The Wann Disaster
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
The Wann Disaster was the most horrific railroad tragedy that
occurred in Madison County history, involving the greatest loss
of life in a single incident, and the most numerous cases of
personal injury. It occurred near the Wann Station at Alton
Junction (East Alton) on the Big Four Railroad, about 4 miles
east of Alton, near the corner of Shamrock and Main in the
present-day village of East Alton.
On Saturday, January
21, 1893, the Southwestern Limited train on the Cleveland,
Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (also called the Big
Four) left St. Louis at 8:05 AM, and was due at Wann Station
(in Alton Junction - now
East Alton) at 8:50 AM. Howard Clelland was the
Conductor of the five passenger cars drawn by Engine No. 109.
The engineer was Webb Ross of Mattoon, and the fireman was
Richard White, also of Mattoon. The train was running at a
higher rate of speed than usual, approaching a slight curve.
Rounding the curve, it was instantly seen that a switch was
mistakenly left open with a long line of oil tank cars on the
siding. Fireman White immediately jumped, while Engineer Ross
applied the brakes, but it was too late - the passenger train
collided with the 25 oil tank cars. Initially, most passengers
were not injured in the collision. When the nearby residents and
business owners heard the collision, they ran toward the train
to give aid, not knowing what was soon to happen. The oil
tankers caught fire from the collision, and then an terrible
explosion followed, sending 7,000 gallons of burning oil, later
called "a rain of fire," fifty feet into the air. Engineer Ross
was trapped alongside of his engine as oil poured over him,
burning him to a crisp. Fourteen box cars on the siding caught
fire and burned like paper. Another tank car which was burning
suddenly exploded, and four others did so almost simultaneously,
scattering the burning fluid in all directions. The large crowd
of over 100 spectators were covered with burning oil, their
flesh burning. Seven more tank cars took fire and burned. Houses
and trees caught fire and the stockyards also burned. All the
houses near the scene of the disaster were destroyed. Thousands
of people rushed to the scene to aid the injured and dying. The
newspapers soon learned of the disaster, but at first did not
realize the full extent of the damage. As the days went on, the
true horror was fully revealed.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES:
FEARFUL DISASTER AT WANN - BIG FOUR LIMITED COLLIDES WITH
OIL TRAIN
Alton Telegraph, Thursday, January 26, 1893 (From
the Saturday Daily)
An appalling accident happened at Alton
Junction this morning. The Southwestern Limited train on the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, leaving St.
Louis at 8:05 and due at Alton Junction at 8:50, met with a
destruction and loss of life that was awful. The train was in
charge of Conductor Howard Clelland and is a solid vestibule of
five cars drawn by Engine No. 109. The engineer is Webb Ross of
Mattoon, and the fireman Richard White, of the same place. The
train was running at a high rate of speed and the track cannot
be seen ahead, owing to a slight curve. They dashed around the
curve and saw instantly an open switch with a long line of tank
cars on the siding. Fireman White jumped and saved himself.
Engineer Ross applied the air and the next instant the beautiful
palace train crashed into the oil tank cars, 25 in number and
all filled. The head of the engine was stove in. The next
instant a lurid glare filled the air, an explosion which made
the earth tremble followed and then 7,000 gallons of burning oil
was sent fifty feet into the air. Engineer Ross was not injured
in the collision, but jumped and fell alongside of his engine.
The oil poured over him and he was burned to a crisp. Later, he
was picked up and carried to a house. Fireman White stood beside
the dead body of his companion moaning and weeping as if his
heart would break. He exclaimed: "He saved the passengers but
lost his life in doing it." The engine and cafe car were
enveloped in flames and totally destroyed. In the compartment of
the cafe car was the corpse of Miss Morris, enroute from St.
Louis. It was burned with the car. Seven tanks took fire. the
awful glare obscured the sun. Fourteen box cars on the siding
caught fire and burned like paper.
The heat was intense.
A switch engine close by removed the rest of the tank line cars
and the four remaining cars of the limited to a safe distance.
None of the passengers were injured other than a severe shaking
up. A wrecking train appeared from St. Louis, but could do
nothing but remove side track cars from danger. The stand pipes
at the station were opened and the water allowed to flood the
tracks for a hundred yards in front of the depot. The loss will
foot up to $50,000 and over. The total destruction being the
passenger engine, cafe car, seven union tank cars, all filled
with oil, fourteen box cars, a number of which contained
merchandise. The Big Four and Burlington trains were compelled
to come over the Chicago & Alton tracks to this city [Alton] and
from thence to Alton Junction on the Big Four, thus getting
around the furnace of burning cars. Hundreds of people were at
the scene of the disaster. The tracks where the explosion
occurred were twisted out of shape and the oil car thrown onto
the main track to the side. How the switch was left open is not
known. It was the grossest negligence on the part of someone,
for two switches close together were open, so if the train had
not run on the first it would have run onto the other. There
were switch engines in the yard and some switchman was
undoubtedly negligent.
LATER:
At noon word was
received in this city of a disaster more appalling than the
first. One of the tanks, which was burning suddenly exploded,
and four others did so almost simultaneously, scattering the
burning fluid in all directions. The large crowd of spectators
were literally covered with the burning oil. The scene was
terrible. Most were literally burned into a crisp, others had
the flesh burned to the bone. The sight was one that made the
stoutest heart faint. On all sides were moans and screams of the
wounded. Five dead bodies have been found, two boys and three
men. One of the men was a student of Shurtleff College, of Iowa,
named Hiram Cornelius. One of the boys burned to death was
Edward Miller of Alton Junction. His father, William Miller, was
very badly burned. The other three bodies have not been
identified, being burned to a crisp. Such a scene has possibly
not been witnessed in this country for years.
Seven more
tank cars took fire and burned. Two more houses besides those
burned earlier. The trees took fire and are burning. The
stockyards also burned. All the houses near the scene of the
disaster have been destroyed.
Desolation and agony are on
all hands. Thousands of people are now at the scene and doing
all that can be done for the unfortunates. All the doctors from
Alton and vicinity were called and are busily engaged in
helping. Mrs. S. Demuth did heroic work in general direction and
attending the suffering of the wounded. After the oil explosion
Saturday, and the subsequent awful scenes which shocked the
country for its ghastliness, Altonians went to work forming
Relief Committees to attend the wants of the hundreds of burned
and maimed people who are now scattered over the neighboring
country. The dead now number twenty.
AT ST. JOSEPH'S
HOSPITAL
As the victims were attended at Wann, they were
placed on a Big Four special train and brought to Alton. From
the depot they were conveyed to St. Joseph's Hospital by the
patrol wagon and tenderly cared for by willing hands. The
physicians and sisters cared for their sufferings and relieved
them as much as was possible. A visit to the wards in the
hospital yesterday was a sight that made it impress on everyone
who saw it. In the southeast ward where the fatally burned ones
are confined, a scene calculated to make the heart sad was
presented. There are ten victims in this room. Lying on the
beds, surrounded each by a few friends, the victims of that
seething rain of oil writhe in their agony. Their quivering
flesh is wrapped in cotton from their toes to top of their head.
Nothing but lips are visible and it is impossible to tell whom
you are gazing. Their lips are swollen to an enormous size, and
in some instances glued together, requiring water to be sprayed
upon them almost constantly. The bodies enveloped in cotton
writhe and quiver and the poor victim gasps for breath and moans
piteously. The room has a sickening odor. On the first couch lay
Joseph Herman, his form in cotton reclining on the arm of a
loving father, a weeping sister beside him, unable to speak. The
names of the injured are written on a slip of paper and pasted
over the top of the bedstead.
