The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-08
The AYOndaIo Coal PIT horror.

SCRANTON, PA, Sept TIL A. NJ
The donkey engine and fan were put
In operation about an hour since, dri
wing In fresh air to the shaft. Messrs.
Carson and Davis then went down a
hundred feet, and then lowered lights
to within fifteen feet of the bottom of
the shaft The lights burned freely.
After making all the observations
possible, they returned; and miners,
who have formed a committee to 60
down, are now preparing to descend
to remove obslructiOns and explore In
search of their brethren. A thousand
of miners women and children cover
the hills and grounds in the vicinity.
A committee is circulating among the
immense throng for subscriptions for
the widows aud orphans, who number
over six hundred.
SCRANTON, September 7.-SpCcial
trains this forenoon ran from here to
Avondale every hour free, until IL
o'clock, when the crowds became so
dense that they obstructed the relief
parties, and they were suspended.
The whole community is chilled with
horror here at the great calamity.
All work is suspended in the mines
in this vicinity, and nearly the whole
force of miners, IN their mining suits,
have gone to Avondale, and remain
until their brethren are brought out,
dead or alive. Thousands have gone
from this direction alone. aud the
whole country is aroused, and flock
ing to the scene of the disaster.
In the 4th, 9th and 9th, or Hyde
Park wards Of this city, the streets
are thronged with Women-the rela-
tives and friends of the men In the
Avondale pit-besieging every person
arriving from below for information,
and their weeping fills the air.
Mining cannot be resumed at any
of the works of Delaware, Laekawan-
ma q Western Co.'S mines within a
Week-not, at least, until ala funerals
of the Avondale dead are over. The
fact of the long and severe strike just
ended, adds greatly to the destitution
which will follow the calamity. The
widows and orphans viii number not
less than 600.
At three o'clock the crowd was
cleared, and q rope enclosure made
around the mouth of the shaft by tic
police The engine and fan We're got
to work at $40, and shortly after It
was connected with the canvas con-
ductor that reaches the bottom OF the
shaft, 237 feet deep. At l0:20 o clock,
Superintendent Corwin, Of the Hamp
ton mine, and j. p. Davis, the car
penter of Avondale, descended 100
| feet and lowered three lamps to with
in fifteen feet of the bottom of the
shaft and the lamps burned freely.
After remaining IN the shaft forty
minutes they returned. At IL 10, q.
l.. Morgan. j. Howell, Thos. Davis
and Thos. Il. Davis, committee OF
miners, descended the shaft slowly
and with care.
AT 1I:35-They ascended to the
mouth of the shaft, reporting that
| after leaving the platform on Which d
they went down, they proceeded about
thirty feet into the gangWay, and
finding a great deal of carbonIe acid
gas and black damp, retreated al
ter conveying the end of the large
canvas air conveyer as far into the
mine as they went. The damp was
between two and three feet deep on
the bottom of the mine.
AT II :55-Rees Evans, ThOs. Car
son. Chas. Jones. and Isaac Thomas.
another Miners Committee, began to
| descend into the shaft.
The fan was kept constantly IN mo-
ton during all the time, forcing fresh
air into the mine. During these pro
ceedings at the shaft, a company oI
/ fIty volunteers was formed aud regu-
lariy oficered by the miners, to de
scend and recover the bodies OF then
companions.
Rev. Mr.. Hunt. at the head of
company of twenty citizens, canvasseo
the immense thrOng with subscrlptloL
books for the orphans and widows o.
the unfortunate victims.
The most experienced miners gave
ND all hope of finding any one alive il
the mine.