The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-10-17

Alpena, Mich. Oct. 16.-Fifteen
people lost their lives in the burning
of the Detroit and Mackinaw railway
relief train which was carrying the
inhabitants of the village of Metz to
safety from the forest fires which
were sweeping away their homes
The illfated train was ditched at
Ncwieki siding. a few miles south of
Metz. and the terrified refugees were
forced to abandon the cars and rush
for safety. Eleven of the victims
were women and children who were
unable to ecape quickly enough from
the car which they were occupying.
Their chaired Bodies were found
there today when the rescuers
reached the scene. Two men victims
We're members of the train crew
Whole Families Wiped Out.
-Four additional fatalities occurred
in the neighborhood of the wreck last
night. Mr.. and Mrs Fred Wagner
died from the heat and exhaustion on
their farm near the scene of the
wreck and Mr.. and Mrs Fred
Nowicld, Jr., lost their lives in their
burning house near the siding where
the wreck occurred.
The Dead in the Wreck.
WILLIAM BARTLETT, Alpena,
brakeman.
ARTHUR LEE. Alpena, fireman.
JOHN KONIECZNY WIFE AND
THREE CHILDREN.
MRS. GEORGE CICERO AND
THREE CHILDREN
MRS. EMMA HARDlES AND |
THREE CHILDREN
When the fires closed in yester- |
day about the little village a special |
train was rushed to Metz. The peo- |
pie and their goods were loaded into |
the cars Some refused to abandon !
their goods or the train might have |
left earlier and have reached Alpenl |
in safety.
Train Wrecked in Seething Furnace. |
When the train finally started |
there were about 100 people aboard |
The flames were already sweeping |
through the village. Engineer Fos. !
ter started the train for Alpena.
Nearing NowicH crossing he saw |
blazing piles of cedar ties on both |
sides of the track. Opening wide the |
throttle. he tried to dash through at
full speed. but the heat had loosened
the rails and they spread and the
train left the track. Blazing piles of 4
ties surrounded it and in an instant
the cars caught fire.
The terror-stricken people caught Il
by the peril from which they were /,
fleeing. jumped from the cars and 4
rushed down the track Three
mothers and their little ones were not
quick enough They were cremated
Ill. .rrl.- Al
caught.
Boiled to Death in Engine Tank.
Bral eman William Barrett sprang
into the water tank behind the en-.
gine only to be literally boiled to
death as the flames swept over IT, 4
Engineer Foster and Conductor Kin
Vile fed down the track through the 4
fre ard smoke and were the first to
reach the village or Posen and ask :
assistance from here. |,
Behind thC,n struggled a burned
and wounded procession of refugees
from the wrecked train
It was a fearful march over hot
ties with flames on either side of
the track roaring AMI swapping I'm
their faces. Foster was terribly ,
burned about the head and face. but
il is thorght that he will survive.
Kinville was badly scorched.
James White was totally blinded
hv his burns
John Nowcki. Sr. and wife and !
Mrs. Albert Hardies and son were {
also seriously burned. MANY more Of |
the refugees are suffering painful g
burns. {
Survivors Dszeo BY Peril. In
The survivors seemed daZel BY :
heir peril and sufferings. They ?
seemed to realize nothing except the I
necessity for running running. run \
7ing 10 escape the intense heat and
nenacing flames. Il was difficult to
ze. any coherent statements from
hem as to the loss Of life in the
wreck. as to whether there bad been
lny people left behind in Metz
r 5. Richards a Bay City travel {
ug salesman when he arrived al
POsen said: b
AS the train left the track heart Z
ending cries Of women and children I Z
Ient chill over my body. ! did not r
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