In Ward No. 2 are eight
more victims, a few of whom are not entirely enveloped in cotton
and present awful appearances, a description of which we will
not give. In three wards there were twenty-three victims, seven
dead removed since the first arrival. As the victims breathe
their last, they are taken to the dead room and placed in the
hands of undertakers. The bedding at the hospital gave out. A
relief committee yesterday purchased large quantities and had it
sent to the hospital.
The members of the Flood Relief
Committee got together yesterday morning and collected a large
supply of clothes and bedcovering for those that were in need of
such and hired buggies to deliver them; a large amount going to
Alton Junction. Among those who were active in seeing that
nothing was needed by the victims were Mesdames Clement,
Hamilton, and Babbits, who collected bed clothes and distributed
them about.
CORONER’S INQUEST FOR ENGINEER
Coroner
Kinder appeared on the scene at Wann Saturday and immediately
got together a jury to inquire into the death of Engineer Webb
Ross. The verbatim verdict was:
“We, the undersigned
jurors, sworn to inquire of the death of Webb Ross, on oath do
find that he came to his death by accident caused by a misplaced
switch on the Big Four road at Wann Station, Engine 109 running
into a switch of oil tanks and causing a collision.”
Signed
by W. W. Lowe, William J. McGauteen, Christian Ulrich, Anton
Ringering, John D. Janssen, and Mathias Ringering.
PLACING BLAME
The blame has centered upon Albert Gratten, a
switchman in the employ of the Big Four at Wann. It seems that
Gratten is by trade a barber and was placed on the force of
switchmen a short time ago when a number of men quit on account
of a wage difficulty. He was a novice and incapable of doing his
work properly. He has not been seen since the accident. [It was
later discovered that Gratten was also burned severely on his
head, and had not fled.]
SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS AND
BODIES
Yesterday morning the scene of the disaster was gone
over by a number of men who thought it possible that all the
injured were not yet found. Their beliefs were well founded, for
at a distance from the tanks the remains of two men were found.
It was an awful sight. Both men were horribly burned and had
lain there for twenty hours. After the burning oil had descended
upon them, they ran until they fell. The name of one man was
John Burke and he lives at Fosterburg; the other man is not
known. Both were alive and have been brought to St. Joseph's
Hospital.
CORONER’S INQUEST FOR 5 MEN
Coroner Thomas
Kinder held an inquest over the remains of William Shattuck,
Henry Penning, Willie McCarthy, John Lock and Charles Maupin, at
St. Joseph's Hospital yesterday afternoon. The following verdict
was rendered at 3:30 p.m.:
“We, the undersigned jurors,
sworn to inquire into the death of ( ), on oath do find that
deceased came to their death by injuries caused from the
explosion of oil tanks on the C. C. C. & St. L. Railroad, at
Alton Junction, January 21. Signed by W. L. Fairman, Foreman, E.
F. Braunagle, B. Fahrig, W. H. Platt, F. Volbracht, and Lawrence
Fahrig.
All the witnesses examined testified merely to
the explosion and not of the collision, and the verdict was
rendered in accordance with these facts. The coroner held
inquests over a number of the victims in Upper Alton, Alton
Junction and Alton, with the verdict in substance the same as
the above, and different jurors.
CASUALTY LIST GROWS
The fatalities of burned victims of the Wann horror are
gradually increasing the already large list of dead. Three more
victims are added to the number since yesterday. They are, Henry
Wiegand of Alton Junction, and W. B. Richardson of Alton. Henry
Wiegand is 28 years of age. He leaves a wife to mourn his death.
He was highly respected by all who knew him. W. B. Richardson
died at the hospital this morning at 6:30 a.m. He was 26 years
of age on the 23rd of September last.
Four others at St.
Joseph's Hospital are very low. They are:
Otto Hagaman, aged
14; Alton.
Joseph Hermann Jr., aged 12; Alton.
David
Richardson, Alton; brother of W. B. Richardson.
Frank Bartel
of Stamford, Can., a glassblower.
WITNESS ACCOUNTS
Many people have a vague idea regarding what caused the victims'
burns in Saturday's explosion, and cannot understand how the
fire covered such a space. As soon as the tank exploded, the
ignited oil was blown to a great height and then descended as a
rain of fire within a radius of two hundred yards of where the
tanks had stood. Wherever a drop touched a person, it burned
deep and all the efforts of the victim to smother it were
fruitless. This accounts for the fatality of the burns. In some
cases, it descended in bucketsful and the victim was burned to a
crisp from head to foot.
A gentleman in Alton who was a
witness of the explosion, and who was just out of harm's way,
relates the following: "As soon as the explosion occurred,
everyone seemed paralyzed. A seething rain of fire descended on
those that were watching the fire from the little grove on the
bank, this side of the conflagration. Immediately men and boys,
blazing from head to foot, started to run through the grove.
Many dropped before they had gone any distance, and others
stopped, frantically trying to remove a coat, vest or shirt.
Some were in such agony that they removed every vestige of
clothing and ran pell mell to the station. It was an awful
sight."
Another gentleman who is among the list of
slightly injured was standing at the corner grocery near the
grove. He witnessed the fearful sight mentioned above and says:
"Just after the stunning report of the explosion, a man rushed
toward where several others and myself were standing. He
shouted, ‘For God's sake, men, cut these boots off of me.’
Knives promptly cut the leather from the top to toe. The oil had
filled both boots and burned his legs to a crisp. When his boots
were taken off, the clothing and flesh came with them. He was in
awful agony." The man was fatally burned.
One man, while
lying in the depot burned so that it was impossible for him to
recover, told the physician who came to attend him to relieve
those little boys first, he would wait."
The worst
afflicted family is that of William Miller, a farmer living near
Alton Junction. Mr. Miller and his four sons went to the scene
of the wreck early in the day. At the time of the explosion all
were near and consequently all received injuries. The father,
William Miller, aged 58 years, and his eldest son, Edward
Miller, a student at Shurtleff College, aged 25 years, received
injuries from which they died. Frank Miller received severe
injuries which may prove fatal. Julius Miller was badly burned
about the face, head and hands. William Miller Jr. also received
injuries, which however, were slight. A double funeral took
place from their home yesterday.
After the wreck was
partially removed, curious relic-seekers searched among the
charred ruins of the cafe car for valuables. The porter on the
car was looser to the amount of over a hundred dollars, his
earnings for several months and most of which he had in silver.
Melted silver was found, some pieces but little injured. A
number of watches were found at the scene of the wreck that had
fallen from burning vests hurriedly removed by the victims.
Mr. William Henry of Alton Junction, is deserving of much
praise for his magnanimous treatment of the sufferers at Alton
Junction. His doors were thrown wide open and the victims
brought inside by scores to have their injuries whether serious
or slight, attended. Everything necessary was dealt out without
a thought of pay for it. Comforts were provided, sheets torn up
for bandages, and in many other ways did he give his assistance.
At least $100 worth of goods were used up and Mr. Henry received
no pay for it at the time, at least. These facts were obtained
from an eye witness.
A. L. Gratton, the switchman, who
was responsible for the open switch which caused the wreck of
the limited Big Four train, has not fled the consequences, as
has been stated. Gratton was among the number who received
burns. He is now at Alton Junction nursing a severely burned
head.
