The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-10


strike Of the miners it was IDLE for term Of three
months 1t was leased by the Delaware,
Lackawanna ana Western Railroad Com
pany. who also lease many other mines
in the valley, and by this ingenious plan of
leasing in place OF opening mines themselves, they
avoid the charge Of being held responsible for the
manner Of their construction. The lessee Of mine.
however, is practically the owner, for when he
comes TO yield mp his lease perhaps there is no mine
left
There Is no doubt. however, that the Avondale
mine was one OF the best and worst In the valley.
The masonry work, running down the sides OF che
shaft some twenty feet was as strong as stone and
cement could make it. The engine house was firmly
built the machinery Of the finest kind used In the
colllery business the breaker, that covered the en-
CINE house and through which the broken coal was
despatched through long shoot to the railroad track
below, was built In the most substantial manner and
altogether the works to the casual observer seemed
to leave no room for Improvement. The shaft was
sunk to depth of 2S7 feet with space twenty-six
feet by twelve, divided in the centre by wooden
partition on one side Of which the pure air de-
scended to the mine, and on the other the impure
vapors assembled to the top and were disslpated
abroad. After going in sheer descent to the bot
tom OF this shaft the explorer OF the mine found on
either hand two long galleries, or avenues. one
branching east 1900 feet and the other west 500
feet. Moving straight onward at righ angles to the
shaft and at distance from 1t Of 22o feet, the fur
mace for creating o draught Of air through
the galleries and chambers Of the mine
might be found blazing away In dangerous
proximity to the woodwork lining Of the
passage way reserved for the admission Of the fresh
air currents. 1t was spark rom this furnace fall
ing on the dry scantiing adjacent that caused the
accident. 1t blazed up rapidy the names made
running leap to the bottom Of the shaft caught the
wooden partition already mentioned and Chamber
Ing up the 237 feet seized on the heavy WOODEN
breaker overhead, which never should nave been
there, and piercing with fierce and steady tongue
Of fire through the supports. brought down the
ponderOus beams the debris Of the breaker and the
coal within 1t into the shaft choking up its space to
depth Of forty feet, shutting out the fresh air from
above, and turning back the sulphureOus gases from
the blazing furnace into the galleries chambers
where the miners were at work. This took but half
an-hour or SO on Monday morning last. The men
had descended their work but three hours before
HOW TIE MEN MET THEIR DEATH.
It should DO explained that the galleries which
penetrate this mine are irregular In line, running
east ana west under the hill to considerable dis
tance with chambers at Intervals and doors at vary
ing distances to keep out currents OF foul air. There
is doubt but that the miners at once OWNED the
accident that ha1 occurred, ana took prompt mea-
sures to save themselves In the long galleries,
ming OBVIOUSLY east and west, the miners scat
tered at work. some In the gangways others in the
chambers following the usual routine Of daily toll
Laborers were nling the cars from the broken coal
brought down by the miners pick; boys were driv
ing forward the mules to the mouth OF the SHAFT
with car loads Of coal to be hoistcd to the world
n Iva tn Shn NnafO
when the rush back Of the sulphurous gas from the
furnace told the miners too well the nature Of the
disaster that had occurred.
In the light Of what the brave men discovered on
going down early this morning to rescue their fal.
len comrades, we can easily trace what followed
when the discovery became known through the mine
that the shaft was stopped and the fresh air Of
heaven excluded. All those In the vicinity Of the
urnace retreated by winding ways to avoid all
contact with the poisonous cases. to the utmost
limits Of the mlne to gangway 1900 feet from the
bottom of the shaft No doubt there was fearful
hurrying backwards, for the fatal carbon rushed
with hot ana rustlng breath along the galleries and
overlook many poor fellow who vanly strove to
reach some place Of delusive safety.
At the entrance the last gallery OF the mine
sixty-seven appalled, but yet collected miners met
and with the true instinct OF sefpreservaton pro-
ceeded at once to barricade themselves in between
O space extending in a semi-circular sweep 20)
feet At either end Of this limit were two doors
which were instantly closed, and on some crevices
being discovered the men pulled their shirts
on and stopped the interstices, but not be-
fore the fearful demon In the air had pene-
trated their last retreat-not in force, how
ever, but IN sufficient strength to do the work
Of death with unerring certainty. In this terrible
chamber their lamps extinguished and the black
ness Of eternal night closed around them. 1t is
carefully Estimated that the strongest OF the men
succumbed in eight hours after their selEimmure-
ment The supply OF fresh air which they locked in
was quickly exhausted by the breathing Of sixty
seven PAIR Of powerful lungs; while all the time the
coal above below and around them was emitting
the deadly carbon. Mr.. Thomas, one Of the
first OF the heroic fellows who penetrated to this
point in search OF the missing men, reports
that after breaking In the barrier and
gaining entrance TO the gangway where oil
those human lives surrendered TO tho King
OF Terrors the sight that met his gaze completely
unnamed him, ana he wept like little child. To
him there was nothing terrible in the spectacle;
the men were once his comrades; their cold be-
grlmed faces wero familiar to his eye, and from
the danger Of which they were the victims he him.
self had many narrow escapes. 1t was the touch
ing friendship for each other which these rude
OF toll showed In the last moments OF their struggle
for life that melted the soul ofthe brave stern man
who descended tho perlous shaft to save
them II he could Men were found locked
in each others embraces; others with hands
clasped laid themselves down to die; one
was discovered calmly sitting by o PROSTATE
companion, as though listening to his dying request
father fell into his eternal sleep holding his to
his bosom. Nothing harsh or angry was observed
in the features Of the poor fellows. Within space
Of forty feet they had all yielded up their lives, evil
IDENTITY with heroic resignation and calm resolve
to die like men.
OTHER SCENES.
Outside the entrance to this gangway two men
were found lying PROSTATE, as though In despera