Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-01-31

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Mr.. Hosie went on, however, into No. 9, in
tending to join Mr.. Clarkson presently, and had
proceeded about mile when instantly the
mountain over his head descended with an aw.
iu crush of every thing Which opposed its pro.
gress, and shot down over him filling up the
road with crushed coal and bending him double
leaving not n foot of space between the solid
mass above and the crushed coal below The
distance descended was the height of the mine,
or from six to eight feet. So great was the
pressure of the air that it produced painful
sensation as if some sharp instrument had been
thrust into his ears. All was total darkness,
every light in the mine being instantly extin.
guished. Ever and anon the thunder OF the fal-
ling masses roared through the caverns. After
waiting suitable length OF time for the rocks
to cease falling, Mr. Hosie began to remove the
loose material around him and to creep. He
! tried one way and it was closed. tie then pro-
ceeded in the other direction and after nine
hours incessant toll, creeping, removing loose
coal and slate, and squeezing himself past Oh.
stacles, he made his way into the open mine.
Here he tried to strike light, but his matches
had become damp and would not ignite. He
then felt around him, and discovered by the d.
rccton of the railroad that, instead of making
his way out, he had gone farther into the mine,
and was cut off from a return by the mass which
had settled down upon the road. He then be-
thought him OF the air hole, and attempted to
reach it ; but that passage had been crushed in
and closed Being in the vicinity of the mining
operations he found some powder, and spreading
it on the floor, endeavored with pick TO ignite
it, but could not He found also a can of oil,
which he reserved in case of necessity to use
for food.
All was total darkness, and the par! of noun
tain over him was also settling, throwing off
huge pieces of slate and exposing him to immi.
nent danger at every step; for but part OF the
mass above had come at once, and the other
seemed likely to follow. Sensible Of his danger
Mr.. Hosle protected himself as we'll as he could;
he wound up his watch, and felt the time by
the hands. He also; with piece OF chalk,
wrote in different places his name and the hour
when he was at certain points. Being in total
darkness, however, he missed his way, but was
enabled through his acquaintance with the
mines to set himself right He first tried to
reach No. l, but after toing TO that road, found
that it was also crushed in. His only chance
seemed then TO proceed at right angles with the
tprio NJ
3, and this he labored to do in accordance with
his best judgment.
At one time he passed through a narrow eli.
trance into chamber, and in endeavoring to
creep out on the other side. he was caught in
a narrow place by the hill above settling down
upon him, and remained in this position an
hour, expecting to die there. But another set
Ting of the mass crushed out some of the mate
rails around him, and he was enabled to free
himself and draw back into the chamber of the
mine. In returning, however, to the hole by
which he had effected his entrance, he found to
his dismay that it was closed and he was COM
PEELED To hunt a new passage and finally 10 dig
his way out with his hands.
Thus, afler working for more than thrty.six
, hours, he at length reached No. 3, where he
rested, and then when the hill had partially cea-
sed its working, proceeded toward the mouth
OF the mines. On his way he met Mr.. Dryden,
one OF the supcrintendents, who With his men,
was exploring The cavern with lights, in seach
of him; and at about five o'clock in the morn.
} ing he emerged to the light Of day, having been
given up as dead, and been carcerated in utter
darkness beneath settling mountain for forty.
, eight hours. Mr.. Hose told me many ofthese
particulars, and the others CLEANED from the
} principal officers of the company, TO whom they
were narrated.
: At one time Mr.. Hosic saw lights at dis
tance, but they soon diminished They were
= the lights of men in No. 3, seeking for him.
Q These lights however assured him that he was
S pursuing the right course. Mr. fIosies hands
5 were scratched and cut up by working, so as To
: be completely covered with sores. lie never
t for one moment lost his sef.possession, and to
, this fact, added to his tact and perseverance, is
to be ascrbed his deliverance.
e There were about forty men in the mines
J, when the catastrophe occurred, and the twenty,
:. six who escaped owed their preservation, in a
e great measure to Mr.. Dryden, one of the super
e in'endents, who conducted them out with great
n cooness and selfpossession, while portions o
o the hill. other than those which fell first, were
e settling down around them. Learning that on,
E, poor Irish sborer, who had been struck dowT