The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-17

I Tho PitasSon COalsMlno DEsaseeF-
Thrilling Details OF the Ffre-DamI
| Explosion In the Eagle shaft al
Pittston, Pa.
Fuller details Of the tragedy enacted al
the Eagle Shaft, Pittston. Pa, on Monday
| last, already reported by telegraph, In whlcn
/ On explosion Of "fire-damp" " caused the
death Of eighteen men, are given as follows
bune. The account was written on the spot
on Monday: -
In going to and from their work the
miners used an air shaft, which they as
cended and descended by means OF O
ladder, the main opening not being pro-
vided with safely car, and therefore con-
| sidered unsafe. It Is supposed that the
explosion blew away the props, and con-
seduent fall of the roof followed, COM
pletely blocking up the passages and cut
/ ting off the means OF escape, should tne
men have escaped death from the explo.
sion, which Is not probable. At the present
time it is not easy to estimate the amount
of damage, but experienced miners say
/: that it is not possible that any of the men
will he got out alive. The mine boss, Henry
Harris Thomas Tucker. acting footman !;
James Jones, driver; John Mirridith, a
miner, and Robt. Davis, his lsborer, were
working in slope running in dlferent
| direction from the one in which the acct
| dent happened, and escaped unhurt. The
| two latter, on hearing the explosion, hast
ened to the foot, and hearing man groan-
ing. called for assistance.
/ Volunteers at once proceeded IN the dl'
1 rectjon of the noise without lamps, and In
about three quarters of an hour brought up
the body of Il miner named Benz. Davis.
Scores of willing hands Immediately. pro-
ceeded to repair the brattice, board par
tition used to keep the fresh air from rush
ing into the worked out chambers, so that
/ it will enter only to those where men are
working. At about 8 o'clock the body OF
Evan K. Jones was found and brought up.
! During the afternoon the dead bodies OF
! Thos. Leyshon, James Morgan, and David
Harris were found and brought up.
! EXPLORING.
; On entering the chamber in which the
explosion occurred, fall of rock was first
found. which laid partly upon car, COM
pletely blocking up one side, and leaving a
space on the other just sufficient for man
to force himself through. Some distance
further in there was another fall, which
completely filled the passage, and behind
this the men are walled so completely that
it will take hours Of the most persistent
labor to reach them. Volunteers are now
J ut work endeayoring to get around this
fallen rock, SO that they can reach the en-
tombed miners, but the density OF the
black ds&9 prevents them from prosecuting
their WsSk with full effect. They are con-
tinually 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 NOR
tails can do is doing to rescue the unfOr-
tunates, but only blackened and disfigured
remnants Of mortality have thus far re-
warded the toilers.
| THE SCENE ABOVE GROUND.
Outside the scene is heartrending in the
extreme. Thousands Of sympathizing citi-
zens, miners, and others, are present, and
rendering all the assistance that is possible
under the circumstances. Women and
children are weeping, wringing their
, hands, and mourning aloud, for the loved
and lost, and waiting in aXious, hopeless
expectation for each new report from t0e
poisonous pit. Words of sympathy fall
. like empty sounds upon ther aneuished
, souls, and nothing can still the aching void
within. Women are everywhere doing
what they can to minister to the wants OF
the exhausted volunteers. as they are
mouth of the pit. Great cauldrons Of
steaming coffee are ready, and all the
known restoratives are at hand. Women's
hearts and Women's hands are first In the
work, and where brave men falter and
turn pale, they neither shrink nor turn
away from their ministering mission. Sad
hearts are everywhere to-night-some iu
sympathy with bereaved friends, and in
mo urnng for their dead. 81
THE MINE.
! This mine has been nearly exhausted,
and was known to be filled with the black
damp, and yet it was considered safe, and
has been constantly worked since the con-
clusion Of the strike, although not to its
full capacity. Its owned by Mr.. j. Schoo-
ley, Of Wyoming, and worked by Mr.. &.
Tompkins, who is extensively engaged in
the business of mining coal, and owns and
operates several other openings. Twelve
feet OF gas was found i'll heading just of
the gangway, which had been tfaversed all
! day by explorers with naked light, and
the merest accident would have caused an
other and worse explosion, involving q
loss of at least fifty lives. During the fore
part OF the night those assuming control
/ have ordered the pumps reversed, and Wa
| ter has been forced down the shaft, thus
hoping to increase the volume Of pure air
! and eXpel the foul. at this hour, IL O'Clock,
Superintendent Kendrick and Inspector
! Blewitt are preparing to descend into the
mine, but even should they find their eX-
pectations Of replenishing The avenue with
pure air realized, they will hardly be able
; TO draw away the debris necessary to reach
the imprisoned miners before morning.
[By Telegraph
RECOVERY OF THE BODIES.