Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-09-16

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about six miles from Wilkesbarre, and
about one and a half below the hamlet of
Plymouth. The shaft is sunk in the side
of steep mountain, is 237 feet deep and
40 feet below the mountain has tunnel
opening into it which is dug through the
mountain. The main gangways of the
mines are nearly east and west from the
shaft, the first being about 1900 feet in
length, and the latter about 800. Both
east and west, the inclines are upward
and the gangways about ten feet in the
clear. The sides of the shaft are lum-
bered with wooden fixtures. The great
wooden building, IN which was the break
ing machinery, was Immediately upon the
mouth, and all of this iuAammable mate
rial was as dry as finder If a spark of
fire touched any of this wood anywhere,
even outside the mine, great confagra-
ton was inevitable, and its communica-
ton to the interior ofthe shaft and mine al
most certain. To these facts must be ad-
ded that the mine had no air hole distinct
from the shaft. The miners, working far
down in the bowels of the earth, had but
that one aperture by which to secure egress
to the surface; that cut off, the Wholesale
destruction of human life which has oc-
CURED, was sure to happen.
DEADLY EFFECT OF TIE "BLUE DAMP.
AT Il o'clock David S. Jones. Henry
Atherell, Samuel Morgan and John
Williams went down, and after twenty
five minutes came up in very bad con-
dition the "blue damp that now COM
menced arising making them quite sick,
but not insensible They threw water
upon the fire, and think it out. About
the time that this gang asked to be-hoisted
George Morgan, who was watching at the
opening Of the shaft, had to be removed
and all except four or five were driven
from the tunnel-the "blue damp that
was coming up the shaft making Morgan
sick and placing all who might be in the
tunnel in very peri!ous situation. No
further attempt will be made to 60 down
FOR an hour Water is going down.
FLOODING TIE MINE.
Things at this time, 2,05 A M, are at
a stand still, except as regards the water
going in upon the furnace, and the rising
of ''blue damp" No one has been down
since the gang last reported, and al
though an effort is making to get anoth-
er gang to go and those who have not
vet been down already-those in author
ity are afraid to run the risk, unless some
one who has been down goes along Oh
servation thus far convinces all who ex-
press an opinion that the entombed men
are beyond all hope of rescue, and some
time must elapse before another gang will
be ready to venture down, as they are all
worn out that the air in the mine is grad
ually booming more foul and dangerous !;
that some considerable time, probably
days, will elapse before there will be a
chaEce to get at the men, and befole the
heroic men who venture will be able to
withstand the fumes Of the gas long
enough to learn anything definite.
BODIES RECOVERED.
Later this afternoon two bodies were
brought up by gang that went down
since the last telegram. The excitement
is very great. The bodies are in bad
condition and not recognizable At So
A. NJ. the air was getting better in the
mine. The two bodies are badly bloated;
they were found in a stable. One is that
of young man probably eighteen years
of age, and the other middle-aged. They
are not recognizable at present. Blood in
clots is about their mouths, and they are
terrible objects to look upon. A gang of
strangers, supposed to be from Hyde Park.
came down thirty minutes before the dis
covery of the bodies.
THE MINE OPENED.
PHILADELPHIA. September 8.-A spe-
cial dispatch to the Evening Telegraph
says: 1.-The Avondale mine was opened
this morning and and all the miners were
found dead" A private dispatch says
103 bodies have been brought up.