The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-06-09
ANOTHER COAL NINE DISASTER

Mine unable tn Escape Eighteen Dead bod.
les taken from the Mine.
Another horrible affair in the shape
of burning shaft in a coal mine
took place at Pittston, Pennsylva-
MIA, on Saturday. At the time of
the ignition of the upper part of the
shaft yesterday, the shifts of miners
We're being changed and many were
standing, and few others were relieved
by their companions coming out. The
alarm being given to Engineer McDer-
mott he at once communicated warn
ing of danger to the bottom of the
mine and began to hoist the carriage,
bringing with the first four trips several
men. In the three succeeding trips,
no arrivals were reported, and while the
eighth trip was being made, the rope
slipped off the pulley and all further
means Of escape was beyond possibility.
AT one time young lad at the bottom
of the shaft, $50 feet down, saw ner-
vous twitehing of the bell wire, which
the bell refused to respond to, and sus-
picious of some disastrous accident, i'm
mediately ran into the east gangway,
several hundred feet, and warned his
brother of the circumstances. These
two, with Mr.. Evans, were the last to
ascend from the pit.
In an hour and q quarter the breaker
had burned to the ground, and men of
all vocations IN life began removing the
half consumed timbers that INSTRUCTED
the passage to the mouth of the shaft.
No water but from small we'll being
available, it was drawn in wagons and
barrels from the river, mile distant.
kilograms were also dispatched to the
Scranton and Wilkesbarre fire depart
ments for assistance. The Scranton
steamer arrived at q quarter past three
o'clock, and at about the same time
came the hose company of Pittston.
The Wilkesbarre steamer followed soon
after. BY 5 o'clock the water had cooled
the iron and wood gear in the shaft, and
preparations were made to clear the
mouth. In the meantime hundreds of
women and children had congregated
near the scene of the disaster, and their
heartrending cries pierced the air. At
GAO the mouth of the mine had been
sufficiently cleared to let down dog.
He was kept down the first time for
three minutes, and let down again,
staying five minutes. The dog came up
alive. AT 7 o'clock p. M, timber was
brought to the mouth of the mine, and
a temporary framework made to cover
the opening. A platform carriage is
constructed, and preparations made to
enter. At s o'clock p. M, two men
David Harris and William Warren-are
let down about 20 feet. They have
lights, bell-ropes, water, and tools.
They removed the burned timber and
charred scantlings, and are constructing
a partition to secure an up and down
current of air. A few minutes previous
to this, VIM. Law was let down by a
rope IS feet into the shaft, but imme-
diately gave the signal for hosting. A
strong current of air comes from the
opening, carrying with it thick smoke
and obnoxious gases. The preparations
for the rescue Of the miners continued
to be pushed with the greatest vigor
until 1890, when, as above stated, the
first man was reached.
The fire originated in spontaneous
combustion by the friction of the wood
work of the breaker.
Martin Cox, one of the miners taken
out of the mine alive, makes the follow.
ing statement:
Owe went in at o'clock a. m. my
brother Robert cut through from one air way
to another, and turned on the gas, and six
miners came out with him before their shaft
was up; the air was so bad they could not
work at all and this was about Is minutes
before the fire, and seven miners came up to
the top five minutes before the fire was dis
covered the first intimation we had of the
fire was sound through the mine as if
there was an explosion English, a miner,
said 1T is fire. we were then working
about so yards from the bottom of the shaft
on the west side; | then ran to the bottom
of the shaft and saw the fire coming down !;
ran back to my comrades and told them I'VE
are lost; the shaft is on fire ) we were seven
in all /; we then ran to the foot of the shaft,
and, the burning timbers coming down,
threw on water to put out the fire, and the
smoke became so intense that we were nearly
sutiocated; dense volumes came down the
shaft and filled the place; we then ran over
to the west side in the direction of the river
bridge, down the slope, and got in at the
door with IL others, making Is altogether in
that place; the smoke came in upon us so
badly that we gathered up COB of fine
stuff from the track and plastered up the
in the holes, which stopped the smoke for
some time we now had time for thought
and reflection no one ever expected to see
daylight again, and said it was q second
Avondale; we all sang hymns and prayed,
calling upon God in His mercy to save US, as
we all felt doomed and beyond human aid /;
we ran back and forth in the gangways for
fresh air at 3l5 p. M, Patrick Farley fell,
groaned twice, and was found dead when
the men came in the place after the fire;
then went over to the west side for my coat
to help stop out the smoke, as we would all
be suffocated very soon; the men then
passed me carrying back their comrades,
who were dying in their arms; three more
men were outside the doors, crying out in
their distress and anguish, calling upon God
| for safety and succor none expected to come
out alive; the mules were kicking and neigh
! ing; boy told his father with horrible
crying, I'VE will come out safe but if we
must die, let MS die like men;' the father
and son both came out; at 1880 p. M, be-
came insensible, and remained so until
was brought out by my brother Robert, a,
about o'clock on Sunday morning"
Cox is an intelligent Irishman, aged
about % years.
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