The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-28

and thereby escaped injury from exploding gases;
but should the mine be filed with water as is most
likely the case. this result Of burying in the wet
could be OF no avail On Thursday Nine Inspector
Thomas williams investigated
TIE CONDITION OF THE MINES
number Of men employed under the ventilation bill
passed after the Avondale disaster and reported
everything satisfactory, and afer two O'Clock to-
day 2A5 cubic feet Of dir was passing through the
mine every minute. The law allows tho employ.
ment OF twenty men at time in q mine
OF but one means Of retreat. These, with
the drivers. laborers and door boys would
augment the numoer engaged on SHIFT TO nearly or
quite FORTY but as the fire commenced at the time
the change Of shifts was being made, it ia now i'm.
possible TO give the precise number Of men who are
down, more than Is conveyed by the above list.
r. r. Rothwell, Fred. Mercur, J. II. Harding, E. p
Jones ana Inspector Williams. OF wilkesbarre;
Thomas Walden. H. Law, A. Brider w. W. Ken
rick, D. Bevan and others from Pittston, and ". R.
storrs, superintendent Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad; James Ruthven, oil Scranton,
and II. Chase, OF Nanticoke are present aiding In
tue rescue OF the men. This same breaker caught
fire once before Immediately after the Avondale
affair. and has not been considered entirely safe in
It's working gear for some time.
Another Accountable Search for the Dead
Bodicx-sccne Of Anguish About the Burn
ing Breaker.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, May ~, 1871.
Our people OF the wyoming Valley have beeu
startled to-day by
ANOTHER NINE HORROR,
which it was thought ut one time would equal In
intensity that which shocked the country
at Avondale In 1869. About one O'Clock
the West Pitrston shaft was discovered to
be on fire, and almost simultaneous with
the alarm becoming general the entire structure
was in flames. Finding 1t impossible TO stay the
ravages OF the devouring element. fire apparatus
sent from this city, but too late to accomplish
much good in the way OF saving property. What
constituted the horror Of the affair the fact that
the shaft was in full operation and 1t was feared
that
THE MEN IN THE NINE
would be cut or from escape. The number Of men
in the chambers at the time OF the accident was
about dlty. The mine is the property Of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad Company, and the damage win soon
be repaired.
Some months ago there was talk about transfer.
ring the works to the Pennsylvania Coal Company,
but 1t is believed the arrangement was not consum-
mated. At this present writing 1t is impossible TO
state the amount OF loss.
LATER.
have just learned that OF the fifty men in the
West Pittston shaft all were rescued but fifteen.
The engineer stood at his post and worked the car
riage until driven away by the near approach OF the
fire. 1t is thus known that thirty-fve men were
brought out Of the mine alive. Those LETT behind
must have met the horrible fate OF the miners who
persisted in the mine at AvondaIe.
search for the bodies will commence as soon as
the debris OF the fire can be cleared from the mouth
OF the shaft.
THE SCENE ABOUT THE SHAFT
Is one OF great distress and anguish Two fire en-
glnes one from Scranton and one from Wilkesbarre,
the ground. 1t IS thought that no water will
be thrown into shart from the top but 1t Is said
the shaft will
FILL WITH WATER
within twenty-four hours, SO that even II they are
not sufocated the poor fellows must drown. There
is, apparently, no escape for them.
Latest from tho Burning NIines-Tho Miners
still Alive.
PITTsToN, Pa. May 27-10:30 P. NJ.
Communication has at last been had with the men
alive. though none have as yet reached the surface.