A SORROW STRICKEN COMMUNITY
Alton Telegraph,
January 26, 1893
Never in the history of Alton, Upper Alton,
Alton Junction and vicinity, possibly never in the history of
any community in the Mississippi Valley, has such terrible
suffering and death entered so many homes at one time. The
disaster at Alton Junction on Saturday last is overwhelming. Not
far from one hundred people were the victims of the cloud of
burning oil sent forth by the explosion. Already twenty lives
have gone out, and there is little hope for another large
number, who are burned and charred almost beyond recognition.
One whole family, named Miller, at the Junction, were stricken,
two of whom have died. Other homes are waiting to hear the dread
news that loved ones have passed away, and still others are
bending over sufferers with but little hope that the heroic
fortitude manifested by the stricken will be crowned by a
restoration to health. Not a small part of the sorrow is over
the large number of children who went down in the fiery flame of
oil. Little boys, only 12 years of age, were there, and they
have been borne home to grief-stricken parents as charred
corpses, or as blackened and terrible sufferers. To say that
there is an intense feeling of sympathy with the afflicted
families puts the case but mildly. The Altons and vicinity have
felt the heavy hand of affliction before, but they are now bowed
down with the grief of this great calamity.
BURN PATIENTS
IMPROVING
Alton Telegraph, Thursday, January 26, 1893
All
the burned patients at the hospital had a good night's rest last
night. This was occasioned by the dressing of their wounds, most
of the patients going to sleep very soon thereafter. All the
physicians who were present have done splendid service, not
sparing themselves in order that the poor victims may have
constant care. Dr. Haskell is in general charge, with the
following gentlemen on watch: Dr. Fisher, from 6 to 12 a.m.; Dr.
Fiegenbaum, 12 to 6 p.m.; Dr. Halliburton, 6 to 12 at night; Dr.
Taphorn, from 12 to 6 in the morning. Other physicians render
all the assistance they can. Mr. Eben Caldwell is reported as
getting along nicely, obtaining considerable rest. Mr. Charles
Harris, while still suffering intensely, is doing as well as
could be expected. Nothing more serious than a period of severe
suffering will result in either case.
DOCTOR YERKES
BURNED BUT DIDN'T KNOW IT - WENT ON HELPING OTHERS
Alton
Telegraph, Thursday, January 26, 1893
Dr. Yerkes was at Alton
Junction Saturday attending a patient when the oil explosion
occurred. In going to the scene of the disaster the Doctor was
running. He came in contact with someone else who was also
running, and the Doctor fell, his hat dropping off. He got up,
replaced his hat and went to work alleviating the suffering of
the victims of the explosion. He accompanied the patients to the
hospital, dressing the injuries of as many as possible. After
the rush was over, Dr. Yerkes turned to another physician who
was present and said: "Doctor, I wish you would look at my head;
it is burning as if it was going to explode." The other Doctor
made an examination and pronounced the cause of the trouble an
oil burn. Dr. Yerkes, when knocked down by the collision with
the man at the Junction, fell flat on his face, and some of the
rain of burning oil fell on the Doctor's bald spot, but so eager
was he to help others he did not notice his own suffering until
he had attended the suffering of others.
THE WANN
SWITCHMAN - WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
Alton Telegraph, Thursday,
January 26, 1893
To get at the truth of the rumors regarding
Gratton, and whether or not he had been barbering during the
time he was employed as switchman at Wann, a Telegraph
representative went there this morning and interviewed a number
of citizens. A visited was paid to Gratton's shop. It is an
unpretentious little frame addition to the rear of Jacob Baum's
saloon, which is at the "forks on the roads" in Alton Junction.
There is nothing in the shop but a barber chair and one small
looking glass. Jacob Baum, proprietor of the saloon, stated that
he owned the barber shop, and the chair and glass. Gratton came
to him about a month ago and said he had a job at switching.
Baum asked him the first Sunday he worked if he intended to quit
the barber business and Gratton replied in the affirmative,
whereupon Baum told him to pack up his things and get out of the
shop as he wanted a tenant who would be at work, for there was a
crowd to get shaved. This Gratton did and his career as a barber
ceased. "I remember," said Baum, "of his having shaved one man,
but it was for accommodation only." H. Gormley was in Baum's
saloon during the interview and came forward with the statement
that he was the man Gratton shaved a week ago Saturday night. He
says Gratton shaved him on account of friendship and no money
was paid. George Steinbach, the bartender at Baum's, stated that
he had his hair cut by Gratton one night after working hours,
for which he paid him the usual price. George Argus stated that
he wanted to get shaved one night, but Gratton would not shave
him. Mr. Baum stated also that Gratton had cut Thomas Russell's
hair, but that too was out of accommodation and was after
working hours. J. W. Cassella stated that he had not seen the
shop open during the time. He had asked several friends if
Gratton's shop was open but was always told "No." William Henry
and George Henry say they have not seen Gratton around the shop
since he went to work on the railroad. Thus, it would appear
that Gratton did quit barbering, but that when away from the
railroad, he cut two men's hair and shaved one, for which he
received pay but from one. It can hardly be charged that he
neglected his work for barbering, but nearly everybody about
Wann is agreed that Gratton is a very forgetful man to say the
least.
FUNERALS
Alton Telegraph, Thursday, January 26,
1893
The funeral of Matthias Manze [Manns] took place this
morning at the City Cemetery. The funeral services of John
Wilkinson occurred this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the
Cathedral Burial in the City Cemetery. The funeral of William
Richardson, one of the oil explosion victims, who died in the
hospital this morning, will take place from the family residence
1318 East Second street, tomorrow at 2 p.m. Interment at City
Cemetery. Mr. Richardson was 26 years of age, September 23d
last. The funeral services of Henry Wiegand, another of the
victims of the explosion, will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in
the unfinished meeting house of the Baptist church at Wann. Mr.
Wiegand was a deacon of this church and treasurer of building
committee. The burial will be in Upper Alton at 3 p.m., and the
funeral will be in charge of Madison 110 A.O.U.W. of Upper
Alton. Members of neighboring lodges are invited to attend. The
funeral of Webb Ross, the veteran engineer who was burned to
death in the wreck of the Big Four limited at Alton Junction
Saturday morning, took place in Mattoon, Illinois yesterday from
the Methodist church. Mr. Ross was 62 years old, second oldest
engineer on the Big Four road and an active member of the
Methodist church. Nothing but words of praise can be said of him
by all who knew him. Hale and hearty he was one of the most
trusted engineers of the road. The church was crowded with
friends from far and near and the occasion was a sad one.
Members of the Brotherhood of Engineers acted as pallbearers
among, then, being Patrick Vaughn, the oldest engineer on the
road. The people turned out in one accord and fairly enveloped
the casket of their fellow citizen with flowers. An enormous
funeral procession followed the remains to the cemetery. Among
the number was Mr. George W. Cutter of this city [Alton], one of
the oldest engineers on the C. & A. [Railroad].
