Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-03-10
Explosion of Tank Cars En-
velop Bystanders in Sheet
of Flames.
SCORE OR MORE DIE IN AGONY
conyeyances of All Kinds Used as
Ambulances-Injured Hurried to
HospitaI-Great Patches of Burned
Flesh Hung in shreds to Bodies.

Olean, N Y, March 10.-A score or
more people we're killed and large
number were injured by an explosion
of oil near here. A freight train on
the Erie, made up principally of tank
cars filled with oil, broke in two near
this city The two sections of the
train came together with crash and
one of the tanks was demolished. Fire
broke out almost instantly and the
sky was lighted up for miles. A large
crowd of people left this city for the
scene of the fire.
While they were lined up along
the tracks terrific explosion oc-
ourred. The flames communicated
quickly with the other tank cars and
second and third explosion followed
each other in rapid succession. Sheets
of flames shot out in all directions.
Scores Of persons were caught within
the zone of the fire and enveloped i'll
flames. Men and boys ran screaming
down the tracks with their clothing a
mass of flames, Others fell where
they stood, overcome by the awful
heat. Just how many were killed is
not known, as many of the bodies
were incinerated.
The number of dead is known to be
at least Is and some estimates place
1t as high as rs. Over two score were
more or less seriously burned. Some
Of them will die. 1t is out of the
10 ~ Of he
recovered.
Sydney Fish, prominent business
man, returned from the scene of the
fire at midnight He said:
Il was attracted to the scene of the
fire between $50 and 10 o'clock.
When | was within quarter of a
mile of the wrecked train there was
terrific explosion. Flames shot out
wards and upwards for a great dis
lance. I saw several persons who
started to run away drop on the rail-
road tracks and they never moved
again. Others who had been stand
ing close to the wreckage were hurled
through the air for hundreds of feet.
The scene was awful Half a dozen
young boys ran down the tracks with
their clothing on fire. They resem-
bled human torches. l could hear
their agonized screams distinctly
from where stood They ran some
distance down the track and then
threw themselves to the ground, grow
cling in the bitches in their frantic
efforts to extinguish the flames. Then
they lay still, some of them uncon-
scious, others dead. | don't know how
many were killed, but l counted 20
bodies before l came away"
Word was sent at once to Olean
police headquarters by telephone
Every doctor and ambulance in the
city was summoned Grocery wagons
and carriages of all kinds were
pressed into service and everything
possible was done to bring the in
jured without delay to the hospitals
for treatment.
At midnight the first of the injured
arrived at the hospital They were
four young boys. Their injuries were
frightful. Great patches of flesh were
burned off and hung in shreds from
their bodies.
1t will be difficult to ascertain the
names of great many of the dead.
as their bodies were burned to ashes
in the intense heat. A canvass is
being made of the city as rapidly as
possible to find out the. names of those
missing. There is great excitement
In the city and the streets are throng.
ed with people.
Large crowds gathered at the hos.
pital and the faces were anxiously
scanned as they were borne into the
building on stretchers. Heart rend.
Ing scenes were witnessed when one
OF the poor, blistered bodies was rec.
ognized by a father or mother or
brother and it was with difficulty that
persons were restrained from invad.
ing the operating room.