The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-25
Seven Bodies Still in the
Mine.
How the HazeltOn Mines Are Worked and
How Disasters Occur-The Greed Of
Capital and the Recklessness of La
notwithstanding Particulars
The Probable Result OF
the Investigation.
STOCKTON, Pa, Dec. %, 1859.

contrary each passing hour makes II more clearly
evident that the houses built over the outcr0p OF
the mine are liable at any moment to disappear from
view, the feeling OF alarm Ia general and wide-
spread. While the Miners to the number OF nifty or
sixty stopped picking aud digging in the bottom OF
the first lift OF the fatal mine for the remaining
bodies this morning at four o'clock, the danger OF
q further and more extended falling In" being ev-
dent tile people Of the town and neighbornood anx-
ousy arose to discovery OF the causes Of the dis
aster and speculated the chances OF still greater
calamity than that OF Saturday. There Ii manifested
q strong determination on the part Of the present
propretors OF the mine Messrs. Linderman
Skeer throw the blame OF the loss OF life ana pro-
perry upon their predecessors.
Facts will, 1t is whispered be sworn to at the coros
ners inquest which will leave the jury no option In
rendering their verdict. But doubt this statement
very much; miners lust as cute In 'seeing' and
being 'seen' as New York politicians. Nothing but
a searching investigation by the State authorities
will develop the truth in this important matter.
Having made close inspection OF the scene OF the
disaster and Of the negnb0rhood am in a position
TO throw some further light on the
MODE OF WORKING THE MINES
in the mountainous regions; to show how disasters
like this OF Stockton are rendered possible and to ex
plain the present condition OF some Of she more I'M
portant mines III the vicinity. The prOspect-which
Is regarded py practical miners not very remote
Of this entire village being swallowed up some DAY
Justihes elaboration.
The coal runs differently In these mountainous
regions from any other part OF the state. AT Avon
dae for instance, the coal parallel with the
face and is consequently much more easily worked
Here 1t pitches from an angle Of twenty seventy
Degrees the slide at the north and the slide at the
south side OF the mine, running down the vein and
meeting at depth Of 100 to 750 feet. When the
vein Is drst opened, say at the south end OF the
mines surface the slide Is perfected AS far AZ
seventy feet, and then commences the building OF
the first lift or PLATFORM, which extends rne entire
length Of the mine and parallel with the surface.
Thirty thIrty-three feet OF solid coal is lett be-
tween the loose earth ana coal DIRT above the lift
aud the lower strata, to support the roof from TALL
ing IN, and when all the coal removed BY these pre-
paratlons Is got out OF The way the miners CON-
mence working at the breasts. Breasts are ten
yards OF the vein which each miner has 10 WORK; the
space between the breasts are the pillars OF coal,
eight yards IN circumference. These pillars
sometimes ten feet In circumference, but vary Ia
SIZE, according TO the whlm OF the Super Intend
ept OF the Mine or the inclination oil the miner
When mine Is working well, when the VEN runs
smoothly and no ''laull is found-that Is. when the
course OF the vein Is not cut Off by rOcks-the pill
lars not touched. But when difficulties present
themselves to the miner he Is very apt to clip largely
from the supporting pillars AZ either side OF Ma
THE TEMPTATION TO crush THINGS"
by "roobing the Ininesn little, Is very strong. a
pieces OF coal begin to ny about, ana rumbling
noises are heard in the caverns. This, however,
rarely the first lift AS soon as the breasts
are worked up sufficiently near the surface for the
entire length OF the mine the slide" IL sunk seventy
process OF mining Is continued. In the second iift
however, the thirty feet OF solid coal dividing II
the by course. The pillars III the last lift
are generally left as solid as possible. The gang
solid timDer where slides are sunk, and in shait
mines tue breasts are also timbered. There is mani
testify lesa
DANGER FROM FIRE
III the former than IN the latter kind OF mine from
the fact Inat IN mines to which access Is mad by the
perpendicular shaft material about the mouth acci
dentally taking ire Is Liable fall to the bottom and
spread through the lift; IN the slide all the
chnery necessary timber and rubbish put back
contact with IRE coming down the shalt. In the
mines IN these districts, too, the coal IS not imam
maple. Water pouring through the veins constantly
floods the gangways, vets the broken coal and TIM
bers and renders Dire by ignition almost impossible.
The calamity OF Avondale could not possibly occur In
the Valley OF Hazeton The danger here--and 1t Is
scarcely less appalling than tre-s from the falling
In OF the surface over the mines through reckless
tamperin4 with the supporting pillars beside The
breasts.
owing the neglect of the Legislature to provide for
the proper government OF these mines the poor
people who live the. trembling surface OF the dis
embowelled earth are in constant jeopardy
Financial difficulties may beset the company
risk has 10 be Iun What more natural than that
coal company, running against fault" every few
yards in the working OF their mine, should turn 70
the standing pillars coal in the overworked vein,
and break them INTO ''sugarlOaf' for the market
Very natural. but extremely reckless. The owners
OF the mine masters Of the situations, the pro-
prlet0rs OF the houses on the surface are at their
mercy. Ii has frequently beea complained OF Ger
tam States that they mad
MORE LAW THAN JUSTICE.
II would seem that with reference TO mines anC
miners the Pennsy lvanans lack both.
That the stockton NINE In the hit INTO which
portion of the village fell not worked for fifteen
years - probably true; but inat the pillars OF the
moved under the orders OF the present company on
the morningof The disaster WILL think be proved
beyond doubt; not, perhaps, at the inquest on the
bodies still remaining IN the pit, but ultimately. 1t
IL now stated authortively that In conse.
Qucnce OF certain signs OF giving way In the mines
would be advisable TO work the No. l
slope any longer. Wniie they cacsea tns
finally gave up the unequal contest. The surface
invaded the cbambers Of the mine and tho sombro
were left OF them-gave way with crash, and the
deliberations OF the firm OF Linderman
necessary. Stockton mine and the people living on
It's surface were no more. BE II remembered that
the money value OF the coal in the pillars Of the
mine was estimated at $50, 900.
THE oHAsM WIDENING.
am informed as write that the yawnng mo nth
OF the fatal pit ~ widening aud spreading In
southery direction; In fact, hear the shouts of
the as the earth cracks and Yields and they
forced to fly for their. lives. Miners say that the
hotel IL SAFE but thar houses scattered here and
there IN rows and singy on the line OF the vein are
do not regard any house over tho mines safer
than another, and am llrn In the belief that the
place which once knew the larger All Of stockton
VIII soon know " no more forever. THIS seems ~
be the opinion OF the people also, for twenty
families moved over TO Hazelton yesterday, and a
general exodus IL preparing
THE MINERS NEAR THE BODIES.
When the workingmcn abandoned labor in the
pit tins morning NJ four O'CLOCK, owing TO the threat
cniDg appearance OF the overhanging rocks and
mounds OF earth, the cracking noises aud the re-
vcrberatng sounds rising from beneath their feet.
they thought they were within few YARDS
Of the unrecovercd bodies. IL - now raining
heavily, and the earth about the mouth oil
the NINE shows signs OF yielding 10 lie
persistent pressure. should Gear up IN
the morning the bodies may be recovered. for work
men are now preparing tlmbers with which TO sup
port the wall OF earth and rubbish which overnanRs
The place where The remains are supposed 10 lie.
When all the bodies are recovered and identneu An
inquest Will he held and, 1t il hoped, verdict rem
lar dyb nxvii Nv tna e