The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-08-19

numbers Of workmen, who, after
their days work were returning to
their homes in the populous eastern
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Of the city. ON
reaching the neighborhood of the
Cemetery of Pere Lo Chaise, the elect
rical motor failed to act properly, and
the train waited at the station of Les
couronneS until the arrival of a second
train, which pushed the crippled train
forward, making total of sixteen
coaches.
After proceeding about two hundred
yards towards Menilmontant Station,
the damaged dynamo set fire to the
engine of the first train. The engine
burned ticrcely, raising quantities of
smoke. simultaneously the electric
lights on the trains went out, leaving
the passengers in total darkness, ex-
cept for the light OF the burning en-
ignc far ahead. This impeded the
progress of the trains toward Mcnil-
montant. The terror-Stricken passen-
gers got out and tried ta grope their
powerful electric current, which CON
tinued in the rails, is believed to have
stunned or killed many. A number
OF the passengers tried TO reach Les
Couronncs Station, but the maih body
of the passengers who overcome by the
heat and smoke.
A TERRIBLE PANIC
occurred among those behind, and the
horror OF the situation was Increased
10y a third train crashing into the
fiery mass, and adding another crowd
of panidStickcn passengers TO those
seeking an outlet.
The cars continued to burn until
twenty were consumed. The burning
debris gave forth a fierce heat, which
pulled out of the mouths of the sta
tionS of Les COurOnneS and Menilmont-
ant. Most of the trainmcn escaped,
but the conductor of the train cauS-
ing the accident was seriously injured.
| The escape OF the trainmcn is at
tributcd not to their lack of attention
to the passengers, but TO their Supe-
rior knowledge Of the Subtcrranean
passage, which enabled them to hasten
. =
number of heroic incidents occurred.
One of the employees of The road
nearly lost his life in seeking to make
his way through the smoke TO aid the
victims, and is now i'm the hospital .
Several soldiers and fircmen riSked
their lcvcS i'm attempting to SuccOr the
passengers. Perfect Lepine himself
took his lifein his hands by entering
the tunnel and proceeding Il conseder-
able distance until the smoke drove
him back.
ACCOUNT OF AN EYEWITNESS.
The chief station master at Les
CouronneS, Nj. Didier, has given q
TTrdpirf -. .,.st- -aNantS pre-
ceding the accident. He says M
saw the flames running along the gear
of the cars when the first train passed
through The station and called out II
the engineer to stop, saying there was
not time to reach the next station
but the engineer declared he haC
ample time and proceeded. a few
minutes later Il long blue lame flashed
through the tunnel, followed by VIC
lent detOnation. Looking into TIN,
month OF the tunnel NJ Didier coulC
see flashed from the burning cars
Great masses Of smoke began to poul
out, preventing the officials from en-
tering the tunnel. Men struggled
ont through the smoke. Screams
could be heard i'm the distance amiC
the cracking of the fire.
VICTIMS MOSTLY TIE POOR.
The names and occupations of tn,
victims give pathetic evidence of thei
humble condition. The names ar
characteristic of the French workin,
classes, and their occupations ar
given .aS given as painter, mason
plumber, tailor, seamstrcSS, lock
smith, etc. Outside the workmen
about every third name is that of
woman. Pitiful scenes were enacted a
the morgue throughout the day n
the relatives gathered seeking to iden
tify the bodies, which were arrange
in long lines on white marble Slabs
) The clothing of many of the victims
torn, showing the tierceneSS of tn
! struggle.
SCENES IN THE TUNNEL.
a survivor named Jules Bouat, des
cribes the struggle during the panic i
the tunnel as terrible. Women wer
screaming, Save mew An old ma
fell exhausted until they fell aSphyx
atcd
, NJ. Gauthicr, the magistrate for tn
district, says one Of the main cause
of the loss of life was that those eScaI
ing took the wrong exit, one paSsag
: letting out To the street, while tn
/ other was barred, as il was uSuall