Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-09-17
The Coal Mine Disaster.
TOTAL NUMBER OF VICTIMS, ITO

stead of 202, as was first stated on the
authority of the outside foreman who it
appears was mistaken. The work Of
gathering the dead commenced ON We'd
nesday, and we give come of the details
below:
AT II o'clock one of the gangs renrn-
ed and reported that they went up the
plane, and just beyond it found barrier
consisting Of a car packed around with
coal culm and clothing This they
cleared away, and after proceedings lit
tie further met another harrisr.nearly
completed, and constructed like the first
One man was found upon the outside
where he had been at work laying up the
wall. All was completed save small
aperture just sufficient to admit the pas
sage of human body, and it is inferred
that he had Just finished his task, and
was preparing to join his companions on
the opposite side by crawling back, when
death overlook him. This barrier was
also removed, when the whole force of
miners were found dead and piled one
upon another.
The sixth body was that of Willie
Phillips of the Steuben Colliery. He
evidently died in great agony, as his
hands we're clenched. The next was the
body of William Evans, brother Of
Steuben. His hands were also clenched
One of the miners reported that each Of
these boys were found in the arms of his
father.
The next body brought up was that o.
Evan Hughes, inside boss" He wa;
found sitting down with his head resting
on his knees. His watch had stopped al
5.15. This is supposed to have been or
Tuesday morning, as the miners usually
wind their watches at night. Mr.. Ev
ans watch had stopped at 4.42. At thi
time barrel of lime was sent down t.
mark the pathway to the death ehambe
J for the reason that two men had los
j their way. The ninth body, that of al
{ unknown man, was found 800 or 40l
r yards in the west part of the mine, Ion,
: distance from the rest. He was lying ol
, his face, which had apparently beer
forced into the ground, and was mucl
disfigured. The tenth body was that o
: an unknown man, supposed, however, t.
r be Peters of Upper Plymouth. He wa
| also lying with his face down.
/ Up to 7 o'clock this evening the worl
e of bringing the dead bodies to the sur
: face proceeded steadily. Sixty bodie
t have now been raised, and their funeral
a will be held tomorrow at Avondale.
f The scenes at the mines when the bod
les of the miners were brought out wa
|. most heart-rending. Up to the last me
e ment the wives, children, and relative
! hoped against hope that the doomed me
r might be found alive, but as one BLACK
It ened corpse after another was brough
D out, the low sobs of the women brok
It out into shrieks and walls of agony q
/. they recognized the remains Of thei
s. friends. Even the men were not unmo,
y ed by the piteous spectacle, and many a
% eye was dimmed with tears as the bodie
IS of comrades, relatives, and friends, wer
is laid side by side upon the grass. Th
p men who were engaged in forcing the
C way into the mine worked with untirin
1t energy, and, if any spur was needed, th
st agonized entreaties of the women encou
N aged them to superhuman exertions
of 1t was sad to see the little childre
ID clinging to their mothers, and wailing
to sympathy with them, although they wei
ot unable to understand the full meaning
lg the terrible disaster. Some shrank bac
t F.; in alright from the almost unrecogniz
as BILE corpse of father or brother, unab
IN to comprehend that this could betf
I'd strong, active body so full of life al
n health few days ago.
o. The sensation caused by this fearf
We disaster is most profound, and much i
e. dignation is expressed that there was
We means of outlet, and the effect will pr
lis badly be that measures will be taken
as all the mines to prevent, as far as it
possible, any such horrible accidents
the future.
AvoNDALE, Pa, Sept. 8, 1869.
i'm The horrors of the scene at the coll
he ry are just being developed. The mi
m. which has proven the death chamber
a two hundred men is opened, and the de-
to have been brought forth. Men who we
nd down happy Monday morning, eager
he resume their long suspended work, cal
forth stark and cold in death to-da
THE miners homes, which, in a long 70
,st front the opening of the tunnel, a
IN swept of every male member, and t
rk women sit, with stifed cry and pal
m. lips, at the doors, waiting the arrival
IL their dead.
iu- The people here express their conde