TWO MORE
DIE - HERMANN AND HAGERMAN
Alton Daily Telegraph, Friday,
January 27, 1893
Still the sad news continues to come, and
since last evening two more souls have winged their flight into
eternity. Joseph Hermann Jr. died this morning at an early hour,
and Otto Hagerman breathed his last at 12:30 o'clock, noon. The
boys were yesterday changed from the ward in which they had been
with other patients, and were placed in a ward by themselves, in
order that their terrible sufferings might not interfere with
the comfort of other patients. But the little fellows had not
long to wait, after the change, for the grim messenger, and
young Hagerman was only six hours behind his little friend in
passing over the dark river. The boys were aged respectively 12
and 14 years. The funeral of Joseph Hermann Jr. will take place
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the residence of his
parents on Piasa street. The arrangements and notice of the
funeral of Otto Hagerman, the other victim, will be given
tomorrow. The other sufferers are resting as well as can be
expected, and are being kindly and carefully attended by the
physicians and nurses. Coroner Kinder held an inquest this
afternoon at St. Joseph's Hospital over the remains of Joseph
Hermann Jr., and Otto Hagerman, who died there today.
ANOTHER BURNED
Alton Daily Telegraph, Friday, January 27,
1893
Dr. T. P. Yerkes of Upper Alton reports that a man by
the name of Green, of American Bottoms, was badly burned in the
terrible holocaust of last Saturday. Mr. Green is quite badly
burned about the hands, face and ears. Dr. Yerkes has attended
fifteen different persons who have not been in the hospital. It
is reported that a man who lives in Fosterburg, and was burned
at Wann last Saturday, died today. There were only two men
burned who lived in Fosterburg. One was Mr. T. C. Dillon, not
seriously, and John Burke, very severely.
CONDITION OF
VICTIMS
Alton Telegraph, Thursday, January 26, 1893
The
condition of the victims of the oil explosion has not changed
materially since yesterday. No deaths have been reported since
yesterday morning, although a number at St. Joseph's Hospital,
two at Alton Junction and one at Upper Alton are in a very
serious condition. Mortification is setting in, in several of
the worst cases, and their lives are despaired of. A number
inhaled the fire and have their lungs affected. In the worst
cases the victims do not seem to suffer nearly as intense pain
as those injuries are not severe. This is caused by the deadened
condition of the nervous system in those whose burns are
dangerous. Seventeen patients are now at the hospital. The
attending physicians have a watch of six hours each. Drs. Fisher
and Fiegenbaum have day watches and Haskell and Guelich night
watches. The bandages had to be removed today from the victims
at St. Joseph's hospital for the first time since they were
placed there on Saturday last. The extent of their injuries will
be more fully understood by the physicians when their wounds are
dressed. The entire force of physicians have been at work. A
number of the patients are much improved and others did not
stand the ordeal well.
MORE WANN VICTIMS
The Daily
Review, Decatur, Illinois, February 1, 1893
Alton, Ills.,
January 31. -- The death Monday of Bernard Nienhaus at Alton
Junction makes the death list from the Alton Junction oil
explosion up to twenty-nine. The reports of the various
physicians show that most of the injured ones are in a terrible
condition. Charles Herriman, a little boy, is perhaps the worst
of any. It is reported that the flesh is dropping from his body
in certain places. The little fellow is bearing his misfortunes
manfully, but there is but one chance in a thousand of his
recovery. Thomas Philbrook will hardly survive. John Henry Jr.,
is in terrible plight, and his death is expected. All the men in
the hospital are in a critical condition, and but few of them
can survive. Before the death-roll is closed, the first estimate
of thirty-five will undoubtedly be passed.
ANOTHER DEAD
Alton Evening Telegraph, Saturday, February 4, 1893
Henry
Pilgrim, another of the victims of the Wann disaster, died this
afternoon at 2:15 o'clock, at the hospital. Mr. Pilgrim suffered
intensely most of the time, and death came as a relief to the
poor maimed and scarred body. The funeral will take place
tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family residence, 814
East Third Street.
EMPLOYEES SETTLE WITH COMPANY
Alton
Telegraph, March 2, 1893
Some of the Big Four employees who
were injured by the explosion have settled with the company and
claim that the latter acted very handsomely with them. Some of
those who suffered because of the explosion intend bringing suit
against the company owning the oil as well as the railroad
company. A gentleman tells me that there was a rousing meeting
held at the Opera House in Jacksonville last Sunday at which
considerable money was subscribed for the benefit of the widows
and orphans caused by the Wann explosion. Committees were
appointed for further solicitations, and he said the prospect
was bright for the securing of a large sum from the
philanthropic citizens of Jacksonville, alone. It is certain
that aid is needed and will be appreciated by those left behind
by the wreck.
JOHN P. MULLANE ASKS FOR DAMAGES FROM THE
BIG FOUR RAILROAD
Alton Telegraph, November 23, 1893
The
following dispatch from East St. Louis explains itself: A suit
for $25,000 damages for personal injuries was commenced in the
City Court yesterday by John P. Mullane against the Big Four
Railway. Mullane was a very badly used up man, and besides being
permanently injured in both legs and arms, he has lost his
hearing and the sight of one eye. His face is a mass of scars,
and on account of an injury to his jaw he eats with much
difficulty. Mullane was one of the victims of the fearful Wann
wreck. When the oil tanks exploded, he was enveloped in the
flames of burning oil. His body was found by friends that night
about a mile from Wann, and he was taken to a hospital for
treatment, and knew nothing of the occurrence for several
months, as he lingered between life and death. The plea of the
company will no doubt be as in other cases, that all who stood
and watched the wreck and were then burned by the explosion were
trespassing on the company's grounds. The plaintiff relies upon
the fact that the wagon road and path along the tracks have been
used for the past thirty years as a public highway, and although
the company owned the land, it acquiesced in such public use.
LIST OF THE DEAD
Burke, John, of Fosterburg. Found the
next day.
Cornelius, Hiram A., of Wellman, Iowa. Killed
instantly. Student at Shurtleff College.
Edwards, William, of
Alton Junction. Died at Alton Junction.
Hagermann, Otto, of
Alton. Died January 27; age 14; buried at Alton.
Haller,
Charles or George, of Edwardsville Rd. near Wanda; died at home.
Harris, Daniel, of Alton Junction.
Herrman, Joseph Jr., of
Alton. Died January 27; age 12; buried at Alton.
Houlihan,
Tomothy or Thomas, of East St. Louis. Died at home; sectionman
on RR
Jennings, Henry, of Alton Junction. Died at Wann.
Locke, John. Died at hospital;. Glassblower in Alton.
Mange,
William, of Alton. Found dead ½ mile from Wann.
Manns,
Mathias or Matthew, of Upper Alton. Found dead.
Maupin,
Charles, of St. Charles, Missouri. Died at hospital.
McCarthy, William or Willie, of Alton. Died at hospital; age 13.
McIntosh, Louis, of Alton Junction. Died at home.
Miller,
Edward, of Alton Junction. Died at home.
Miller, William, of
Alton Junction. Died at home. Father of Edward.
Morris, Miss,
enroute from St. Louis. Found burned in café car.
Murray,
James N., of Upper Alton. Died at hospital.
Nieuhaus, Bernard
or Barney, of Alton Junction.
Penning, Henry, of American
Bottoms.
Philbrook, Thomas, of North Alton.
Pilgrim,
Henry, of Alton. Died February 4.
Pinney, Henry, of Alton
Junction.
Richardson, William B., of Alton. Died at hospital.
26 yrs old.
Roloff, George, of Upper Alton. Buried at Upper
Alton; father (John) died soon after due to grief.
Ross, Webb
(Engineer), of Mattoon. Burned in first explosion.
Rucker,
George, of Alton Junction. Buried at Alton Junction.
Shattock/Shattuck, William, of Upper Alton. Died at hospital.
