The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-08
FROM THE COAL REGIONS.
The Terrible AvOndale Disaster-The Efforts
to Penetrate the Chambers Of the Pit-The
Coal in the GanRways found Blazing.

The Terrible AvondaIe Disaster-The Efforts
TO Penetrate the Chambers OF the Pit-The
Coal In the Gangways found Blazing.
SCRANTON, Sept. S.-The Republican is in re-
ceipt of the following additional bulletins from
the scene of the great colliery accident at Avon
dale:-
Sept. 1880 P. M.-Another relay of four
men next WENT down the shaft. They pro-
ceeded along th6Nangway through the first door
and about seventy-tive feet further, when they
opened the door leading to the furnace, found
it iull of burning coal and that the fire had COM
municated with the heave of coal near by,
which was also blazing mass.
IIasty Retreat.
One party becoming overcome with gas, the
rest retired quickly, and barely reached the
platform in time to succor three of their num-
Der. On reaching the mouth of the shaft one
was carried out bodily by four men, and the
other two were assisted out to the open air.
where they were resuscitated with great diff
Guilty.
The Frutless EndeavOrs.
Sept "A P. MA consultation was now
held, and the deliberations were serious All
efforts so far to relieve the men or get at them
to-day have been worse than fruitless. Air has
been forced into the mine all day, through the
gangway in which stands the furnace.
The Current of Hot Air.
1t has been understood since last night that
the coal in this furnace had been drawn out and
eXtingushed upon the first alarm of fire. Such
was the report of those who first entered the
mine on Monday night, but it now seems not, and
that the volume of air sent into the mine swept
over the burning furnace, and carried all the
gases and smoke therefrom into the recesses of
the mine. This alone, continued as it has been
all day, would be enough to cause the death of
every inmate in the mine even if any had been
fortunate enough to have been alive this morn
ing.
Hose is being let down the shaft, as the fire
hA cln1h hafn f,trtI
gress can be made.
1926 P. M.-John Williams, John Hopkins, H.
w. Evans and ID. w. Evans went down and
stayed twenty-five minutes, causing considera-
BILE anxiety among those above. The hose was
carried forward to the furnace thirty feet. They
reported no fire except in the CRATE, which
seemed to be dying out.
9'O5 P. M.-William j. Price, Lewis Davis, G.
Davis, and William McGregor went down, but
after remaining twenty minutes reported nonew
developments.
$40 P. M.-Thomas NJ. Price, Mark Evans
William Bray, and d. w. Reese went down, and
after a lapse of fifteen minutes returned and re-
ported the hose placed in position for water the
idea being to throw water against the roof at q
pressure of 200 feet, and let it fall on the fur
mace. While these men were down those who
anxiously awaited the result of their descent
were considerably frightened by the cracking of
the roof of the tunnel and the falling of a part
of it, caused by the cooling of the rock. For
tunately no one was hurt. Water was turned on
at 10.
No further attempt will be made to 90 down
for an hour. The water is going down.
Operations at n Stand-stiIl ut Two this Morning
At this time 205 o'clock A. NJ, things are at
q stand-still, except as regards the water going
in upon the furnaces and the rising of blue
damp. No one has been down since the gang
last reported, and although an effort is making
to get another gang to go, and although those
who have not yet been down are ready, those in
authority are afraid to run the risk unless some
one who has been down goes along.
Beyond all Hope.
Observation thus far conynces u.s. as IL also
does all who express an opinion, that the POP
men are beyond all hope of rescue and some
time must elapse before another gang will be
ready to venture down, as they are all worn out.
Afraid to Venture Down.
The air in the mine is gradually becoming
more foul and dangerous; and some considerable
time, probably days, will elapse before there
will be n chance to get at the men, and the brave
men who venture will be able to Withstand the
fumes of the gas long enough to learn anything
definite
Two Bodies Recovered.
Later-Two bodies have been brought up by
the gang that went down since the last telegram.
The excitement is great. The bodies are in a
bad condition and not recognizable.
A Horrible sight.
2'55 A. M.-The air is getting better in the
mine. Two bodies badly bloated were found in
the stable; one young man, probably eighteen
| years OF age, The other middle-aged not recog-
nizable at present. There is blood in clots about
their mouths and they are terrible objects to
| look upon. gang Of strangers, supposed to
| be from Hyde Park came down thirty minutes
| before the discovery of the bodies.
The Gangs at Work Again.
At 1l'15 d. W. Morgan, r. II. Williams, A.
| Phillips, andWilliam j. Bruce went down and
| stayed fifteen minutes; the bad air coming up
| the shaft they went no further At 12 O'clock
| David s. Jones, Henry Wetherell, Samuel Nor
| gan, and John Williams went down, and after
twenty-five minntes came up in very bad condi-
| ton, the blue damp that now commenced rising
| making them quite sick, but not insensible as
the others were affected They threw water upon
| the fire, and now think it is out. At about the
| time this gang asked to be hoisted George Nor
| gan, who was watching at the opening of the
| shaft, had to be removed, and all except four OF
| hve were driven from the tunnel, the blue damp
That was coming up the shaft making Morgan
SICK and placing all who might be in the tunne
| In very perilous situation.
| The Worst Fears Realized-The ImprisOne1
Miners all Dead-TwO Hundred Lifeles,
| Bodles Huddied Together In the Chambers o
| the Ayondale Mine-A Ghastly sight.
Special Despatch 10 The EUening Telegraph.
WILKEsBARRE Sept. 8-9A. MA gentleman
has just arrived here from the Avondale mine
| and rfct tI..A