The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-09-17
The Colliery Disaster at AvOndale

We gather the following particulars
from different sources in regard to tho
recent terrible disaster at the Avondale
Mines, Pennsylvania:
A special from Scranton SAYS there
were not less than one hundred aud
thirty-eight nor more than one hun.
dred and fifty people in the Avondale
mine when the accident occurred
Some of the men who went down the
shaft reported that the fire in the fur
mace was all out. The presumption
was that when the fire broke out the
miners had kept their senses. and, hav
ing dragged the fire, had fled to the up
per chambers, closing the doors behint
them. Supposing this to be true, thu
rescuers proceeded OIL the simple plar
Of forcing fresh air into the mine.
This was continued till four O'CLOCK
p. NJ. when party of men penetrated
two hundred feet, and. opening tn,
door, made the discovery that the fir,
was still burning in the furnace. ant
had even ignited the coal piled outsid,
Of it. Those understanding the situa
tion. upon hearing this fact, saw in
moment that all hope was at an end. anC
that all that could be done was to draw
the lost miners from their fiery tomb tt
Christian burial.
A change of operations was then in
stantly decided on. 1t was determined
to direct immediate efforts to the ex
tinguishment of the fire. Means are
now arranged to that end, and the nigh
will be occupied by dcluging the mine
with water.
-Four men who went down the shat
yesterday afternoon explored the gang
way, opened door leading to the fur
mace and found it full Of burning Goa
and heap of coal near by blazing
One became Overpowered, and they re
turned to the mouth of the shaft where
they were with difficulty restored from
the effects of the gas and blue damn
which was following them.
1t was then determined to pour water
into the mine TO extinguish the fire, anC
after Some four hours another part,
went down and carried the hose to til,
furnace They reporting the fire dying
out in the furnace. other parties wen
down and placed the hose in position
to throw water on the furnace. Afte
the water had been turned on two hour
two parties went down, the last one re
turning in bad condition from the eff
fccts of blue damp, which arose YER,
freely.
About two o'clock this morning ano
ther party went down and brought W
the bodies Of two miners, which lool
bad and are unrecoguizable, being badl,
bloated and clots OF blood about theil
mouths. One is a young man. the othel
middle aged. The excitement was in
tense. The air in tho mine was thel
improving.
A special from Scranton, dated at I
o'clock, reports the finding OF nearl,
two hundred bodies of dead miners
piled up together in Avondale mine.
A private dispatch says one hundred
and three dead bodies have becl
brought up from the mine.
At . 10 A. NJ. four men went down tht
shaft and were gone thirty-five minutes
and discovered dinner cans and cups.
AT 6 80 A. NJ. four more went down
and were gone thirty minutes. The,
discovered the whole company of mi
ncrs dead in the east side of the place.
Preparations arc being made to senC
down six gangs of four men each, anc
the bodies will be brought out as rapid
ly as possible. The foul air does no
Interfere to any great extent.
AT I 30 one of the gangs reported
They went up the plane, just beyonC
which barrier was met, consisting of
car packed around with coal and cloth
ing. This was cleared away, and pro
ceeding little further another barrie
was met, nearly completed, and con
| structed as the first. One man wa
found upon the outside, where he ha,
been at work laying up the wall. Al
was complete save small aperture SUI
ficient to admit the passage of Il human
body, and it is inferred that he had jus
| finished his task and was preparing t.
join his companions on the opposit
side by crawling back. This barrie
was removed, when the whole force o
the miners were found congregated an,
piled one upon another dead.
STILL LATER.
Later explorations of the mine hav
developed sadder phase Of the trage
| dv. Many chambers have been enter
ed and miners found in them dead, til
breast of the mine showing they ha
been stricken down by poisonous ga
without warning while they were a
work. Road men, roof men, door mer
and others were found dead in the dii
terent gangways, showing that the de
struction must have come swift an
sudden. The spirit evinced by tn
miners to-day has been bitter in the ex
treme, and not assuaged by offers of as
sistance and sympathy flowing fron
every side.
Thomas Carson and George Morgan
very experienced miners, with twent
men, have Just returned from the min
and report they have explored ever,
part OF the workings ard are Statistic,
all the bodies have been recovered
Outside parties say John Davis, of Ply
mouth, and James A. Kerr, of Avon
dale, are still missing. They must b.
mistaken. One hundred and eighteel
is the number of bodies taken out.
BB~ The New Orleans Picayunc say
the South will not send 100000 bale