New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-19
alflr Orleans Republican.
.FFIclAL JOURNAL or TIE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
THE PITTsToN HORROR.
Details of the Mining Disaster-Dead
Bodies of Miners Recoyered-Heart-
~reudina scenes.

THE RlTTsTUN HORROR.
Details of the Mining Disaster Dead
Bodies of Miners Recoyered-Heart-
-rending Scenes.
PITTsToN, Pa, August lz.-At the present
time it is difficult to estimate the full damage
caused by the explosion, but it>is not be
heved that any man at work in<<he mine
will be recovered alive. Entering the
chamber where the explosion occurred a
fall of rock was first found, which laid
partly upon a car. completely blocking up
one side, and leaving space ON the other
Just sufficient for a man to force himself
through. Some distance further in there
was another fall, which completely filed
the passage, and behind this the men are
vailed in so completely that it will take
hours of most persistent labor to reach them.
Volunteers are now at work endeayoriDg
to get around this fallen rock, so that they
can reach the entombed miners; but the
density of biack-damp prevents them from
prosecuting their work with full effect.
They are continually being brought up in
an exhausted condition, but their places are
Immediately supplied by other volunteers,
and SO the work goes on unremittingly.
All that mortals can do is doing to rescue
the unfortunates, but only blackened and
Idisfigured remnants of mortality have thus
far rewarded the toilers.
extreme. Thousands Of sympathizing citi-
zens miners and others are present, render
ing all the assistance possible under the
circumstances. Women and children are
weeping, wringing their hands, mourning
aloud for the loved and lost, and waiting in
anxious, hopeless expectation for each new
report from the poisonous pit. Women are
everywhere, doing what they can to minis
ter to the wants of the exhausted volunteers
Ac ora flya haI1 ahs
back from the mouth of the pit, great caul-
drons of steaming coffee are ready, and alb
known restoratives are at hand. Sad hearts
are everywhere tonight. showing sympathy
with bereaved friends who are mourning
for their dead.
This mine has been nearly exhausted, and
was known to be filed with black-damp,
and yet it was considered safe. 1t had been
constantly worked since the conclusion of
the strike, although not at its full capacity
of twelve feet. Gas was found In the head
ing just off the gangway, which had been
trayersea all day by explorers with naked
light, and the merest accident would have
caused another and worse explosion, inyolv-
ing q loss of at least fifty lives during the
fore part of the night.
Those assuming control have ordered the
pumps reversed and water has been forced
down the shaft, thus hoping to increase the
volume of pure air and expel the foul. SUI
perintendent Kendrick and Inspector Bell
witt are preparing to descend the mine, but
should they find their expectations of re-
plenishing the avenue with pure air realized
they will hardly be able to draw away the
debris necessary TO reach the imprisoned
miners before morning.
The following persons are known to have
been In the mine accident: David Harris,
John Morgan, Thomas Leyschan, Evan
Jones, David Owens, Thomas Rees, james
Jones, Benjamin Davis, Robert Hughes,
Benjamin Williams, Edward Owen, John
Mangan, Richard Owens, NJ. Quinley and
Martin Mangan.
There are many theories as to the cause
Of the disaster, but the general opinion is
that it is due to an explosion of fire damp,
the first intimation that anything was
wrong being a rafting and jostling of the
descending car, as the air rushed out of the
shaft with such velocity as for moment
to stop it.
Midnight-Three volunteers have Just
been taken out insensible No further at
tempts to recover the bodies will be made
before daylight. Five bodies only have
been taken out. The body of Benjamin
Davis was brought up shortly after the ex-
plosiOn, and about three o'clock the body
of Evan Jones was brought up. During
the afternoon the dead bodies of Thomas
Leyschan, James Mangan and David Harris
vert ItSUftTtcl lIDla tlt uillt.
PITTsToN, Pa, August l5.-The last body
was taken out of the Eagle shaft about four
o'clock this morning. About midnight last
night stream of water was turned in and
the passage ways arranged by means of
doors, SO that current of fresh air could
be circulated throughout the mine, which
soon removed the damp which had suffo-
Gated seventeen men, or those of that num-
Der who were not killed outright.
hon hof trrn rxfc mir hO1
were recovered and brought up. Martin
Mason went down, and, after diligent search,
finally found and brought to the mouth of
the shaft the remaining three.
The funerals will be held tomorrow, at
Odd Fellows Cemetery. A jury has been
impaneled by the coroner, and the inquest
will be held Friday morning at ten o'clock. |
Meantime, the committee which has been
appointed will explore the mine, and give |
evidence before the jury as to the cause of
the accident.
homes, and placed in collins ready for inter
ment tomorrow.
1t is not known, and most likely never |
will be, exactly how the men came to their |
death-whether all were instantly killed by |
the explosion, or whether they were stunned |
and afterwards suffocated by choke-damp |
One or two bodies were badly burned, and /
others considerably bruised. 4
The following are the names Of the seven
teen victims: Miners = Benjamin Davis,
Evan Jones, Thomas Tegisten, James Nor |
gan, David Harris, David Owens, James
Jones, John Reese and Charles Price. Driver
Doys-Rlchard Owens, John Morgan. and
Martin Morgan. Laborers-Beniamin VIII
Jams, Patrick Quinlan, and Robert Hughes,
Owens.