Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-02-05
John Hostess Burial and Escape.

We fnd in the N. York Commercial Advertiser
very interesting account in detail of the late dis
aster at Carbondale by Rev. H. A. Rowland, of
Eonesdale We copy the account of Hose's won
derfu escape;-
The coal lies beneath Of slate; above the
slate is the sand stone rock aud above this are the
gravel and soil. have often noticed in passing
through the mnes that many Of the ends of the
props, which support the slate above, were SILVER
ed like broom, from the vast pressure on them
and never saw this indication without thinking
what might happen, should the mass from the above
take notion suddenly TO descend, and always
breathcd easier when had passed through the
mines, and emerged to the light of day.
symptoms Of the working Of the mass above had
been for some time observed and these symptoms
had greatly increased for few days previous to
the catastrophe Every thing was done which
could be done in these circumstances to avert dan.
ger. No one supposed it possible that the rock
above would prove so firm, or that it would settle
suddenly IN a mess.
Only few Of the workmen, Of whom there are
nearly four hundred employed in the mines, had
gone in on Monday morning, when Mr. Clarkson.
the superintendent discovered the ominous appear.
ances aud Immediately set some hands TO work in
propping up the state On coming out OF the mines,
about l2 o'clock, he me, Mr. John Iose, (who
the abest masons, and who has been in the Hudson
and Delaware Canal Co.'S employment for about
year. preparing himself to take charge Of the
mines to be opened below Carbondale) and told
him that he had better wait till he could 90 with
him, and they would examine the mines together.
Mr. Hosie went on, however, into No ,, intend
ing to Join Mr. Clarkson presently, and had procee-
ded about a mile when instantly the mountain over
his head descended with an awful crush Of every
thing which opposed its progress, and shot down
over him, filling up the road with crushed coal and
bending him double, leaving not foot Of space be-
tween the solid mass above and the crushed coal
below. This distance descended was the height of
the mine or from SIX to eight feet. So great was
the pressure Of the air that il produced painful
sensason as if some sharp instrument had been
thrust into his ears. All was total darkness, every
light in the mine being instantly exlinguished.--
Ever and anon the thunder Of the falling masses
roared through the cavern.
After waiting a suitable length OF time for the
rocks to cease falling, Mr. Hose began to remove
tho loose materials around him and to creep. lie
tried one way and it was closed. He then procee-
ded in the other direction and after nine hours in
cessant toll, creeping, removing loose coal and
slate, and squeezing himself past obstacles, he made
his way into the open mine Here he tried to strike
a light but his matches had become damp and
would not ignite He then felt around him and
stead Of making his way out he had gone farther
into the mine, and was cut of from return by the
mass which had settled down upon the road. He
then belhought him Of the air hole, and attempting
to reach 1t 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, endeayored with pick TO ignite it but
could not. lie found also can of oil, which he
reserved 1t case Of necessity to for food.
IL.
over him also settling, throwing off huge pieces
of slate and exposing him to imminent danger at
every step for but part of the mass above had
come down at once, and the other seemed likely to
follow Sensible of his danger, Mr. Hosie protec-
ted himself as well as he could he wound up his
watch and felt the lime 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 Ills acquaintance
with the mines to set himself right. lie first tried
to reach No l. but after toiling to that road found
that it was also crushed in His only chance SEEM
ed then to proceed a, right angles with the main
artery Of the mines and pass over 10 No. 3, and
this he laboTed 10 do in accordance with his best
judgment
At one time he passed through narrow entrance
into a chamber, and in endeavoring to creep out on
the other side, he caught in q narrow place by
the hill above settling down upon HIM, and remain
ed in this position an hour, expecting to die there
But another settling Of the mass crushed out some
of the materials 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 dis
may that il was closed aud he was compelled to
hunt new passage and finally to dig his way out
with his hands
Thus, after working moro than thirty.six hours,
he at length reached No g. where he rested, and
then when the hill had partially ceased its working
proceeded toward the mouth of the mines. On his
way he met Mr. Dryden, one of the superintendent
who, with his men, was exploring the cavern with
the lights, in search of him and at about o'clock
in the morning he emerged to the light of day, hay
ing been given up as dead, and been incarcerated
in utter darkness beneath a senling mountain for
forty.eight hours Mr. Hosie told me many OF these
particulars aud the others cleaned from The prin-
cipal officers Of the company, to whom they were
narrated.
AZ one time Mr. Hosie saw lights at a distance,
but they soon vanished They were the lights Of
men in No. 3 seeking for him These lights how.
ever assured him that he was pursuing the right
course, MIR Hosies hands were scratched and cut
up by working so as to be completely covered with
sores. He never for one moment lost his sell-pos-
session. and to this fact added TO his tact and per-
severance is to be ascribed his deliverance.
The Distance In Oreqon IN he sailed from New