The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-30
THE n1TSToN HORROR,
Statement of W. r. Davies.
Victims to be Buried To-Day.

PIrrsroN, Pa, May 29.-Wm. R.
Davies, one of the miners taken out
alive, made the following statement to-
day: am one Of the men who have
go narrowly escaped death in the West
Pittston Mine. l now feel extremely
weak and exhausted and am very dizzy
in my head as well as sick at my ston-
ach. At the moment when | first heard
the breaker was on fire | was at work
in my chamber in the mine. AS soon
as the alarm was given and we under
stood the exact nature Of the danger
we all came together as quickly as we
could find one another in the gangway
at the foot of the shaft, and finding it
hopeless to attempt to 60 up and know
ing that there was no other way OF
escape we at once decided to build a
barricade and to shut ourselves in be-
hind it. We had one thing of the
greatest importance in our favor.
There was no furnancein the mine and
the air was furnished in the pit by a large
fan, which drove it down. We were
perfectly well aware of the fact, thus
our lives depended almost entirely upon
the barricade we were building and we
therefore made it as strong as we could.
We made it by trimming off very large
Jumps of coal and fixed them together
closely in a stout wall. When it was
completed We knew that it was per-
fectly secure barrier against the fire.
We then gave the closest attention by
listening to what was going on outside.
For two or three hours at least after
the barricade was finished we could
distinctly hear the noise that was made
at the top of the shaft. After that time
the assurance seemed to come upon US
all that we should never be taken out OF
the mine alive. The reason Of this
change of feeling was that so many OF us
began to feel drowsy, and we knew 1t
must be the effect Of impure air. After
this we resigned ourselves to the death
which seemed certain, and went to work
to make our preparations to meet it.
We held prayer meeting with singing
and praying, and at last we gave each
other parting caresses and kisses, each
OF us bidding every man an affectlonate
farewell, with the hope of meeting one
another in heaven. We OF course
thought much of what could be done to
attract the attention of the men outside,
who we knew were doing all in their
power to deliver us, so that we might be
found as soon as possible and no time be
lost in search Of traces OF us. For this
purpose one man was sent to the gang
way at the foot of the east shaft, who
wrote with piece of coal on the
door of the east gangway that
we had barricaded ourselves behind
it. You will excuse me know. .iro mtry
ing to remember anything more, or
from further talk just now. | am too
weak, but as soon as recover my
strength, | will be glad to recall and
describe everything that occurred in
the mine.
1t is believed by the physicians al
tending him that Davis cannot posi-
bly recover, having inhaled the poison
ous gas for too long time in the
mine.
A public meeting will be held on
Wednesday, to consider the causes of
the disaster, and to express sympathy
with the sufferers.
PIrrsToN, PA May 29.-The funeral
of the Protestant miners will take place
at 10 A. NJ. tomorrow, and that of the
Catholics at 4 P. NJ. Two bodies have
been taken to Scranton for interment.
Hiram Curtis, the first man who was
brought up from the mines, night before
last, was buried this afternoon at 3:3O.
The funeral was largely attended by
citizens, friends and members Of the
Workingmen's Benevolent Association.
He leaves a wife and three young chill
dren.
The following notices have been pub
lished:
In view Of the late calamity which
hus Just befallen our community, and
to afford an opportunity for assisting in
buryipg the dead, the members OF the
Pittston Board OF Trade are respectfully
requested to close their places OF bust
ness tomorrow until P. NJ.
Bv order of the President.
c. K. CAMPBELL, Secretary.
By authority OF he Burgess and Town
Council Of the borough h Of Plttston, 1t
is hereby ordered that all places OF
business be closed tomorrow, the Both,
until P. NJ. 1t is most especially Or
dered that all saloons where liquor Is
sold be likewise closed.
[Signed,l JAS. P. ScHooLEY,
Burgess
The jury this afternoon took tue tes-
timony of Mr.. Burden, the inspector OF
the mines. From the character of the
testimony they still place the RESPONSE
bility Of the accident partially upon the
inspector and partially upon the COM
pany. The inspector stated that the
company had no right to have more
than twenty men at work at one time.
At the time of the accident there were
4 al