Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-05-22
ANOTHER HORROR.
Terrible Calamity in n Nova Scotia Coal
Mine-FIfty to One Hundred Miners
Killed by an Explosion of Fire Damp.

Killed by an Explosion of Fire Damp.
A telegram from Halifax, n. s., dated May
10, says: This community was startled to-
night with intelligence that a terrible ex-
plosion had occurred in the Drummond col
liery, Pictou county, at l o'clock. Manager
Dunn, Assistant Manager Richardson, and 40
of the workmen we're in the pit when the ex-
plosion took place. The greatest excitement
prevailed after the fearful occurrence, and
crowds of people for miles around came rush.
ing to the scene of the disaster, and saw one
of those heartrending scenes which is de-
scribed by an eyewitness as something har-
rowing beyond all conception, the recollection
of which will never fade from memory.
Mothers, wives, sisters, children, and friends
crowded around the burning pit, mourning
pitifully the terrible fate of those below, their
h~eartrending cries being heard for a long dis
lance. Every effort has been and is being
made to rescue the men, but so far without
success, and it is feared they have all per-
ished.
A dispatch to the New York Herald locates
the mine disaster at the village of Westville,
county of Pictou, 103 miles from Halifax, where
there are three large collieries in full opera
ton, exporting large quantities of coal. Navi-
cation having recently opened, the workmen
demanded increased wages, and several strikes
occurred. One of the largest mines has been
ClObCO QdNb, ILL IL n1On htI JubI IC-
turned to work. At half-past II a shot in the
coal set fire to the slope, and half an hour
afterward a fearful explosion took place,
caused by the accumulation of gas during the
time the mine was closed. About 2 o'clock q
second explosion occurred, coming up the
slope air shaft on the old trial shaft with ter
rible force, and, it is believed, killing every one
in the mine, variously estimated at from 40 to
100, including men and boys. Soon after the
first explosion cries were heard at the foot OF
the air shaft. Men were Immediately lowered
with ropes, and four of those below brought
up. Two men were going down the air shaft
to render assistance, when the second explosion
occurred, and were blown to pieces. There
was such a small supply Of water that little
could be done to quench the.frmes.
Additional Particulars of the Awful
Calamity Total Number of KILLED
About Ssventy-fve.
A telegram from Westville, n. S., dated Ma,
IA gives the following additional details of the
disaster:
From 10 o'clock last night until daylight thi
morning, the fire at the Drummond collier,
ragged with intense fury, gathering volume ant
violence each moment. The sky in the vi
cinity of the calamity was illuminated witt
flames issuing from the air shaft, to the heigh
of nearly 100 feet. All through the nigh
, there were explosions at intervals. They wer
preceded by a rumbling noise, resemblin,
thunder. The weary watchers who RENAME,
around the pits mouth and the air shaft, an,
labored to subdue the flames, were obliged t.
, seek shelter in the adjoining wood, as stones
debris, etc., thrown from the pits mouth a
| each explosion were being scattered around il
= all directions, and threatened instant destruc
{. ton or injury to every one within reach.
About 2 o'clock this afternoon these ex
l blossoms were followed by one which for terrifi
violence and destructive force dwarfed all tn
= rest. AL the wooden works in and about til
p main aloDa Xyara inGtanflv daGtrOvad. atOnae
/. wood and burning embers we're driven higl
3 into the air the smoke, flame and horribl
= noises accompanying the explosion giving tn
beholder vivid idea of a volcanic eruption
} The earth for miles around was shaken wit
the violence of the explosion.
3 The scenes in and around the villages ar
saddening. Westville and the village at tn
3 Drummond colliery are Il mourning; tn
L shops are closed. and men and women wande
about in groups, their saddened countenance
4 betokening the great grief that has befalle
: them. No pen can correctly picture the han
j rowing scenes when the terrible truth wa
4 conveyed to the mourning wives, sisters, an
= friends of those who were so suddenly hurle
into eternity.
4 The utmost excitement prevailed, and fo
hours it was impossible to ascertain who wer
and who were not in the mine. Women, man
of whom had husbands, brothere, and son
i working in the colliery, made the air dismf
with their crying.
One OF the resculnS party killed by the e1
plosion on yesterday was driven into the air
distance of 100 feet, and fell into the wood
near by. where his dead body was picked up.
The list of killed, as far as known, con
prises 26 men lea wing a wife and family, an
e % single men. The total number killed wi
probably reach IS. The wounded number sil
g of whom two are fatally injured. The me
y who have escaped vita great difficulty frol
n the slope report that ON their way up the
o passed the bodies of their comrades, who ha
d probably become Supplied by the smoke sine
the explosion.
The coroner's jury have returned the follow
ing verdict:
1--WE find that the miners came to their deaf
on the 18th inst. by an explosion of gas in IL
Drummond colliery, caused by the derang,
ment of the ventilation of the mine arisin
from a fire in Robert McLeod's ward" The
: say considerable care was exhibited in tt
management of the mine, but express the
regret that powder was permitted to be use
E in the ward worked by Robert Mcleod.
CURIOUS AND COSTLY FUEL.-A Phi
adelphia dispatch of the 9th says !: TIL