New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-14
TIE AVONDALE DISASTER.
THE EVIDENCE ELECTED AT THE INQUEST
WAS IT AN INCENDIARY FRET


WAS 1T AN INCENDIARY FRET
SCRANTON, Sept. -To-day's Republican
publishes the following editorial the evidence taken
at the inquest which began at Plymouth on Saturdays
Tho intense interest felt In the Avondale disaster will
the on
theoy OF the re which has generally been e
heat from the ventating furnaces scented by every
experienced miner who was examined An the witnesses
whose opinions on the point were OF any value were
unanimous considering the furnace entirely safe. The
opinion that the fro was not caused by the furnace
| In the mine 10 supported not only by the ex
perience and Judgment Of experts, but by posi-
Ss evidence Of wsltnsh conclusive Shsracer
wooden partition which divided the shaft into hosting
arr Y the a. tho
cegt few feet which was gnited BY the burning debris
breaker building was consumed The bratticc the
only material which could have carried the IRE from the
munc aed from the furnace It impossible to believe
that portion Of the bratce beginning at point only 20
1870 feet could have remained unSared ast now remains
What could have eItnguished the flames feet from
The thing inconceivable Not one Of the witnesses
could assign any cause for the origin Of the fire,
thought peden not to attempt any explanation at ALL
and only one OF the hundreds to give positive
10 the horrible suspicion that evidently lurked In the
minds of ALL One witness on his OATH said he believed
further to excite the horror which the suspicion
such enormty at once arouses but examine for mo-
George %orsan
the 6re began at tunnel little below
side OF the breaker under that building opened
face The parts Of the shaft into which It opened
the hoistng way, which continually rayersed
BY the carriage frequently WITH men aboard
would almost certainly have been noticed
wooden door This point in the air shaft is 20 feet be-
e %pd was @
came with the speed and force OF an explosion 6nfs
puff OF explosion of loose powder The explosive char
acer Of the fame partly accounted for by the strength
highly innsmmaSc material. at the mouth Of the tunnel
would have tended to produce precisely the same effect
break charge s mouth and the hrattice opposite with
quantity Of kerosene. other nfsmmable material lay
noticed and be miles away before the catastrophe came
The fuse and magazine would be most eheoIuhy con,
thing to feel compelled TO advocate such the
DRY but is any other possible Oan u , DC con am
accidental cause at the bottom OF the shaft could have
s pSS OF hs
Was the mouth OF the tunnel the only point Opposite
been commnncatedt Was not impossible for any IRE
to accidentally come from the tunnelf In brief not
sblei In reaching this conclusion we do take Into
the reports about traces At the mouth
OF the tunnel Ii will Do time enough 10 consider those
they have been elected on oath In open court The
evidences or the most heartsckenlng crime on record
far soongehan We could desire them to be already
THE THEORY OF ISCENDIARlSM DENOUNCED BY
THE NISERs-ALLEGED SUPPRESSION OF TEs-
TGMoNY.
WuKEsBARRE, Pa, Sept. 13.-Ihe Miners
Union desire tho following statement their part
! be given TO the public:
The dispatches which are being constantly transmitted
Scranton In relation the Avondsle disaster in
many instances entirely unfoundod tho
FIRE which occurred at the mine tho work OF an In
ocndary ono believes II Is ono Of tho su6terfuges
Railroad Company turn the mind Of the public from
the real responsibility resting upon tho company The
reporters who furnish principally tho particulars taken
before jury Of inquest on Saturday last. have, In
many instances, suppres the testimony material to
the and published that favorable 20 the company
The object only be coniectnred. The company Ne
powerful theiners weak. Simple justice Is the do
mad Of many citizens.
ADDITIONS TO THE PLYMOUTH FUND.
PLYMOUTH, Pa, Sept. l3.-The late disaster at
Ayondae leaves 70 widows and I5I fatheress children
The latter will be Increased 20 nearly 400 The
receipts by tho Treasurer H. Gaylord are as fol