The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-03-11
y LIVES BURNED OUT.
Awful Accident From Burning
Cars Near Olean.

SSSbli SSOlOo VI SPSShdNS'S WV
Caught Near the Spreading Fire
Many Bodies lncinerated - Doctors
Summoned From OIean.
Olean, N. Y, March 10.-A score oi
more of people were killed and 6
larger number were injured by an ex
plosion Of oil near here last night.
A freight train on the Erie, made W
principally OF tank cars filled with oil
broke in two north of the city at about
8 O'Clock. The two sections of the
train came together with crash IND
one of the oil tanks was demolished,
Fire broke out almost instantly and
the sky was lighted up for miles. A
large crowd of people left this city fol
the scene of the fire.
While they were lined up along the
tracks terrific explosion occurred
The flames communicated quickly with
the other tank cars and a second and
third explosion followed each other in
rapid succession. Sheets of flames
shot out in all directions
Scores of persons were caught with
in the zone of the fire and enveloped
in flames. Men and boys ran scream
ing down the tracks with their cloth
ing a mass of flames. Others fell where
they stood, overcome by the awful
heat.
Just how many were killed Is moi
known, as many of the bodies were
inclnerated.
Sydney Fish, a prominent business
man of the city, returned from the
scene of the fire at midnight. He
said: 81 was attracted to the scene OF
the fire between $3.50 and 10 o'clock
When was within quarter of a mile
of the wrecked train there was ter
rife explosion. Flames shot outwards
and upwards for a great distance.
81 saw several persons who started
to run away drop on the railroad tracks
and they never moved again. Others
who had been standing close to the
wreckage were hurled through the air
for hundreds of feet The scene was
awful.
Half dozen young boys ran down
the tracks with their clothing on fire
They resembled human torches.
could hear their agonized screams dis.
tinctly from where | stood. They ran
some distance down the track and then
threw themselves to the ground, grow.
elllng in the bitches in their frantic
efforts to eXtinguish the flames. Then
they laid still, some of them uncon.
scious, others dead don't know how
many were killed. but counted 20
bodies before | came away"
Word was at once sent to Olean po
lice headquarters by telephone. Every
doctor and ambulance in the city was
summoned. Grocery wagons and car
riages of all kinds were pressed into
service and everything possible was
done to bring the wounded without
delay TO the city hospital for treat
ment
At midnight the first of the wounded
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.
A report from the scene OF the acci.
dent says % bodies have been taken
from the wreckage Some Of them
are burned beyond recognition, only
the trunks and skulls remaining.
It 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 the persons
who are missing.
AS these missing persons turn up, il
they do, their names will be eliminated
and in the end a complete list of those
who lost their lives will be secured. |
But this will take time and patience.
Besides, there was great excitement in
the city and the streets were thronged
with people until long after midnight
Large crowds gathered at the hos.
pital and the faces Of the injured were
anxiously scanned as they were borne
into the building on stretchers
Heartrending scenes were witnessed |
when one of the poor. blistered bodies
was recognized by father or a mother |
or brother and It was with difficulty |
that the people were restrained from |
invading the operating room.
The latest estimate Of the casualties
places the number of dead at 22 and
the injured at As. Some of the in.
jured will die.