Utt, Charles, of Alton. Killed instantly. 8 yrs old.
Wiegand, Henry, of Alton Junction. 35 yrs old. Buried at Upper
Alton.
Wiggins, Henry, of Alton Junction. Died at home.
Wilkinson, John, of Alton. Died at hospital. 12 yrs old son of
James E.; buried in Greenwood Cem.
LIST OF THE INJURED
Bartel/Barton, Frank, of Stanford,
Canada; glassblower.
Barr, John, of Alton Junction. Badly
burned.
Berg, John, of Alton. Slightly burned.
Caldwell,
Evan M., of Alton. Seriously burned about face, neck and hands.
Chessen, James, of Alton. Slightly burned.
Crowe, Charles.
Slight injuries.
Deneaue/Deneane, Louis, of Montreal, Canada.
Glassblower.
Dillon, T. C., of Fosterburg. Not serious.
Drucker, George, of the American Bottoms. Hands and face burned.
Estke, Herman, of Alton. Will likely die.
Faeger, William, of
Upper Alton. Dangerous condition.
Fietz/Fretz, John, of
Edwardsville Crossing. Fatally injured.
Findley, John, of
Alton.
Findley, Patrick, of Alton. Glassblower, serious
condition.
Fitzpatrick, John, of East St. Louis. Injuries
slight.
Frazier, A. P. or E. Tramp, fatally injured.
Freemann, W. F., of alton. Badly burned.
Fretz, Andrew, of
Edwardsville Crossing. Slightly burned.
Glassner, John, of
Alton. Boy, badly burned.
Gratton, A. L., of Alton Junction.
Switchman responsible for open switch; severely burned head.
Green, Unknown, of the American Bottoms. Burned about the hands,
face, and ears.
Hamilton, Charles, of Alton Junction.
Hammond, Charles, of the American Bottoms. Injuries slight.
Harris, Charles, of Alton Junction. Injured very seriously.
Harris, Dalton, of Alton Junction.
Harris, Joseph Jr., of
Alton Junction.
Harrison, W. Charles, of Alton. Badly burned,
but not serious.
Henry, John Jr., of Alton Junction.
Intestines slightly burned, can’t walk.
Hermann, Charles Jr.,
of Alton Junction. Fatally injured.
Herriman, Charles. Young
boy.
James, Frank, of Alton Junction. Seriously burned.
Job, Zephaniah B., of Alton.
Joeger, William, of Upper Alton.
Dangerous condition.
Luttrell, John, of Alton. Railroad man,
fatally injured.
McIntosh, William, of Alton Junction.
Brother of Louis, badly burned.
McMillan, A., of East St.
Louis. Badly burned.
McPike, John H., of Alton. Hand burned.
Menhaus, B., of Alton.
Miller, Frank of Alton Junction. Face
and hands burned.
Miller, Julius, of Alton Junction. Face and
hands badly burned.
Monaghan, John. Part of wrecking crew,
slight injuries.
Montgomery, J. W., of Atlanta, Illinois.
Student at Shurtleff College, badly burned.
Mullane, John P.,
of Alton Junction. Seriously burned, lost hearing and sight in
one eye.
Nuske, Herman, of Alton.
O’Mara, Pat, of Alton.
Railroad laborer, hands burned.
Philbrick/Philbrook, John, of
Alton Junction. Both eyes burned out, will die.
Philbrook,
Thomas, of Alton Junction. Brother of Mrs. E. S. Pullen.
Philfert, John.
Richardson, David, of Alton. Fatally injured.
Richardson, Ephraim, of Alton.
Richardson, William B., of
Alton. Brother of David, fatally injured.
Schaeffer, William,
of Upper Alton. Seriously burned.
Scullen, Frank, of Alton.
Face and hands horribly disfigured. Committed suicide on Feb.
28, 1910.
Seister, John, of Alton.
Staples, George, of
Evanston, Indiana. Young boy, frightfully burned.
Staples,
Henry, of Uniontown, Kentucky.
Steele or Stetle, John, of
Alton Junction. Head burned.
Still, Frank, of Alton. Badly
burned.
Sullivan, Timothy, of East St. Louis. Fatally burned.
Valentine, Hamilton, of the American Bottoms. May recover, but
critical.
Webster, James, of Alton. Struck in head with piece
of iron, badly burned.
Weigand, Henry, of Alton Junction.
Fatally injured. Died later. Injured when helping others.
Memorial bell has his name on it.
Willen, Mrs. A. L. & child,
of Kansas City.
Williams, Thomas, of Upper Alton. Dangerously
burned.
Valentine or Ballentyne, William, of Alton Junction.
Badly burned.
Ziegler, John, of Alton.
THE INVESTIGATION
Alton Telegraph, February 2, 1893
A telegram from Springfield announces that the House committee
appointed to investigate the Wann casualty met yesterday morning
to decide upon the method of making the investigation. The
resolution under which the committee was appointed provides that
no expense shall be incurred other than that approved by the
Speaker, and Mr. Crafts' advice regarding the method of
procedure was asked. The Speaker rather discouraged the
investigation, saying that he understood it to be the duty of
the Railroad and Warehouse Commission to make the investigation.
The members of the committee, however, seemed to think that,
having been instructed by the House to make the investigation,
they could exercise no discretion in the matter and would have
to investigate. Doorkeeper Browne reported that he had been
furnished a list of witnesses who were to testify against the
railroad company. The majority of them are railroad men from
Alton, and they are expected to testify that it is the practice
of the "Big Four" to employ incompetent men. Six of them, it is
said, will swear that they left the employ of the company
because of the incompetency of their co-employees, and one
witness announces that he will testify that the "Big Four" will
not keep a good workman. The labor unions are taking an active
interest in the proposed investigation, and the committee has
received word from some of them suggesting the names of
witnesses whom they desire to have examined. Owing to the
committee meeting in Chicago, and the party question which will
come under consideration in the House, the committee will not be
able to begin the inquiry for two or three weeks.
The
Coroner's Juries
In the first of the inquests held over the
victims of the oil explosion at Wann, the juries did not attach
blame to the railroad officials. The last three or four juries,
however, have rendered verdicts laying the blame for the
disaster at the door of the company. The principle of the
juries' reasoning is about this: An incompetent, or negligent,
employee of the Big Four road failed to close the switch at
Wann; this failure resulted in permitting a passenger train to
collide with an oil train; thus wrecking of both trains causing
the death of the engineer; the collision set fire to the oil in
the tanks; this fire, later on, caused an explosion which
brought about the death of the persons over whom the inquests
were held, therefore the railroad company is responsible.
Just how far the juries are legally correct in their
reasoning is not for the Telegraph to say. Just how much weight
may be given to the verdicts is also a matter that each one will
decide for himself. There is not doubt but that the officials of
the Big Four road fear serious litigation in the matter, and the
fact that their attorneys are looking closely into the matter is
evidence that it will contest the legality of any claim for
damages because of the oil explosion. The general understanding
of the position of the road is that the burned people were at
the scene of the disaster merely as spectators; and that when
they remained there they took the risk of danger upon
themselves. On the other hand, those who hold to the theory that
the road is responsible, claim that it is a law of human nature
to be interested in such matters; that is only reasonable to
expect that people in the vicinity of a wreck would go to the
scenes; and that because the officials, knowing the inflammable
character of the material in the tanks, did not warn the
spectators, the company therefore is responsible for the
suffering and loss of life. It is contended further on this
line, that as the employees of the company were permitted to
work in an attempt to clear the wreck, spectators were led to
believe there was no danger. On the other hand, the company will
be sustained by a number of witnesses who will swear that they
believed the burning oil to be dangerous and left the scene of
disaster simply because they feared to remain; and that all
others should have exercised similar precaution.
