Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-15
uM.~Ml1
ME-
THE LAST HORROR
Particulars of the Explosion by Fire
in the PittstOn, Pa, Coal Mines.
Forty Persons Supposed to have
Smothered TO Death-"GOd Help
the Poor"

Sm0thered 10 Ueatn-u Ou hblp
the Poor"
PTrTsToN, August l6.-At the !
{ ent time it is difficult to estimate
full damage caused by the explo
! but it is not believed that any OF
, men who were at work in the :
: will be recovered alive. Emit
? the chamber where the explosion
: Cured, the fall-rock was first fG
which laid partly upon the car, {
pletely blocking up one side and
ing q space just sufficient for a
, to force himself through. Some,
/, lance further in, there vas anp
, fall which completely filed thet
sage, and behind this the men a.
completely walled in that it wiz
hours of persistent labor TO ]
them. The volunteers are raw af
work, but they are vigorously
deavoring TO get around the 4
rock so they can reach the entoI
miners. The density of the b
damn prevents them from pros
ing their work with full effect,
are continually being brought I
an exhausted condition, but
places are Immediately supplie
other volunteers, and so work
unremittingly on. All that me
can do is being done to rescue the
fortunates, but only blackened
disfgured remnants of mortality
thus far rewarded the toilers.
outside scene is heartrending in
extreme. Thousands of symps
ing citizens, miners and Othel
present, rendering all the assiss.
that is possible under the eih-
stances. Women and childred
weeping, wringing their h9
mourning aloud for theloved AMOR
and waiting in anxious and hoL
expectation for each new report "
the poisonous pit. Women are en-
where doing what they can to az
lister to the wants of the eXhaL.
volunteers, as they ire borne
helpless children back from the n11s
of the pit. A great cauldrOn offs
ing coffee is ready and all know
storatives are on hand. Sad It
are everywhere to. night. All "a,
fest sympathy with the ber
friends morning for their dead.
mine has been nearly eXhaustedy
was known to be filed with Ia
damn, and yet it was consideredy
and had been constantly worked
the conclusion of the strike, att
not to its full capacity. Twelv
Of gas was found in the heading
of the gangWay, which had bee
versed all day by explorers
naked lights, and the merest ace-
would have caused another and =
explosion, involving the loss III,
least fifty lives. During the for
Of the night those assuming thef
troll had ordered the pumps reve.
in order to force the water dOWt
shaft, thus hoping to increase thu
ume of pure air and expel the TO-,
Superintendent Kenneck an6O
spectOr Belewitt are preparing v
scend the mine, but should thee. 4
their expectations of replenishire I
avenue with pure air realizeds
will hardly be able to draw awSe {
debris necessary to reach the inv {
Oned miners before morning. n :
The following persons are knoie 3
have been on the mine at the tie {
the accident: David Harris, ut /
Morgan, Thomas LeyshOW, q Z
Jones, David Owens, Thomas 20 a
James Jones, Benjamin Davis, Rd 9
Hughes, Benjamin Willisms, Edn +
Owen, John Msngan, Richard DO i
Quinly, Martin Mangan. J
There are many theories sdvso Q
to the cause of the disaster; bfss {
general opinion is that it was CT
by the explosion of ire-damps +
first indication that anythingd 6
wrong being the rafting and jon S
of the descending car as the air rts
out of the shaft, with such velOel 2
for q moment to stop its descentse :
Midnight-Three volunteers ) r
lust been taken out ~insensibie. t, a
further attempts to recover bodiat L
be made before daylight. Five 10
only have been taken out. The
of Benjamin Davis was bro1g1t
shortly after the explosion, audor
3 O'Clock the body of Evan JOnest
brought up. During the afternoC r-
of Thomas LeyshoW, re
Mangan and David Harris WeSo
covered from the mine. h
The last body was taken cut N
shaft at about 4 O'CLOCK
morning. The work was cont r.
all day yesterday, and up to mic Di
last night only five had been n R
out. About this time the mfrs
spector put a stop to all prOce(3 st
in order to ventilate the mine, st -
those who went down could p
without danger. A stream of 9
was turned in, and passage
arranged, by means Of doors, g
q current of fresh air could be ST.
lated throughout the mine, Ri
soon removed all the damp, b ST.
until ii had sufocated seventeen lt
Or those of that number who wen sn
outright. About half-paof az
eight bodies were reoto GI
and brought up. Martin MasoIe, SIX
5, and inadfesSsdf Tor ta6Se fWRfaJI iSy J6G1ss 3,
. close of any prescribed collegiate ba
ton Of the most respectable institu- lin
of the country. This, IL accom- 90,
d, viii be a disiderstum in West o~
lssee, aud we are pleased that gen. NJ
q 80 competent have undertaken 1t, 81,
| be seen by reference to our sdver- a.,
column. MI. Walkup comes high nj
)mmended. A personsl acquaintance he,
Iumber Of years, with Rev. A. n. NC
enables us not only heartily to Nc
end him to our people as an accom- To-
scholar, gentleman and Christian, or,
as possessing intellectual quail na'
ms second to few in the country, rreo
nple for the management Of any in naS
on of learning of the highest grade an
country. We wish him great sue Nc
nd doubt not the opportunity will 10
'raced at once by the more advanced
of the city.