The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-28
TIE HORRORS OF THE MINES.
Disastrous Calamity at the West Pittston
Shaft, in Pennsylvania.
THE MINE ON FIR e
Fifteen Men and Boys Ent0mbed in
the Burning Caves.
A SCENE OF ISL.

PlrrsroN, Pa, HAY q, 1871.
This afternoon the terrorizing announcement new
On the wings OF the wind that the West Pittslon
sha operated by Black & Co, OF New York, w. w.
Kenrick, superintendent and owned by the Lehigh
Valley Rallroau Company, was on IRE, and
NO EGREsS
bat the shaft over which the breaker WIS erected
remained for the men engaged IN their daily avoca-
ZION to escape. The appalling sight was plainly
visible from Pittston proper, which les east OF the
Susquehanna, and hundreds, awaiting themselves
OF every conceivable mode or transportation has
sened to the OF horror. Memor es OF the III
faed men OF Avondale Arose in the minds OF the
multitude, though 1t was bold man, ipdeed who
dared proclaim his worst fears, which, neverthe
less, were entertained by all
THE FIRE
hook place I'm the journals OF the sheaves,
of the breaker, at ten minutes past two O'Clock,
caused unquestlonaby by friction. the accumula-
sion OF oils and cotton wrapping, two combustoes In
themselves dangerous q day OF such excessive
heat as this has been. arrived upon the scene OF
excitement Immediately upon the first alarm, but
already the air was burlened with the fearful walls
and means OF wives, daughters sisters and
brothers, whose nearest KIN were buried beneath a
merry furnace, with not hope OF rescue from fear
fli death either OF sur0catlon or explosion Of gas,
the prevention OF which in this mine always re-
quires the utmost vigilance The most extravagant
rumors run riot as to
THE NUMBER OF MEN
In the mine, estimates running from fifty to sew
enty-nve were made by those who wore the miners
garD. From the men present the most tangible in
formation could be gathered, their individual
grief denoting the loss OF a friend or rela-
tive. At the time OF the ignition OF the upper
part OF the shat. the shifts OF miners were
being changed and many were standing and
few others relieved by their companions
were coming out. The alarm being given to the
Gated
THE WARNING OF DANGER
% the bottom OF the mine by means OF o bell, 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 on the
pulley, and all further means OF escape was beyond
possibility.
AN INCIDENT.
AT one time young lad ut the bottom Of the shaft,
$50 feet down, saw the nervous twitching OF the
bell wire which the bell refused to respond to, and
suspicious Of some disastrous accident Immediately
ran into the east gangway several hundred feet.
and warned his brother OF the circumstance. These
two, with Mr. Evans, were the last to ascend from
the pit.
In an hour and quarter the breaker had
BURNED TO THE GROUND,
and men or all vocaiions in life began removing
The half consumed timoers that INSTRUCTED the
passage to the mouth of the shaft No water but
rom small well being available, it was drawn in
wagons aud barrels from the river. mile distant.
kilograms were also despatched to the Scranton
and wilkesbarre Fire Department for assist
ance. The Scranton (Nayang) steamer arrived
at a quarter-past three O'Clock, and about the
same time came the hose company OF Pittston, the
wiikesbarre steamer following alter. Loco
motives were at once engaged in conveying water
IN tanks for the fire engines supply, and by six
O'Clock the heat had been 80 far extingushed as to
allow
THE INSPECTION OF THE SHAFT.
At eighteen minutes to seven O'Clock dog was let
down the hole and in three minutes raised alive.
In o few moments he was again let down, and
after remaining five minutes was raised, with
the same result as before. At $3.50 Mr.. william
Law, Assistant superintendent Pennsylvania Coal
Company, went down some seventy-nve feet, with
a rope around his leg.
PIONEERS TO TIE RESCUE.
A carriage and platform over the mouth OF the
shaft, which had been In course OF construction,
was completed and at 7:54 Mr. Davis Harris and
Mr.. William Warren, miners, commenced a descent
In the mine, repairing the partition between
the upcast and downcast clearing away
distractions OF fallen timbers as they went so
slow has been their passage that at the present
writing eleven oclock) they have not yet reached
the bottom, and no evidence Of the mems fate, be-
yond that OF combination or circumstances, has
yet been obtained. A fan from the Maryland Coal
the whole OF the afternoon, but its use
has not been deemed advisable The best OF
Information obtainabc gives credcnce to the follow
ing list, embracing the names OF the unfortunate
victims In the mine:-
VICTIMS.
Aaron Smallcomb and his three sons william.
Thomas and Robert, and w. X. Davies, a son-iu.
law; John Lloyd, Marin Graham, Daniel Conner.
owen MacXen, william James, Hiram Curtis Mar
I'm Cooney, Pat. Garden, Timothy Walsh, George
Call, James Jones, John Price, Anthony Ford, Pat
rick Farley. Andrew Morgan, Evan r. Davis, VIM.
Powell, Daniel Edwards. Thomas Ruen, T. Edwards
and son Edward; Michael Coke, Thomas Prosscr,