Alton
Weekly Telegraph, Thursday, February 9, 1893
The House
committee consisting of Messrs. Fowler, Chairman; Snyder,
McMillan, Baldwin, Fletcher, Coughlin, and Snedeker, who are to
make a thorough investigation of the disaster at Wann and
report, arrived in the city Monday morning. After dinner they
went by special train to Wann where they looked over the scene
of the wreck. The committee took measurements of the ground the
distance between switches, and much data that will be useful to
them in making up a report.
The Committee in Session at
Hotel Madison
Chairman Robert Fowler and Messrs. J. T.
McMillan, O. A. Snedeker, L. S. Baldwin, J. P. Fletcher, G. S.
Coughlin and W. H. Snyder Jr., the House committee, and E. S.
Browne, the Doorkeeper of the House, were busily engaged Tuesday
in taking testimony in the Wann investigation. Mr. Browne was
engaged Monday in subpoenaing witnesses, and some forty-five or
fifty have been summoned. Constable Sam Hayes has been assisting
him in this duty.
Besides the committee, J. S. Dye, of
Cincinnati, C. R. Meyer of Indianapolis, and G. F. McNulty of
Alton, attorneys for the road, were present at the examination
of witnesses. The gentlemen took copious notes of testimony. The
following is the testimony:
A. D. White was the first
witness examined. Mr. White testified that he was fireman on
train No. 18, which was bound for Mattoon, on the day of the
explosion at Wann. That he was coming in from St. Louis and that
he was on the engine that collided with oil tanks at Wann. We
were nearly three hundred feet away from the switch before I
noticed that the switch was open. I got off while engineer Ross
put on the brakes. We were going about thirty-five miles an
hour. I have not made statements that we were going forty miles
per hour. There were about fifteen oil tanks on the track. I do
not know what kind of oil was in the tanks. I heard Yardmaster
Miller say to bystanders in my presence the kind of oil that was
in the tanks. The engine was badly burned and the cafe car. I
judge that the train was going about fifteen miles per hour when
it struck the car. I stayed in the vicinity until they found
Engineer Ross' body, then I went to the depot about a quarter of
a mile away. The track is nearly straight for about a quarter to
a half mile before the switch is reached. The cause of the wreck
was the leaving open of a switch on main track and also on side
track No. 2. Ross' body was burned beyond recognition. The wood
work on some of the cars that had oil on was burning when I left
there. There was danger of the oil exploding. I went away with
the body of Engineer Ross. The round house foreman, Mr. Barnes,
of East St. Louis, said that the oil was evidently lubricating
oil and was dangerous and that we had better not go back there.
I do not know of anyway that the explosion could have been
prevented. The switchmen from Alton went there and pulled away
what cars they could with safety. We were about fifteen minutes
late. It was nearly three hours after we arrived when the
explosion occurred. When I left there were about one hundred
people there. Mr. Miller said he had charge of the Alton yard
and the Wann yard. I do not know who had charge of the switch.
The switch engine pulled out the oil tanks first and then the
box cars. The counsel for the Big Four asked the witness if he
could locate the place his engine was when he first noticed the
switch was open. Witness pointed out location on profile. Ross
must have seen it when about one thousand feet away. I can not
state how far it would take to stop a train with all the
appliances for stopping in use. I think that a train could be
stopped in one thousand feet. Counselor J. F. Dye asked if he
could ask witness some questions in regard to the Big Four
discriminating against organized labor. Which were asked. Mr.
Fowler here stated that questions of that kind would not be
permissible and until they should go into that matter, no
questions would be allowed by the company's attorneys.
Robert Curdie being sworn said that his residence was Alton,
that he was acquainted with the yard at Wann. He described the
yard as he was acquainted with it. I think that the explosion
occurred about twenty minutes before twelve. There were about
seven tanks there when I arrived. Four or five tanks were burned
out when I got there. There were about 300 people there when I
got there. The majority of the people were on the bank on the
west side of the track. I went to the cafe car to see the corpse
that was reported as being there. There was no especial warning
of any danger from the burning tanks. I was there about thirty
minutes. I do not know the character of the oil that exploded.
Dr. T. P. Yerkes, after being sworn, was examined. I have
met a number of the burned victims. I was at Wann when the
explosion occurred. I think the oil was coal oil. I think there
were about sixty people burned either slightly or fatally. I
think the flames reached about fifty or sixty feet in the air.
There were two small houses burned on the west side of the
track. I heard no warning given.
Joseph Dailey testified
that he was a railroad man; that he had been a brakeman, yardman
and conductor; that he had served four years as a yardmaster at
different points. I am acquainted with the yard at Wann. The
yard requires an experienced man. I don't think a man could work
two places and give satisfaction in both, and don't think a man
should be yardmaster at two places like Wann and Alton at the
same time. It would not be safe to put a man in charge of a yard
who had only been in it four or five weeks. Witness knew nothing
about Gatton. Knew Ray. Never knew of his ever railroading
before going on the Big Four. Do not think Ray was a competent
yardman. The Big Four made a good many changes while I was at
Wann. I employed a number and they were nearly all green men.
The labor organizations generally regard these men as
incompetent men. Mr. Neinhaus, Mr. Toohey and Mr. Luedeker were
among the green men employed there. They are men who have been
started there as green men, and numerous others that I cannot
name. The yard at Wann requires an experienced man. The
yardmaster who has been there has always shown a preference for
inexperienced men. The wages paid these green men was not what
it ought to have been. We asked for more money and they would
not give it. Men have received orders to take out trains when
they did not know what their rights were after the orders had
been received. I got $65 per month for my work on the Big Four
and I now get $85 on the Bluff Line. Committee adjourned to 1
o'clock.
At one o'clock the committee was called to order
and Mr. James Derwin was the first witness. He stated that he
has been in railway employ since 1879. Last employed by the
Chicago & Alton R. R. Acquainted with Wann yard. I would not say
that the yard was hazardous nor would I say that it was safe. It
would take a skilled man to take care of the yard. It would be
risky for one man to be yardmaster at both Alton and Wann,
unless he had men working for him that he could trust. I think
no train should go into a yard at a rate of 30 or 35 miles an
hour. If a train was under control when an engineer was coming
into a yard it would not be so dangerous. When a train is under
control it should be running from ten to twelve miles per hour.
I worked for the Big Four about four years ago. This yard
requires skilled men. A raw man only working a month would not
be competent to take charge of switches. A man should work six
months anyhow to be competent to take charge of switches. The
Big Four are in the habit of employing green men in preference
to skilled men. The company could not make as many changes as it
has been doing and get competent men. They have been in the
habit of employing men who do not belong to union labor
organizations. A man must be engaged in one place before he can
join union labor organizations. I mean by this the brakeman and
switchman's organization. One of the objects of these
organizations is to get competent men. In reply to a question
from Counselor J. F. Dye, witness said. Mr. Spellman had charge
of the Alton yards under Mr. Miller's instructions. He is a
Union man. I left the C. & A. about two months ago. I have been
brakeman, conductor and switchman since 1879. Witness stated
that he spoke from what he had seen and heard. Mr. Dye attempted
to find out where the witness got his information from. Ruled
out. From Chairman Fowler: "Do you know of the Big Four
employing green men from the start?" "Yes." "Do you know this of
your own personal knowledge?" "Yes." "Do you know of any other
men who have been employed by the Big Four other than Mr.
