Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-06-03
ANOTHER AvONDALE DISASTER.

PITTsToN, May 29.-About two O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, fire broke out in the
coal shaft of Blake & Company, West Pitts
ton, in the top roller, caused by friction.
In less than two hours the whole shaft had
been destroyed. There were sixty men at
the bottom of the shaft, but by the good
management and courage of the engineer,
all were got out but thirty-seven. He let
the carriage down five times, but the last
three times it came up empty. 1t is sup
posed they did not understand the signals.
The engineer worked till he was so badly
burned that he had to leave his post.
The excitement all last night continued
intense. At 12t O'Clock, O car, which had
been rigged up, reached the bottom. At 1
O'Clock the first man came up alive; the
next two that were brought up, were dead.
The car continued making the trip up and
down the mine, as fast as men could be
this afternoon, when the last man was
brought. Although sixteen who had been
brought up ahead of him were dead, the
last one was living.
There were thirty-scven men left in the
mine, and all have been brought out.
Twenty-one of them were brought up alive
and sixteen dead. 1t is thought that the
deaths were caused by suffocation, although
some assert that two or three of them were
drowned. The men were found in the ex-
treme western portion Of the mine rs far
back as they could get. Their suffering
must have been terrible.
Mr.. VIM. Abbott, one of the Pennsyl-
vania coal company's men, says that when
he went down in the mine this morning,
he found that the water was but three or
four feet deep, but the air was so bad that
it was only by the most strenuous exer-
tions that he was able to retain strength
sufficient to get the men out. lie had two
assistants, who were almost unable to aid
him in the least.
The people hore, while sorrowing for the
dead, cannot help giving vent to feelings of
thankfulness that so many were saved.
One Of the men that has recovered since
gives the following: We discovered the
mine to be on fire about $50, that is about
half an hour after fire broke out. We inn
mcdiately built a barricade, and got behind
it, when we made prayer and sung
hymn, and then waited for our fate can
remember nothing that occurred after 6
O'Clock. Out of those brought up alive,
two have died this evening. An inquest
will be held tomorrow morning at 8
O'Clock.
The funerals of the dead will take place
on Monday and Tuesday. There has been
at least twelve thousand visitors at the
scene of the disaster to-day, and the excite
ment has been very great all day.
During the day, people from Wilkesbar-
re-. Plymonth, Scranton, Carbondale and
all the surrounding towns and villages,
have visited the scene of disaster, and it is
thought the total number of visitors has
not been less than 10000 or 10000.
1t is thought several of those who were
brought out alive cannot live, but all is be-
ing done for them that is possible for any
human being to do. At the churches and
Sunday schools to-day the attendance was
SO meagre that the regular order of de-
votional exercises was not attempted.
The feelings of the community can better
be imagined than described, and now that
all anxiety for those in the mine is past,
every one seems to be looking to the well
fare of those living, yet so near death.