Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-09-11
Terrible Mining Disaster.

Cp-HT0OGDte Loss ~ Lye W ctUO
cGiion-Great Excitement, SC.
SCRANTON. Pa. Sept. G.-TheEe IS
great excitement here in consequence OF
The burning Of The coal bre her at Avon
dale. The mine is in Plymouth, about
twenty miles south OF this city. There
are 2Ol men and boys in the mine, and
the shaft, which is the only means OF
escape, is choked by forty feet Of burning
coal and rubbish. Ventilation is totally
stopped. and there are great fears that
some, if not all, will be suflOcated.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
PLYMOUTH, September 6 "a fire broke
out this morning in lue in The bottom OF
The S,euben shaft. owned by the Della
ware, Lackawana and Western Railroad
Company, in this place, end in short
time the whole breaker and out buildings
were in flames. and the hosting apPsEat'
US, the only avenue of escape for the mi
ners, destroyed. All efforts to stay the
flames were in vain, and the whole sluc-
lure (eIl.parlly filling up the shaft. Over
two hundred men are in the shaft and
have no communication out and no chance
for air, a. the only way Tor getting air in
The shaft was through the main opening,
now filled with burning timbers and de-
bris.
1t is feared the whole number have
been sufocaied hy smoke, or have per-
ished for want of air. The fire depart
ments of Scranton, WIIkesbare ana
Kingston are on hand and playing streams
down the shaft. Ii will probably take
until tomorrow morning before The con-
dition Of the men can be ascerlalned. or
any trdings received from them. The
scene al the shaft is heartrendlng. The
families OF miners are congregaled there
in great numbers. Miners from oil parts
of The country are there a, work, and
merchants, and The whole population Of
the town have turned out 10 assist.
The loss by the fire vii! amount 10
about 100000, partly covered by insu-
rance.
All the physicians in the vicinity have
been summoned 10 attend. The affair has
cast a gloom over the whole community,
and business is slmos, entirely suspended
The miners only resumed work TO day,
after suspension Of about three months.
Among those in the mine is Iughc', the
uperIntendent.
RBoPESlNG THE SHAFT.
SCRANTON. September 6, p. NJ -
The latest information received here from
the Avondae mine states that the shaft
was cleared and two men went down and
penetrated sixty or seventy yards TO a
closed gangway door, which tLey could
not force open. They found three dead
mules outside Of the door, and sulphurous
flames were pouring through the door.
No Signs of life were discovered. 1t is
feared all are dead.
DEAD BODIES RECOVERED.
PLYMOUTH, Sept. 6.-Aiter the rubbish
at the bottom Of the shaft had been cleared
away two men descended in bucket and
sent word up TO send down a pick and
shovel TO clear the doors with. The buck.
ct was brought up, and two men went
down with tools. As they started the
men al the bottom requested them to hur-
ry. and on their reaching the bottom both
were found dead.
A FATAL THEORY.
Some Of the men who went down the
shafl las, nlgl /, reported that the fire 10
the furnace was all out. The Presump-
a., al, ,ha rpl q
miners had kept their senses, and having
dragged the FIRE, had fled 10 The upper
chambers, closing the doors behind them.
Surprising this to be true, the rescuers
proceeded on the simple plan OF forcing
fresh air into the nine BY means Of fan
working by an engine. both machines
having been taken from Scranton. For.
,y-sx men had been enrolled as vOIun-
teers 10 descend the shaft. They lower
ed lamps which burned freely. Nearly
an hour later four men descended, but
quickly returned reporting that they had
encountered "back damp" or "bue
DAMP" as the miners call the deadly car
bonic gas, which forced them TO retire.
Thus il went OR until yesterday, when
party Of men, penetrating two hundred
feet and opening the door, discovered that
the FIRE was still burning in The furnace.
ALL HOPE GONE.
PLYMOUTH, Sept. s-rhose unde:-
standing the situation. upon hearing tins
fact, saw in moment tina, oil hope was
a, end, and all that could he done was 10
drag the lost miners from their fiery tomb
and give them Christian burial. A change
of operalions was instantly decided on.
|, was determined 10 exlingush the fire.
Means are now arranged TO that end, AID
the day was occupied in deIug'ng the
mine with water.
FLOODING The NINE
Things al this time, 05 A. W., arc Of
sandstll, except as regards the water
going in upon the furnace, and The ris-
ing Of "bIue dsn D." No one has been
down since the gang last reported, and
although an effort is making to get an
other gang TO go-and those who have
not yet been down are resdy-those in
authority are afraid TO run the risk, IN
less some one who has been down goes
along.
BODIES RECOVERED.
Later this afternoon two bodies were brought
up by 4 gang that went down since the last tel
egram. The excitement - very great he
bodies are in bad condition aud not recogni-
fable. At2.55 \. VI. the air was getting bet
ter in the mine. The two bodies are badly
hIoated they were found In n stable One i