The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-09-16
Horrible Disaster in the Coal
Region.
FIRE IN A coal SHAFT.
los Men confined in the Wine.

On Monday morning of last week, a
fire originated in coal shaft at Avon.
dale mines, belonging to the Delaware,
LackaWana and Western Railroad
Company, near Plymouth, in Luzerne
county, which burned the Breaker y
engine house and all the surrounding
buildings. A portion of the debris fell
into the shaft, closing it up and thus
shutting up 108 men and boys IN the mine
6elO9C aOithOut UentilCttiOn or means Of eS'
cape. The fire is supposed to have
caught from the ventilation furnace, al
the bottom of the shaft, which is 237
feet deep.
The distractions were removed as
soon as the heat would permit and, af-
ter taking the customary precautiOn,
two men were sent down to recon
noitre They reached the gang way in
safety, and found several dead mules,
but not a human being could be found
Notwithstanding they made all the
noise possible to attract attention.
They finally found the gangway clos
ed up, which had evidently been done
by the miners to save themselves from
the fire, but whether they were alive
behind this breast-work or whether
they were all suffocated, they could
not find out. Subsequently two other
men were lowered to the bottom of the
shaft, but in the meantime the gas had
accumulated to such a degree as to
suffocate them m-when gotten out they
were both dead. Arrangements were
at once commenced to force air down
the shaft by means of steam engine,
through canvass hose.
The scene at the shaft during Mon
day was truly heart-rending-
and children, whose husbands, broth
ers and fathers were in the horrible
pit were there nearly craZed with an
guish with the terrible thouhgts that
those whom they so dearly loved were
beyond the reach of succOr.
In consequence of the "strike" this
mine had not been worked for the
past four months until Thursday last.
All day Tuesday every effort was
made to reach the men but in vain-the
gas being so dense in the mine as to
prevent their working either in the
shaft or slope.-This is the most ter
rible calamity that has ever occurred
in coal mine in this country.
SCRANTON, Pa, Sept. 9.-At meet
ing of the relief committee, at Avon
dale, George Coray, of Scranton, was
appointed to proceed to New York to
solicit subscriptions.
AvoNDALE, Sept. 9-2:20 p. M
Thomas Carson, of Hampton mine,
and George Morgan, of Nanticoke, eX-
perienced and competent miners, with
twenty men, have explored every part
of the workings and are satisfied that
all the bodies have been recovered.
Outside parties say two are still miss
ing One hundred and eight is the
number of the bodies taken out.
No doubt all the bodies are now up,
as thorough explorations of the mine
reveal no more, and 108 represents the
total loss of life.
There are 57widoWs, and 100 orphans
made by this disaster. Numbers OF
the men had children living in the old
country, and the destitution is great
and requires immediate relief. The
strike of 81 months had reduced al
the families to the verge of starvation
and the men not being at work long e.
nough to receive any pay, there was
never a case that appealed more strong
ly to the charitable. The funerals
have been going on all day.