Alton, Illinois, USA
1893 - January 21 - AN AWFUL HORROR. A CROWD OF SPECTATORS BEING ENVELOPED IN BURING OIL.

9 Killed, 12 Injured, and a Large Number Will Die.

ALTON, Ills., Jan. 21. - Nine persons killed outright, 12 fatally injured and nearly a hundred, more or less, seriously hurt, is the appalling result of a series of accidents at Alton Junction to-day. An open switch on the Big Four main track was the cause of the disaster. The southwestern limited ran through the switch into the freight train standing on the sideing and Engineer Web Ross of the limited, was instantly killed. The wreck took fire and while a crowd was watching the spectacle, an oil tank-car exploded with terrible force, eveloping the spectators in a sheet of burning oil. Eight of them were instantly killed and scores were frightfully burned, a dozen of whom at least will die...

There are besides not less than 70 people more or lss severely scalded, who will be laid up for weeks.

Alton Juntion, or Wann, is loacted 2 miles east of this city, and is a watering master and feeding station for the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroads. The latter road joins the Big Four at this piont, running into St. Louis over the same track. The fast through train, known as the southwestern limited, was coming out from St. Louis at 9 o'clock this moring, 13 mintes late and making up lost time at a 47-mile per hour speed, whein it ran into a switch and collided with a freight train, consisting mostly of tank cars. Engineer Web Ross, Mattoon, saw the danger too late, but he threw on the air brake and stayed with the machine, being buried in the wreck and burned to a crisp. Fireman White escaped uninjured. The passengers were fearfully shaken up, but some were seriously hurt. An eye-witness says that the shock of the collision was such as to split two loaded tanks wide open and the oil immediately caught fire, the flames shooting 50 feet into the air. The locomotive and baggage cars were totally wrecked, but the remainder of the passenger train was recovered beyond the reach of the flames. In an incredibly short time, the freight train was a mass of flames. Fearing an explosion prevented any attempt to save it. The wrecking train came up from East St. Louis, at 11 o'clock, but could do little, an half a dozen switch ? were run our from here to clear the yards. Traffic on the two roads was entirely suspended, and a special train was made up on the Chicago & Alton to carry belated passengers through to St. Louis. Hearing of the wreck, hundreds of people from this city and nearby were attracted by curiosity to the scened, and then occurred on of the most awful disasters on record. A few minutes past 12 o'clock, there was a giant explosion of one tank, which scattered the debris on all sides, setting fire to the stock yards enclosures. This produced the impression that the danger of explosions was passed and the throng of bystanders rushed to save the stock yards from destruction. A minute later there was a deafening report that shook the earth for half a minute and spread one stream of seething, burning oil in all directions. For those within the circle of 100 yards there was no escape. Their clothing was burned and literally ? from their bodies. In a moment those who were not disabled began running here and thither waving their hands and screaming for help. Some went to the nearest water and others ran into the field and are missing yet. Panic reigned for a short time until the uninjured recovered their presence of mind to care for the afflicted. The two barrens of linseed oil were taken from a grocery and appliec to the wounds by several physicians who happened to be on the ground. Every house in the little village turned into a temporary hospital and every doctor, in Alton and vicinity was summoned. As soon as possible a train was made up and 20 of the suffering were brought here to St. Joseph's hospital. The total loss, so far as can be ascertained, includes the engind of the limited and baggage car, 7 tanks full of gox cars and half a dozen flat cars, of these being completely destroyed. An accurate estimate fo the loss can be ? at present, but it will reach at least ?. Webb ross, the brave engineer who lost his life, leaves a widow and six children.

The Reading Eagle
Reading, Pennsylvania
January 22, 1893

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