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


D. Johns Darius Guyter, william Reese. william
spick, John Harris, Thomas Jones, ThoTdas Phillips,
Lewis Davis. Charles Frear John Thomas, David
Johnson, James Mallon James Haskins, William D.
Jones, Edward Taylor, Rowland Jones, Madison Al
liback, Daniel Edwards, John Powell william Evans
The above l0S In number, were In the mine. Be-
sides these Thomas Williams ana David Jones were
sufocated Monday evening In attempting to enter
the mines.
The figures 2o2, sent as the number in the NINE
were the authority OF Mr. Lee. the outside fore
man at AvOndae, who should have been the best
authority Various calculations have made the
number from 1888 to 100. It is certain, however
that 1903 is the total number. The explorations have
been very thorough and there is no doubt that all
have been found. Nobody attempts to account for
the great discrepancy between the estimates and
the result.
The widows are nfty-nine and the orphans In this
country are 100. number OF the men hac children
living In the Old country The destitution existing
is great and requires immediate relief Three and
half months strike had reduced all the families 10
the verge of starvation, the not being to work
long enough to receive any pay. There was never
case that appealed more strongly to the charitable
Funerals have been going on all day. Thirty-seven
have been buried at once in the Hyde Park Welsh
Cemetery this afternoon. sixyone corpses In all
have been received In this city. Others have been
buried at points down the valley.
1t has from the first been hoped that Mr.. Evan
Hughes, inside foreman, would have made some
memoranda which. being found, would give informa-
ton as to the time life was prolonged, &c. When Mr..
Hughes body was brought up his coat was on, ana
his tools, time books &C., were missing. After 1t
was deemed certain that more bodies remained In
the mine Mr.. Benjamin Hughes. general in
side foreman of oil the Delaware, Lack
HotIro mi
and brother Of Mr. Evan Hughes, taking four
men with him, went down to search for his
brothers coat, hoping to find in IL the memoranda
so much desired He found the coat 500 or 600
yards from where Mr.. Hughes body had been found
ana outside OF both Of the barricades. 1t contained
his compass and other tools and two time books
but no memoranda whatever. so all hope Of having
record OF the last hours of the dead ia lost.
The Fatal Mine and Its Appenrance-The
Death Of the lIincrs The Grief Of the WO.
men-Who Is to Blame for All the Misery 2
AvONDALE, Pa. Sept 8. 1859.
Standing on the track of the Lackawanna and
Bloomsbury Railroad to-day at noon and looking up
the steep hill side at the ruins of the flourish
ing coal mine Of Av0ndale-the shattered engine
house built Of stone the torn twisted and scattered
machinery, the sloping ridge Of fercely fired embers
filing the motionless air with strong and SHIN.
mering heat, the b!ackened wreck Of coal shute ana
breaker the charred oak ana hickory trees upon
the hill above ana the utter wreck and
ravage of the scene all over impressed the spectator
with awe and seriousness. But much more awful
and serious must become the color of his thoughts
when told that from beneath that fearful ruin the
bodies Of 200 human beings q few days since full Of
strong and palpitating life, were being brought out
one by one, black and bloody corpses and bearing
many marks Of a brief but desperate struggle with
the doom OF sulfocaon in the horrible gloom Of the
pit below.
Knowing the character OF the occurrence ana
the purpose for which these crowds OF sad
dened women and solemn men have gath
cred, lining the dismantled walls In compact
and sorrOwful numbers, 1t had q strangely
dismal effect upon the mind to see issuing from the
mouth Of low, dark tunnel at intervals Of every
fifteen minutes through the day and night four
weary, worn men, bearing on q stretcher the black
ened form Of q human being across the distorted
face Of which coarse white cloth was thrown;
and as the melancholy corttge moved up between
the ranks OF either side Of mourning miners the
awful presence Of death made itself asserted
Voices were hushed, and In the women's eyes GRIEF
and fear alternately found expression 1t was also
a strange effect to watch, each miners
name was called In stentor tones that echoed
along the HILL how all the men turned their eyes
upon the women In painful suspense that some
wild startling shrek might rcnd the air and some
poor nearbroken creature reveal the dreadful grief
of her bereavement.
The day is over now. Sixty dead bodies have
been rescued from the fatal pit and three score
widowed wives sit by desolate hearhs this evening
COULD IT HAVE BEEN AvOIpEDS
Could all this misery have been avoided il ques-
ton that might as easily be answered as
asked. It certainly could. Coal mines are
oil fir,oo nf 20 ,.jclc
ana those who engage to work in them are satisfied
to take the consequences of whatever natural
aties attend the operation Of mining coal. Many Of
these casualties the miners instinct and experience
will teach him to avoid but where human ingenuity
prompted by spirit Of greed, provides only just
such means for the miner as will enable him to work
at the least possible expense the port Of his
ployer and at the greatest risk on his own no
forethought or intelligence can provide against the
accidents that are likely to occur An air hole at an
expense Of from $4,000 to $1so 900 sunk in the Avon
dale coal mine would have saved perhaps every man
IN the mine. The shortsighted and inhuman policy
that refuses to make this simple provision against
emergencies at any time likely to arise must have
terrible recol In the long run. But Avondae is not
an exception to other mines. All around this Sec
ton OF country are mines to each one Of which
but one shaft is attached, and when tho means Of
escape cut or In that quarter no hope remains
for the men at work below. Mines In this country
seem to be constructed on the principle OF getting
out the most coal ut the least espense, and with
out particle OF consideration to the health and
safety Of the miner. Had We any such deep shafts
and extensive galleries among the mines of this
State as they have In England accidents like this
Of Avondale would be OF frequent occurrence
and Of equally appalling horror.
The Delaware and Laokawanua Corporation is
immensely wealthy, and has another mine called
the Taylorville shaft run on precisely the same prn-
clple as the Avondale mine. and liable OF any time
to the fearful accident. It remains to be seen
whether this corporation Will take any steps even
In compliance with the statute law Of the State to
render their mines little less like huge traps for