, all
though the smoke from the burning
cars makes the task of the firemen
severe and slow.
The scenes at the mouth of the tun-
mel are of the most l1eartrending de-
scription. Crowds of weeping women,
and children struggling forward in an
effort to recognize missing relatives
and friends. Most Of the victims ara
from the middle working classes.
Although the accident occurred at 8
o'clock last evening. the officials and
firemen We're unable. until early this
morning to descend into the tunnel ow-
ing to the binding clouds of smoke
from the burning train. Frequent at
tempts were made by heroic volunteers,
whom 1t was necessary to rescue, half
suffocated and carry away to the hos
pitfalls. Finally Sergeant Ahrens, wear
ing a respirator, succeeded In making
the descent. He remained several min
utes and brought the first information
to the effect that corpses were strewn
all about the roadway OF the tunnell.
Then he collapsed and was taken to
the hospital. Twenty minutes later
firemen forced a way down thru the
tunnel station at Menilmontant and re-
turned soon afterwards with seven
bodies. These persons had been as
phyxiated, as their positions showed
that they had been cropping thru thu
smoke that filed the tunnel, seeking
way to escape when they We're over
come.
The work Of bringing up the bodice
went on steadily, after that, under the
personal direction Of the project Of pos
lice, who summoned a large reserve
force to hold back the surging crowd
including the relatives OF the victims
The causes of the accident are ems
gaging the attention OF the officials
Several versions OF the disaster arr
given, but the main facts which have
been established are as follows:
The train which caused the accident
came from Porte. Dauphine, at the en-
trance of Bois D. Boulogne, in the
western part of Paris. In reaching the
neighborhood of the cemetery Pere La
Chaise, the electrical motor failed to
act properly and the train waited at
the station of Les Charonnes until the
arrival Of the second train. whicl
pushed the crippled train forward
making a total of sixteen coaches. Al.
ter proceeding about 200 yards towart
Menilrhontant station, the damages
DYNAMO set fire to the engine of tn
first train. The fire burned fierceN
raising large quantities OF smoke. Sim
ultaneously the electric lights on th
train went out, leaving the passenger
in total darkness. except for the ligh
of the burning engine far ahead.
This impeded the progress OF fhS
trains toward Manilmontant. The ter
ror stricken passengers got out an
tried to grope their way back INT
powerful electric current, which con
tinued in the rails, is believed to nave
stunned or killed many. "A numDea
of passengers managed to reacn Les
Cahronnes station, but the main pooJ
of passengers was overcome py TINS
heat and smoke. A terrible panic oc-
CURED among them. The horror OF ths
situation was increased by third traia
crashing into the fiery mass, addina
another crowd of panic-stricken pas
sengers to those seeking an outlet.