Neinhaus and Mr. Toohey?" "Yes sir. Mr. Jim Kirwin who is now
working for them." From Mr. Dyer: "Is Mr. Kirwin competent to
work under a foreman?" "Yes sir." From Mr. Fowler: "What wages
were they paying?" "About $55 when I was working for them." "Is
that sufficient?" "No sir." From Mr. Caughlin: "Is the company
in the habit of changing men oftener than other roads?" "Yes
sir." In answer to a question from Mr. Dye, the witness said
that he did not know what wages were now paid on the Big Four,
but was talking about wages of men when he was employed by them
some three years ago.
H. Nienhaus testified that the Big
Four had employed incompetent men. Ray and Bennett being among
the number. John Ray was incompetent because he had never been
in the employ of a railroad company until he was employed at
Wann. I do not know Gatton. I do not know whether he was working
at Wann at the time of the wreck or not. It seems that the Big
Four has been employing incompetent men. Ludeker had worked in a
grocery store. O'Haver and Ferris were also employed; none of
these were competent men. The road has been in the habit of
making frequent changes. They hire both union and non-union; the
union organizations try to get competent men into its
organizations. A train should only run from 12 to 15 miles per
hour. It would be dangerous to come in there at a rate of 30 or
35 per hour. An engineer could have stopped if he had been going
at a rate of 12 or 15 miles per hour. I was night yardmaster
when I worked for the company, I got $80 per month. I never had
any experience before I went to work for the Big Four. I worked
about 7 months before I took charge of the yard. I worked in a
planing mill before I went to railroading. I was given charge of
the yard before I was competent. In reply to questions from
Counselor J. F. Dye: I gave signals the first day I was there
and was not competent. I was there six or seven months before I
was given charge of the yard. I coupled cars in the interval.
E. J. Tierney stated that he had worked for the Big Four one
year and eight months. Had been a brakeman for ten years. It
takes a man who has worked at the business about a week to learn
a new yard. It depends upon the kind of men employed whether
they can become competent in six months if they were green when
they began. I do not know Ray, and am not sure whether I know
Gatton or not. While I worked there, I worked with a good many
green men. I worked with men there who didn't know a link from a
pin. I can't give many names; Ludeker was one and "Farmer John,"
another. They were given positions handling switches. A green
man is likely to get "rattled" and make a mistake. The Wann yard
requires one man to exclusively attend to that yard. A man
cannot do two men's work at different places and do it well. I
quit because I had two men's work to do and was not getting but
$55 per month to do it. A good switchman ought to get $2.70 per
day, that is what I think the schedule is. Mr. Baldwan asked if
competent men could always be secured and witness testified that
they could if wages sufficient were paid.
The Big Four
have their General Counselor and his assistants, C. R. Myers of
Cincinnati and G. F. McNully. Beside these are General Manager
Joseph Ramsey of Cincinnati and Superintendent A. G. Wells, of
Indianapolis, who are carefully looking after their own
interests. Occasionally a little parliamentary fight occurs
between Attorney Dye and Chairman Fowler, the latter, however,
always insists on doing the work exactly as he pleases and
accepting or refusing any evidence that he or the committee do
not want. Mr. Dye at the same time entering his protests.
Daniel Tochey said that he began railroading about twenty
months ago on the Big Four at Wann. I knew Gatton. Last December
he was a barber. I do not know of him ever being a railroad man
prior to his work for the Big Four. It would not have been safe
for him to have been left in charge of that yard in so short a
time as he was there. It would take an experienced man from six
weeks to two months to be competent to take charge of a yard. It
would take a green man six months. The Big Four have been
accustomed to employing green men. In reply to questions from
General Counselor Dye, witness stated that he did not know
whether Gatton had been in railway employ before going on the
Big Four or not. I am a union man. Did not quit in December 2,
quit in August, was taken sick.
James H. Maupin, Jr.,
testified that he was a real estate man and that he was at Wann
the day of the wreck. Got there about 11 o'clock. Six or seven
of the oil tanks were on fire when I got there. I thought that
the oil burned like gasoline. I do not think coal oil would
generate gas like this did when burning. I did not leave there
thinking that there was any danger.
James Webster, of
Alton, testified that he was present at the time of the
explosion, but heard no warning given to bystanders.
Zephaniah B. Job Sr., of Alton, thought that the blaze only
extended up something like ten feet. He heard no warning given
to bystanders.
Silas Cooper, of Alton Junction, was
examined and testified that he knew Gatton. He regarded him as
cranky. Said that he had kept a barber shop previous to working
on the "Big Four." He boarded with the witness at one time. He
heard no warning given. It is possible that had warning been
given the people may have left. There ought to have been a
warning given.
Lyman Price, a farmer, was not at the
explosion. I was acquainted with Gatton. Have known him for some
time. I understand that he has made Wann his home off and on for
about two years. He was not a very good barber. He run the
barber shop about four weeks. He did not keep the shop open as
far as I know after going to work for the railroad company. I
saw him beastly drunk one time. I know Ray; "was born and raised
with him." He had not been in the railroad business prior to
going on the Big Four.
John Ray being called stated that
he was a switchman since the first of January. I have been
switching cars and riding them in the yard and coupling cars. I
did not attend switches; only when called upon by the yardmaster
to do so. Previous to my railroad work I worked in a saloon and
in a grocery store. We haven't had a regular crew. Lyons was the
oldest man and was a kind of foreman. Lyons was generally there
but was not there on the morning of the wreck. Gatton and I were
the only ones there on the day of the wreck; Lyons was at the
other end of the yard. Lyons, Gatton and Miller had keys to the
switch. Mr. Gatton opened the switch to put an oil car on the
side track. Gatton did not take charge of work unless ordered to
by the foreman. I don't think he was working under any orders
when the wreck occurred.
James Chessen, a farmer, was
introduced. Witness was at Wann about half past ten o'clock on
the morning of the wreck. He said that some said the burning
tanks were dangerous. The night yardmaster said that there was
danger of the oil exploding. I was south on the main track when
the explosion took place. I was near the engine. There were
about three hundred people there when the explosion occurred. I
should think there were fifty people hurt.
A. Barr, a
section hand, was examined and said that he was at Wann
frequently. I see oil cars there nearly every day on tracks No
2, and also on No. 4. There were about seventy-five people
[unreadable]. I Understand there were seventy people hurt. The
oil must have gone over me for I fell. I did not hear any
railroad man say that it was gasoline. I think one oil tank
exploded. I counted seven tanks that had exploded the next
morning. I don't know how many cars were on the track that day.
Thomas Lyon was the next witness who stated that he was
employed in 1892 by the Big Four. Gatton and I went to work the
same day. Ray went to work after I did. Mr. Gatton had the key
to the switch, but did not have key to No. 2 switch, as it has
no lock, it is a branch off from another side track. When
questioned by Mr. Dye, witness stated that he had been
railroading since 1873.
