The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-22

Lenigh Valley arousing the entire community
ger. The volunteer nre company Of Hazleton With
Colonel Fitzpatrick, chief engineer, and MT J. Y.
Tomllnson, chief engineer Of engine NO: l. e. ono
with all speed The distance was two ana Dali
miles BY the road and keen, cold wind blew N the
faces OF the men, nevertheless the engine was on the
ground very quickly after the first alarm TWO
streams OF water were poured on the burning mass
from that hour (haf-past seven) until eight O'Clock
grafton was over. 1t smelancholy TO nave 70 remark
on acts OF nhumanlty, but the truth must De soiu.
The indifference OF the crowd who surrounded tho
DIT during the day disagrceaoly manifested, ana
unDecoming levity was INDUCED In by many men
and women Men were heard TO speak carelessiy
about the matter. and IL was evident that the Tell
spirit OF faction or nationality Is active here among
the miners. Irish, English, Germans, welsh ana
Americans. they have all a common interest IN the
well being OF their little society; but 1t would seem
tnat each gang holds Itself independent OF ana above
the DINER, ana tnat there Is no community oil teelng
THE FIRST BODIES RECOVERED.
SIX hours after me first crash another piece or
ground east OF and near the large pit gave way Win
loud crash, but happily without carrying with IL
any OF the people who were standing by. The IRE
ropes rope aud guarded the approaches 70 The hole
as best they could from the encroachments
OF the crowd. There could not have been less
The day broke clear and fine, but about ten
O'Clock rain fell In torrents, then seet, and finally
trees, mournnly signing ana waving their white
tops above the fatal chasm. Dark clouds careened
alolt, from whose misty HOS the tears oI uCAVcu
falling on the vacant places OF once happy homes
had frozen into snow. The scene was desoate ana
mournfu IN the extreme, and gloom hlled the hearts
OF all but the most cal0uS OF the people. Inc
miners went 10 work heartily under tho ol-
rectlon OF DR.. Lindermann "a member OF the
tirm) up to Sunday at four O'Clock they mad NOT
succeeded In reaching the place where the bodies
were supposed TO lie. Shortly after that hour, how
ever q pickaxe driven far into the loose earth
brought up piece OF an arm and soon after three
bodies were disclosed to view. They were horribly
disngured. The nrst brought out was Mrs Swank,
I'm uas M rim ilv plaan HAr a
broken; her head was crushed in on the sides and
the skin on her body was peeled Oh. This
doubtless caused by the water which trickled
through The earth on her while she WAS IN the midss
au ,e r nodS d,scSyerea she was
also irightfully dishgured. The little child, ap-
parently two years old, which. covered with .
blanket ana In the arms OF the poor girl, Was
scorched and bruised beyond recognition These
remains were carefully removed to the surface and
laid IN boxes preparatory 70 their being deposited
In conlns Tor the inquest and burial.
Az far ~ can learn the Lshigh Valley Railroad
gagged In the labor Of sxhuming the bodies placing
special trains and men at their disposal Mr. Clarke,
master mechanic Of the Railroad works here, was
exceedingly active. No fault can be found with the
They appear to have been energetic and sincerely
desirous to clrcumscribe the danger.
TIE INQUEST.
An inquest was held Yesterday on the bodies 70.
as Il merely 70 the
an opportunity Of Identifying the remains, no evil
dence as TO The causes OF the disaster WAS taken.
That will come or when all the bodies are re-
covered, II they ever are recovered.
The miners, to the number Of 1fty or sixty, are
working day and night searching for the remaining
seven bodies but they have difHcult and dangerous
labor before them. The ground gives unmstakabl0
evidence that another falling In may be expected; LII
fact as write, one side OF the pit to the extent OF
several feet has fallen in. Should 1t extend in the
direction Tor fifty yards this letter win never
see the HERALD ONCE.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
Now as to the cause OF the accident $50 called,
present company commenced to WORK this mine,
some twelve months ago, It was thought that NO.
slope fully worked out, and was not, therefore,
touched. Carter, they say, worked 1t within twenty
feet OF surface seems, however that recently
orders were gwen, or understood by the miners,
that the supporting pillars In this particular
part Of the mine should be removed or, In
other words that the mines should be robbed pre-
vious to being abandoned. The workmen com.
meneed IT them last week, 1t seems, and were
| night boy working IN the mines heard somebody
| or something stamping on the rails on the noortng.
| as II giving q warning, and ct the same time 3
| creakinQ noise was heard and pieces Of coal were
| seen to shoot up rom the walls OF the mine. Tbs
boy gave the alarm and the mon away Tor the
not seem, however, that they notified the
people above Of the fact The catastrophe then was
caused by cutting away the coal pillars or supports
70 the roofing oil the mine, as place where IL had
been worked within twenty feet OF the surface and
the destruction OF life caused by the neglect Of
| the company to survey and map the mine and notify
the drillers above OF the impending danger. This,
think 10 the truth or the matter although an attempt
Ii being made to lay the blame in another direction.
Is is to be hoped however, that the truth will %
allowed to come To light. We now live mot KNOW
ing what may bring FORTH" and there II an
exodus from this place CT horror.