FEARFUL RAILWAY COLLISION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2909, 27 February 1893, Page 2

FEARFUL RAILWAY COLLISION.

At Alton junction ca the Cleveland, Cincinnati, ColumbusandStLouis railroad, on January 25, occurred one of the most fearful railway collisions ever recorded. The S.W. limited united ttain from the East ran into an open switch station, crashing into a train of freight oars containing a number of oil tanks. Some of the tanks exploded, scatteiing oil all over the wreck, which immediately caught fire. Before the flames were subdued four frerglib cars, three oil tank;?, the baggage car and locomotive of the express train was completely destroyed. Just as the collision occurred the fireman of the exp.ess traiu leaped to the ground and escaped with slight injuries. Engineer Ross remained in his car, and was carried through the wreck, He was pinned bei tween the tender and the boiler, and whs covered with' oil from the burning tanks and literally boiled to death. The passengers of the express train escaped with a bad shaking up. The crew of the freight-train also got oft unharmed. At noon the flames reached and exploded the gasoline tanks, killing eleven persons and injuring nineteen others. There was a crowd of spectators, and the flaming liquid showered over them 'in all directions. The air > was filled with agonised howls and cries for help.