Thomas O. Page had been in the
employ of the Big Four but was discharged on account of poor
hearing. Thought switch No. 2, at Wann safe. Said that the oil
cars were generally moved away by the first train. Mr. Page very
clearly showed by his evidence that a main line switch was the
dangerous switch. Some of the committee contended that switch
No. 2 (a side track) was the most dangerous, but Mr. Page
forcibly stated that if the main line switch was closed it would
be impossible for a train on that track to collide with a train
on the siding. His evidence gave the officers of the road great
pleasure.
A. D. White, the fireman, was recalled and said
that he regarded a train under control when running at the rate
of 8 or 10 miles per hour. Had been on this run about a month.
We were in the habit of slowing up when going through Wann.
Don't know why we were going 30 or 35 miles per hour on morning
of the wreck. We did not stop at Wann except to get passengers
when train was flagged. I would judge that we generally went
through there about 12 or 15 miles per hour. I don't think we
intended to stop that morning, we were a little late.
Adjourned to Wednesday morning.
Wednesday Morning,
Session opened at 9 o'clock:
William Bennett, a switchman at
Wann. Knew Gatton. Takes a man that knows his business to switch
in the Wann yard. Gatton run barber shop before going to work on
the Big Four.
Engineer Edward Stack has been working at
Wann since 1891. Said Norris was his fireman and that he had
been railroading about three months. Gatton and Ray went with us
to the sidetrack to get coal, but did not help coal the engine.
Gatton had worked two weeks with me. I worked every other week
in day time. I never knew him until I saw him working there. I
was there on the morning of the wreck. I don't know how it
happened. Gatton threw the switches and I went onto track No. 5.
I don't know whether Gatton set switch or not. (Here witness
could not remember his fireman's name.) Fireman has been with me
three months. I saw Gatton shut No. 5 switch, don't know whether
he locked it or not. Gatton did not shut No. 2 switch.
William F. Freeman of Alton said that he was at Wann on the day
of the explosion. I expected two men on train, that is why I
went down. He told the scene at the Junction substantially as
far as has been told. He heard no warning given. Knows that
Frank Scullin was working on the track. I was carried by the
explosion about 60 feet. I was not badly hurt, but saw something
like a ball of fire. It was a man, he shouted "kill me, kill me,
kill me." I shouted to him. I then grabbed him and tore his
clothes off. While I was doing this he said, "Oh why did they
put me here to be burned up." Scullin is a construction or
section hand. I think it was coal oil; if it had been gasoline
it would have burned with a flash.
Attorney Dye
volunteered the information that oil tanks held from 5,000 to
7,000 gallons.
In the session after dinner, Messrs.
McMillan and Coughlin of the Investigating committee, Doorkeeper
Brown and Attorney McNulty, with stenographer, went to St.
Joseph's hospital where Charles Hammond, Frank Scullin, Louis
Dennole and Sister Mary Joseph were examined. The two former
have also testified before coroner's jury. Their statements were
in accord with the previously published reports of the disaster.
James Mullane, the section foreman at Wann, testified that
he had been a section foreman for fourteen years; was burned on
right hand, ears, neck and head. Said that the explosion could
have been avoided with proper precaution. There was no effort to
save the burning train. If the water had been turned on to the
train or the gravel from other cars it would have prevented the
explosion.
Testimony introduced by Attorney Dye on behalf
of the company:
Joseph Ramsey Jr., testified that he had been
General Manager of the C. C. C. & St. L. since 1891. Have been
railroading since 1869 and since 1872 in the capacities of
Superintendent, Chief Engineer and General Manager. We pay as
good wages in our yards as any other road. We pay as a rule by
the hour. In January 1893 we were paying $2.15 at night and
$2.05 per day at Wann. Yard men are not required to coal
engines. One man in a yard always has charge of switches. The
Wann yard is simple. Only has four sidetracks. Gave description
of switches at Wann. We have a yardmaster at Wann and Altons
combined. We consider it one yard. Know nothing personally about
Gatton. The yardmaster is directly in charge of employing men.
We make no test of religion or the fact of belonging to or not
belonging to any order whatsoever in employing men. I have been
personally thanked by the heads of several labor organizations
for our treatment of laborers. The only changes that had been
called to his attention was the one where the whole force quit.
The inside switches are generally left open and not locked; the
main line switches are to be locked all the time. We transport
oil in tank cars and sometimes in box cars. In both ways. The
principal oil coming to Wann, generally comes from the C. B. &
Q. The rule was to inspect cars received from another road and
then forward them to their destination. Oil cars are inspected
in the day time to avoid danger. Tank cars are considered the
safest for transporting oil. I could not suggest any better
method.
Representative McMillan asked witness regarding
some details in shipping oil. Have known of other accidents from
oil tanks. Knew of twenty burning on an eastern road, but did
not explode. There is more danger of catching fire to barrels,
but not so much danger of explosion.
We never had
complaints from men. We have had frequent conferences with
committee from organizations but have nearly always arrived at a
satisfactory conclusion. Engineers, conductors, firemen and
trainmen all pass an examination. Men are tested as to their
hearing, seeing, etc., and as to their physical soundness.
The Investigating Committee concluded their investigations
last evening and returned to Springfield. In conversation with
members of the committee, it was found that there was practical
agreement that the committee will introduce bills into the
legislature to regulate the employment of men. To examine men
employed. Also to provide for side tracks to be exclusively used
for oil cars and to be removed at a safe distance from other
tracks and not having any direct connection to the main tracks.
*************************************
WANN DEPOT AND
RESIDENCE BUILDING PURCHASED AND MOVED TO BENBOW CITY
Source:
Alton Evening Telegraph, September 23, 1907
A. E. Benbow, who
some time ago purchased the depot and residence building at Wann
from the Chicago and Alton Railroad, succeeded in having the
edifice moved outright to Benbow City last week. It was located
on a lot there Saturday and this morning he sold the building
and lot to Carl Dorflinger of St. Louis for $1,000.
WANN
EXPLOSION VICTIM SUICIDES BY CUTTING THROAT
Source: Alton
Evening Telegraph, March 1, 1910
Frank Scullen, one of the
victims of the Wann Oil explosion of seventeen years ago, killed
himself in the county jail some time during Monday night. He was
a frightful cripple, having been burned and very badly
disfigured on the face, and his hands were so contorted from the
burns that he was able to do very little work. Added to this an
appetite for strong drink, he finally drifted to the poor house,
notwithstanding the fact that at one time he had enough money to
have kept him nicely, had he saved it. Scullen was employed by
the Big Four when the explosion occurred, and was in the line of
duty when injured. His claim was one of the few that was ever
settled by the railroad company, most all the other victims,
except railroad employees, being thrown out of court on the
ground that they were trespassers on railroad property when they
were killed or hurt. Scullen got $3,500, and is said to have
spent it in ten days in riotous living. He had been staying at
the poor farm for some time. Formerly he was given a home at the
Ursuline convent, and at one time was at the hospital, where the
kindhearted sisters took care of him, and he did a little work
around the place. Strong drink was his undoing there. Finally he
had to become a county charge. He had been suffering from
hallucinations, and thought that an Alton man was after him.
Yesterday he left the poor farm and was finally locked up in the
county jail. He was searched, but no weapon was found on him.
Charles Trabue, superintendent of the poor farm, says he
believes that in his shoe Scullen had concealed a piece of a
case knife, about 1 1/2 inches long, and with this he cut his
throat, making a thorough job of it. He has a sister at East
Alton who did not know where he was. Scullen is reported to have
carried an insurance policy on his life, and he inquired about
this several days ago to see whether it was still being kept up.
It is supposed he had meditated suicide for several days.