Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-06-04
RESCUE OF THE GAINESVILLE
MINERS.

44XtG1Gs
Our readers will recollect that we pub
liShed notice some three weeks since
OF the entombment Of four coal miners by
the caving in Of a coal bank, near Zanes.
vile. They remained in their perilous
situation fol. fifteen days, having a SUP
ply of food for one day only. The pa
pers in that vicinity contained interest
ing articles respecting them for two
weeks, relating to the progress of their
liberation. Large bodies of men, some
of them coming from distance of go
miles, labored day and night often at the
imminent risk of their own lives, and
without pay, to liberate them The Ma
Iional lntelligencer complies the follow
ing graphic account of their rescue:
So narrow was the approach to tile
spot in which the unfortunate men wero
cooped up that only eight persons could
work at time, and the further the sap
was carried the harder it became. The
air of the deep and dank tunnelway they
had TO excavate was extremely offensive,
SO that aftersome days exertion not few,
looking at the extreme unpropitiousness
of the efforts made, advised them to be
given up. Happily this advice was not
taken, and redoubling their labors, the
gallant fellows outside were on the four
teenth day encouraged by signals, faint
indeed, but distinct, from within. Re-
| plying to this from without, they soon
heard their entombed friends raising a
hearty hurrah," which fact, being
communicated to the anxious crowd, al
ways waiting outside the excavations,
excited repeated and tremendous hur-
rahs in response. The Joy of the crowd
took various and most extraordinary
methods of expression.
The first ineligible question pro-
pounded to the insiders when they had
sufficiently neared was this: .
"Was any body killed by the caving %
Nome said the workmen. 'Hurrah !
hurrah = was heard from within.
/ ''This jubilee of the entombed was re-
ported outside to the crowd, who re-
spcnded to it by spontaneous hurrah
Of their own.
" 1t seemed that the men had picked
their way some twenty feet within the
rocky fssure and were enabled to con-
verse pretty freely. The workmen warn
ed them to retire within, as they were
ia imminent danger. Edgin said he
wouldn't bulge till they told them what
was the day and hour and how long they
had been shut in. The workmen told
him that he had only been in a week,
that it was Friday-deceiving him, as
they supposed, for his own good and
that of his companions. Edgin then told
them to say to their families and friends
that if they didn't get out they were
ready to die happily, having made their
peace with God. Edgin then retired,
exclaiming 10 the workmen most cheer.
fully, We'll go in Work on boys Nav
God bless you
When at this point new fall of rock
and earth increased the difficulty of the
rescuers but, encouraged by finding
their friends within yet alive, redoubled
efforts were made, and at one o'clock on
Saturday morning tie four persons were
brought once more into the open air and
placed under medical care. Of course
they had no idea of the time that had
elapsed, for Only on the first day had
they the benefit Of lamplight, every sub
sequent moment having been spent in
utter darkness. Their preservation from
the pOignancy of excessive hunger, con-
sidering that they had but one days pro-
vision, is feature of much interest in
the case. The following explanation of
this phenomenon from Columbus paper
would appear to be at once ingenious and
satisfactory -
Notwithstanding these men were thus
inbedded in the earth. perhaps their
preservation from death by hunger was
prevented by that very fact. In the
English mines men have lived even SIX
teen days without food. The very want
of light and free circulation of air, the
moisture of their tomb, together with the
lack of oxygen to carry off the particles
eliminated from the body, may have had
some effect in preventing that exhausta-
ion which has accompanied hunger in
he open air, in arid plains, or on the
'alt ocean,"
A very curious instance of confusion
las taken place in family in Albany.
\ mother and her daughter were both