THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY DISASTER IN PARIS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7537, 13 August 1903, Page 3

THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY DISASTER IN PARIS.

A Terrible Occurrence.

Further Details

Terrible Scenes.

The Officials Blamed.

(Received To-day, at 12.6 a.m.)

Paris, August 12,

Seventy-three bodies, mostly of the working classes, wero identified in the trains. Thero are many of tho facos quite black, and somo boar traces of pain. Numerous messages of sympathy have boon received, including one from King Edward.

The funerals will be at tho City's expense. Tho wreckage presents a mass of twisted iron, melted window-fanes, and fused electric wires.

The Parisans are indignant at the neglect of the officials. They could have extinguished tho original fire with hand grenades and transferred the passengers to a train standing near. They were ■amj_z the second train when a furthor break-down occurred while passing the first train. Tho passengers meanwhile were transferred to a third train containing 350 people. The three trains ran along together, finally coming to a standstill at Courronnes Station, which is between Belville and the Bastile.

As the smoke increased the guards urged the passengers to escape. Tbey were unaware of the damage, and refused to act on the warning, and demanded repayment of their fares. They assaulted the guards, and blocked the way of the occupants of the rear carriages. During the dispute the electric light failed.

The majority of the bodies were found on Courronnes platform.

Many were saved by knowing that by tho light being out the electric current had been cut off, and they walked along the rails to Belleville.

A similar fire occurred on another part of the line last night, but was extinguished.