The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-21

enco-Great Damage to PrODerty.
From the Scranton Republican. l7th.l ~
Yesterday morning, about three
O'Clock, a large portion of the citizens
OF Hyde Park were startled by what
seemed to them the visitation of an
earthquake, and for short time they
were Impressed, as they never were
before, in the truth concerning the
unstable character of all earthly things
The occasion of the alarm was nothing
more or less, however, than the giving
way of some Of the props and pillars
in the old wrought-out diamond vein
OF the Oxford mines. About four
years ago similar event occurred in
this vein, which jeopardized a CON.
siderable amount OF property above it,
and spread a general feeling of insecur-
ity for some time among the residents
Of the borough. The last event has
been attended with a great deal of
damage to property, and will make
Investments in this quarter look like
unsafe business for some time to come.
The vein runs in a northerly direc-
ton and the evidences of caving-in on
the surface can be traced toward the
same point. 1t is located neally
directly beneath Main street, and
along the east side of this thoroughfare
the rent in the earth is visible for
several blocks. The property most
injured is the Heermans House, the
Postoffice building, Odd Fellows Hall
and the residence OF DR.. Hearth and
Messrs. Howell and Richards. Mr..
Sibbets, the proprietor of the Heermans
House, says that about three o'clock
he was awakened by terrible creaking
all over the house, and noises as if
parties we're making a racket through
out the building. He lay awake for
few moments and felt the building
sinking gradually. He jumped to his
feet, and with him all in the hotel, as
the disturbance was such as to startle
all. On gaining the street nothing was
apparent, but on examination, it was
found that the house was rent and
split at several points. The building
consisted Of two portions-an older
and newer one, the latter forming the
front. The rear portion was separated
from this, and sank from eight to
twelve inches without cracking. but the
front portion was twisted and thrown
out of line. The plastering was torn
off, the wood work broken, the cross
walls pulled apart, the windows twisted,
and the doors wedged in frames.
The rent in the surface started short
distance from the Oxford shaft, and
ran up to Main street, passed the cor
ner Of the Ebenezer Welsh c. NJ.
Church. On the first occasion OF the
caving in OF this vein, this property was
very much damaged. In the present
instance, however, it has not suffered,
as the whole lot on which it stands was
carried, as it were, backward toward
the river, distance OF foot or more,
and there is no evidence of Earring or
straining on the walls. The rent, after
running along the side walk opposite
the church, may be traced downward, in
the direction of LackawaDna, passing
beneath the building in which he post
Office is, the walls ofwhich are split in
several places, then across the street
leading to the bridge at the gas works.
On the corner the Odd Fellows Hall is
situated, and the ground beneath the
rear giving way, wide rent is made in
the walls, which leaves the building in
very unsafe condition. The residence
of DR.. Heath is tipped forward, the
front being about twelve inches lower
than the rear. In the residence OF Mr..
Howell and Mr.. Richards, the plaster
ing is torn off in many places, and the
buildings are inclined toward the street
considerably. The point at which the
sinking is most perceptible isJust on
the brow of the hill opposite the resi-
dence OF Mr.. Heermans. His dwelling
house sank a distance Of over two feet
but the whole tract on which his house
ia situated. sank equally and without
much damage to the property. :.
1t is certainly somewhat surprising
that any disturbance Of this character
should occur here. We are informed by
those who are familiar with the geoiog
;cal features of the strata beneath, that
Il ia one mass of solid rock, and besides
that il ia over two hundred feet from
the surface of the vein. Notwithstand-
ing these facts the sinking OF the sur
face is evident, and some parties are re-
snonsible for the destruction to property
and danger to life attending this feature T'
of coal mining in this vicinity. Inc
parties to blame, however, are not the
Delaware, Lackawanna and western
Railroad company, the present owners
of the Oxford mines. This company
bought the Oxford shaft in August
1868 but before that time 1t was
wrought by s. T. Scranton q 90, the
coal being taken out of the diamond
vein by these parties, and who, instead
of leaving pillars of sufficient strength
to support the superintendent welsnI'
left 10 most instances, wooden props,
which are beginning to rot, and made
cayino in a very natural consequence.
There is no estimating the damage aone
to property, but it must be very grsdi''
and what is worse the owners are Win
ont remedy, Since writing the above
we learn that the sinking of the surface
continued part of yesterday, ana MI MI
Richards residence is so badly 'nJuie'
that he has had to vacate II:
Queries.