Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-09-15
The Chapter of Accidents.
rHE AvoNpALE cALAMITY.

The most heartrending calamity that ever
occurred in this country happened on Mon
day of last week at the Avondae coal mine
on the North Branch, near Wilksbarre, be
longing to the Delaware Lackawana and
Western Railroad Company. The only en-
trance to the mine was by shaft on the
hill side Over the mouth Of this shaft. was
erected the building containing the maGhine-
ry &c, all OF wood. Is dry as tinder, two
hundred feet long and one hundred feet
high. The mine was ventilated by fur
mace at the bottom of the shaft, and it is
supposed the fire from the furnace eommu-
nicated to the wood work of the shaft, and
from thence to the buildings, which were
speedily wrapped in flames, burning so
quickly that the engineers and others had
barely time to fly. The whole frery mass
fell into the shaft, closing the only avenue
of escape to the men in the mine, and the
only source of ventilation, so that every man
and boy in the dark chambers beneath was
smothered to death.
An enterance was attempted on Monday
David Jones lost their lives, thus adding
two more to the frightul holocaust. On
| Wednesday morning the chambers were
reached The first body discovered vas that
of Mr. Steele. Further on and in the most
| remote chamber an appalling spectacle pre-
sented itself to the explorers. There in a
| heap and in all sorts of positions in which
| their last agonies had placed them, lay the
bodies of the dead men, not vistige OF life
| being visible in the countenance or form OF
any of the unfortunate men who had met so
untime,; and horrible death.
The widest excitement prevailed at the
entrance of the shaft, and the shrieks OF
the friends of the dead, as the bodies were
| brought up were deafening. Nothing car
approximate to description Of the scene
no pen can portray it; the pcnt up grief OF
those who still hoped against fate, weni
forth in walls Of heart>breaking agony. The
gangs working in the mine found barrier
packed around with coal. This was cleared
away, and proceeding a little further anoth
er barrier was met nearly completed ant
constructed as the first. One man wa:
found on he outside where he had been a
work laying up the wall. All was compile
ted except a small aperture sufficient to ad
NIT the passage of human body, and it Il
inferred that he had just completed his tasl
and was prcparingto JOIN his companions oil
the opposite side by crawling back. Thi
barrier was removed when the whole forc
of miners were found consregated and pile,
upon one another and dead.
The whole number of bodies taken on
was one hundred and eight. They wer
removed to Scranton, Plymouth and Wiks
barre and buried.
The spirit evinced by the surviving miner
has been exceedingly bitter, and their grie
is not in the least assnaged by offers Of assist
ance and contributions that have been flow
ing in from every side. They feel, justly
that the proper precautions for the safety c
human life, had not been taken by the op
erators-that the mines were managed at j
: little expense as possible regardless Of tn
> danger to the underground workmen-an
that they are no more in the eyes of thel
employers than so many cattle hired 10
their benefit and advantage. If the min
had been properly ventilated by othe
shafts, the catastrophe could not haze oc
CURED. It Is not strange that the mine-
9 should feel as they do. Too little reg2r
has been paid to their safety, while they al
from time to time oppressed and detraude
c by the compulsory decrease of their wage: