American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-09-25
The Avondale Disaster.

The details Of the late terrible dis.
aSter at Avon dale. Pa, continue to
be of II most narrowing nature. The
list of victims, according to the mum
Der of bodies that have been rescued,
seems TO be not more than los. A
letter to the New York Times, dated
the 9th, gives the following account
of aft lirs at the scene of the disaster:
The working complement of men
was one hundred and fifty six, and
it was known that eighteen men
we're out at he time of the fire at
tending the funeral of a comrade,
which should have left one hundred
and Thirty eight in the mine, nor can
any one explain why SO many bod
les were not found. Despite the
thorough explorations which have
been made, some believe that more
dead bodies will be found, and the
general disbelief engenders many
rum0rS that new heaps of bodies
have been discovered There is no
reason, however, to suppose that the
exact extent Of the calamity is not
now known, and los was the exact
number of lives lost by want of an
air hole in AvOndale mine.
The fever of excitement through
all the mining region has not dimin-
ished. This having been funeral
day, the suspension of business was
general, and trains to and from the
scene Of the calamity have been
densely crowded, especially in the
latter part of the day, one of thirty
seven platform cars carrying over
three thousand people. The attend
ance at the mine has been greater
than on any day since Monday, and
at one time not less than ten thOuS-
and were gathered about the fatal
shaft.
I The scenes ~ the various funerals
were heartrendIng in the extreme,
when thirty seven men were borne
in one cOrtege By ten hearses, and
wagons, early in the afternoon, to
the Welch cemetery at Scranton ;
800 people composed the escort,
and the bells of all the churches were
! tolled. One woman, on the arrival
at the grave, with Shrieks of lament
alton, threw herself on her husbands
coffin, breaking the lid. and could
scarcely be removed, while others
with difficulty were prevented from
throwing themselves into the grave.
A father was buried with son OH
either side, and stricken wife and
mother stood dumb and fearless by
her lost. AT Z p. NJ. the scenes
were repeated on lesser scale, when
second funeral Of eleven bodies
and afterwards five took place. the
interment being made in the same
cemetery other bulials also tool;
place at PittStOn and Wyoming.
Fifty seven have been inferred to-
day, leaving fifty four for sculpture
tomorrow.
The mining village of Avondale
has been nearly depopulated, the
head of ncprly every family has been
taken to the tomb, and in some cases
two or more members have been
taken away. Monday last it was Il
fourishing, happy village tonight
there are only five men left in the
hamlet. With rare exceptions, the
victims were Welsh, and married
men, and were the most excellent
and experienced in the valley. The
widows are 80 and the orphans III
the county are 100. \ number OF
the men haa children living in tn,
old country. The restitution exist
ing Is great and requires immediat,
relief. Three and half months
strike had reduced all the familie!
to the verge of starvation. the mel
not being at work long enough t.
receive ANY pay. There was never A.;
case that appealed more strongly tt
the charitable. The bitter feeling il
reference to the disaster hrS not di
minishcd to any extent, ani the at
fair is eagerly discussed N hotels
trains and wherever PERSONS congre
gate.
There are others of these mine.
that have no separate airhO es, there
Ill u lllOuSdIhN VI llllIlClS VIM NAV
but one avenue of escape from
threatening. dangers. The miner!
know this, and Hra,'e the feeling
they have manifesto. since Monday
is cxcuSable, it not jH>tifiable
They are as IL body ruIosc, aImos
savage and dan"er"uS. For thu
time, capital has no r.gors that Labor
is bound to respect, and the miners
everywhere are absolute masters
An instance or two will show exact
~ how these men feel. When the
heap of bodies vas discovered in Tho
gangway the first reached with ont
exception, was that of Evan Hughes
The " inside boss" it was passed 10y
many times and was not touched
until many Of the bodies more re
mote had been picked up and car
ried by it,
I a party of correspondents of the
press from distant cities, essayinl
to enter the tuuc for the purpose o
gaining intelligence were met viii
= torrent Of aEuse and only accom-
phshcd their purpose at persona
hazard. Coroner Wadham attempt
ing to show party of gentlCmer
the tunnel, was driven from its
mouth by the miners, and hlmscI