The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-07
FEARFUL DISASTER.
Terrible Fire In PENNSYLVANIA Coal Mine
Over Two Hundred Men Hemmed in the SHAFT
by the Flames-Their Probable Death by Suf-

Terrible Fire In PENNSYLVANIA Coal Mine
kOver Two Hundred Men Hemmed in the shaft
by the Flames-Their Probable Death by Suf-
SCRANTON, Sept. 6.-There is great excitement
mere in consequence of the burning of the coal
breaker at Avondale mine in Plymouth, about
twenty miles south OF this city. There are POI men
and boys in the mine and the shaft, which is their
only means for escape, is choked by forty feet of
burning coal and rubbish. Ventilation Is totally
stopped and there are graat fears that some if not
all will be suffocated.
SCRANTON, Sept 6, 10 p. M.-The latest in
formation from the Avondale mine states that the
shaft was cleared and two men went down and
penetrated sixty OF seventy yards to a closed gang
way door, which they could not force open. They
found three dead mules outside of the door, and
sulphurous fumes were pouring through the DOORS
No signs of life discovered, and it is feared
all are dead.
SCRANTON Sept. 6.-The fire began at ten O'Clock
this morning. All experts agree that it must have
communicated from the ventilatng furnace to the
wood work at the bottom of the shaft which is 327
feet below the surface. The flames rushed with
great violence up the shaft, and broke out in the
engine room at the top. The engineer barely es-
capped with his life. The buildings covering the
mouth of the shaft 100 feet high and 200 feet
long, all wood, as dry tinder. They were almost
instantly envelopedin flames and it was impossible
to reach the mouth of the shaft to help the men
below AT half-past eleven in the morning relief
train started from this city, with superintendent
Storrs, in charge of steam fire engine, on board.
When the train arrived the buildings we're burned
to the ground, and the mouth of the shaft choked
forty feet deep with burning timbers, coal fallen
A fire engine from Kingston and one from
Wilkesbarre were on the ground, but water was
scarce and the location difficult, being higher up,
on very steep hill side. The work of quenching
the fire and cleaning the shaft consumed some
hours. Meanwhile thousands of people gathered
from the surrounding country. The families of the
men in the pit were present, and their cries were
heartrending. AT fifty minutes past five O'Clock a
dog and lamp were sent down in a bucket, to test
the air, and when brought back the dog was alive
and the lamp burning.
the shaft, and at $50 O'Clock a man went down in
bucket, and in seven minutes returned and re-
ported no difficulty in breathing, but Instructions
halfway down so that he could not pass. At 600
two men were sent down with tools. They
moved the distractions and reached the bottom of
the shaft and returned at 715. They reported
that they had penetrated the gangway sixty or
seventy yards, finding three dead mules, and reach
ing closed door, at which they battered so Justify
that their blows were heard above ground, but
they got no response and discovered no signs of
life.
Clouds of sulphurous gases were pouring out
through the door, yet they could breathe without
much difficulty. The clouds OF sulphurous gases
mentioned as pouring through the gangway door
to which the rest of the men down had penetrated,
must have filled that part of the mine around the
foot of the shaft If not all of 1t.
Dispatches just received from Avondale say that
Thomas W. Williams, of Plymouth, and David
Jones, of Grand Tunnel, who went down to make
further Investigations, were sutfocated in their Sc
cond attempt. Williams is dead and his body was
brought out by David HI. Davis and Benjamin
Jones. Thomas williams went down and dragged
David Jones distance to the foot of the shaft,
when he was compelled to come up John w. and
Isaac Thomas then went down and brought up the
body. All who attempted to go down are now out
alive except Williams and Jones. No further at
tempt will be made until a small engine is rigged.
The loss by the burning of the Avondale mine
works to-day is from $4,000 to 100000 This mine
but resumed work last Thursday, and was produc-
ing 450 tons of coal per day. All who have been
down say it is very hot, aud loud calls have failed
The only hope for 2O2 men in the mine is that
they have shut themselves in remote part of the
workings, entirely away from the draft
Several hundred men with tools were taken from
here this evening with the idea of drilling gang
way from a neighoring mine into the Avondale
workings; but as it must be solid rock cutting, this
means would probably not relieve the imprisoned
men in time: The distance to be cut is variously
time required two or three days.
PLYMOUTH, Sept. Ga fire broke out this morn
ing in a tue in the bottom of the Steuben shaft,
owned by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroad Company. in this place. and in a short
time the whole breaker and out-buildings were in
flames, and the hoisting apparatus the only avenue
of escape for the miners, destroyed. All efforts to
stay the flames were in vain and the whole struc-
mem are in e up fe sa we wo
munication out, and chance for aid, as the only
way for getting air into the shaft was through the
main opening, and that was flied with burning
tmbers and the debris. 1t is feared that the whole
number have been sutfocated by smoke, or perished
Tor want of air.
The fire departments of Scranton, Wilkesbarre
and Kingston are on hand, and are playing streams
down the shaft tor the purpose of quenching the
fire there, so that the rubbish can be cleared out
and the condition of the men ascertained. 1t will
probably take till tomorrow morning before any
tdings can be received from them.
The scene at the shaft is heartrending. The
families of the miners congregated there in great
numbers. Miners from all parts of the county are
there at work. and the merchants, and in fact the
whole population of the town, have turned out to
assist. The loss by fire will amount to about
500 900, which is partly covered by insurance.
All the physicians in the vicinity have been sum-
moned to attend when the condition of the men is
ascertained.
The affair has cast gloom upon the whole COM
munity, and business is almost entirely suspended.
The miners only resumed work to-day, after sus-
pension of about three months. Among the men in
the mines is Mr.. Hughes, superintendent.
PLYMOUTH, Sept. 6.-After the rubbish from the
bottom of the shaft was cleared away, two miners
descended in bucket, and sent word up to send
down a pick and shovel to clear the doors with;
The bucket was brought up and two men started
down with tools. AS they started the men at the
bottom requested them to hurry, and on their
reaching the bottom both were found dead
Political.