Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-16
THE LAST HORROR.
Particulars of the Explosion by Elre-Damp
in the Pittston, Pa, Coal Mines.
Forty Persons Supposed to have been
Smothered to Oeath-"GOd Help
the Poor"

AlA6l huO hClO WOAR IL VIZ A-AA~N
will be recovered alive. Entering
the chamber where the explosion oc
Cured, the fall-rock was first found
which laid partly upon the car, com
pletely blocking up one side and leav'
ing space just sufficient for a man
to force himself through. Some dis
tance further in, there was another
fall which completely filed the pas
sage, and behind this the men are so
completely walled in that it will take
hours of persistent labor to reach
them. The volunteers are raw at the
work, but they are vigorously en-
deaVOring to get around the fallen
rock so they can reach the entombed
miners. The density of the black
damn prevents them from prosecut-
ing their work with full effect, and
are continually being brought up in
an exhausted condition, but their
places are Immediately supplied by
other volunteers, and so work goes
unremittingly on. All that mOrtals
can do Is being done to rescue the un,
fortunates, but only blackened and
disfigured remnants of mortality have
thus far rewarded the toilers. The
outside scene is heartrending in the
extreme. Thousands of sympsthiz-
ing citizens, miners and others are
present, rendering all the assistance
that is possible under the circum-
stances. Women and children are
weeping, wringing their hands,
mourning aloud for theloved and lost,
and waiting in anxious and hopeless
expectation for each new report from
the poisonous pit. Women are every
where doing what they can to admin
lister to the wants of the exhausted
volunteers, as they are borne ike
helpless children back from the mouth
of the pit. A great cauldron OF steam
ing coffee is ready and all known re-
stOratives are on hand. Sad hearts
are everywhere to night. All mani
fest sympathy with the bereaved
friends morning for their dead. This
mine has been nearly exhausted, and
was known to be filed with black
damn, and yet it was considered safe,
and had been constantly worked since
the conclusion of the strike, although
not to its full capacity. Twelve feet
of gas was found in the heading just
off the gaDgway, which had been ira
versed all day by explorers with
naked lights, and the merest accident
would have caused another and worse
involving the loss of at
least fifty lives. During the forepart
of the night those assuming the con-
troll had ordered the pumps reversed,
in order to force the water down the
shaft, thus hoping to increase the vol
ume of pure air and expel the foul.
Superintendent Kenneck and In
5pectOr Belewitt are preparing to de-
scend the mine, but should they find
their expectations of replenishing the
avenue with pure air realized, they
will hardly be able to draw away the
debris necessary to reach the impris-
1ned miners before morning.
The following persons are known to
have been on the mine at the time of
he accident: David Harris, James
Morgan, Thomas Leyshow, Evan
Jones, David Owens, Thomas Rees,
James Jones, Benjamin Davis, Robert
Benjamin Willisms, Edward
owen, J ohn Msngan, Richard Owens,
u. Quinly, Martin Mangan.
There are many theories advanced |
ls to the cause Of the disaster; but the
general opinion is that it was caused
~ the explosion of fre-damp, the
irst indication that anything was
wrong being the Tattling and jOstling
IF the descending car as the air rushed |
)ut of the shaft, with such velocity as
or a moment to stop its descent.
Midnight-Three volunteers have |
ust been taken out insensibie. No
urther attempts to recover bodies will |
De made before daylight. Five bodies
)nly have been taken out. The body
# Benjamin Davis was brought up
hOrtly after the explosion, and about |
O'Clock the body of Evan Jones was
brought up. During the afternO on the |
bodies of Thomas LeyshoW, James |
Iangan and David Harris were re-
covered from the mine.
The last body was taken cut of the |
eagle shaft at about 4 O'Clock this |
The work was continued |
III day yesterday, and up to midnight |
asst night only five had been taken |
,ut. About this time the mine in
pector put a stop to all proceedings /
n order to ventilate the mine, so that |
hose who went down could work |
Without danger. A stream of water
vas turned in, and passage ways
.rranged, by means of doors, so that |
current of fresh air could be circu-
ated throughout the mine, which
Oon removed all the damp, but not
Until il had suffocated seventeen men,
II those of that number who were not /
Tiled outright. About halfpast two
'clOck eight bodies were recovered
nd brought up. Martin Mason, after
Iiligent search, was finally found and
to the mouth of the shaft.
7hree funerals will take place to-mOr-
oW at the Odd Fellows cemetery.
jury has been impanneled by the
yOrOner, and an inquest will be held
friday morning at 10 o'clock. Mean
ime, the committee which has been
ppointed will explore the mine
nd give evidence before the jury as
0 the cause of the accident. The vic
inns have been carried to their homes
nd placed in cOffins, ready for inter-
nent tomorrow. 1t is not known,
nd most likely never will be, exactly
OW the men came to their death
whether all were instantly killed by
he explosion, or whether they were
tunned and aiterward suffocated by
moke and damp. One or two bodies
7ere badly burned and others con-
iderably bruised. The following are
be names Of seventeen of the victims:
Iiners-Benj. Davis, Evan E. Jones,
hos. Legshon, James Margan, David
Iarris, David Owens, James Jones,
ohm Reese, Thomas Reese, Charles
rice. Driver boys-Richard Owens,
ohm Morgan and Martin Morgan.
iaborers-Benj. Williams, Patrick
Williams, Patrick Quinlan and Robert
Tughes. Runner-EdWard Owens.