Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-06-14
COLLHERY EXPLOSION.


dencc which was felt in his predecessor.
COLLHERY EXPLOSION.
DISASTER AT SIIAMOKIN.
DEATH By suFFoCATIoN AND DROWNING.
Ten Men Lost Their Lives.
SHAMoKIN, June 10-This afternoon an
explosion occurred in the Henry Clay Col
liery, operated by Philadelphia and Read
ug Coal and Iron Company, near this
town. The collicry had not been inspect
ed for some time, but was always cousid-
ed safe. Sixty-fve men are employed
there, and it has capacity of mining 5000
tons per month.
THE EXPLOSION.
Conrad Drumheiser, the inside boss,
went into the old working or water level,
when the explosion Immediately followed,
it is thought, by the iire-damp being fired.
which communicated with the airways
from the water level into the slope below,
where the men worked. The men in this
section of the coal region, not being accus-
toned to black damp, thought it was blast
ing powder that had been set on fire, and
remained in the slope until overcome with
black-damp.
ENDEAvoR1AGG TO ESCAPE.
Starting to como up they met body of
after-damp aud fell senseless. smothering.
The strongest men managed to get out,
giving an alarm. The others followed,
and, on reaching the top Of the slope, fell,
being overcome. John Hayes, outside
boss, hearing the alarm Immediately went
to their rescue.
After proceeding about 900 yards he fell,
face downward, in pool of water and was
drowed. Enoch Magenski was found
drowned by his side. Eight men were
brought out dead. There was no caving
in of the mine, as at first reported, and no
fault of ventilation, but the accident re-
suited from old gas exploding in an unused
working.
THE KILLED.
Up to 10 P. NJ. ten dead miners have
been taken out. Many of the men came
from surrounding mines to render assis-
tance.
THE EXCITEMENT
Was intense, wives and children rushing
to the scene of the disaster. and finding
husbands and brothers dead, or gasping
for breath, while others were eagerly watch
ing the arrival Of friends on the slope wa
gon from below. There were fifty men in
the slope at the time of the explosion, and
thirty-fve are known to have escaped, and
will recover.
ACCIDENT TO A COAL OPERATOR.
William Brown, prominent coal opera
tor of Shamokin, fell down the Daniel
IVahStar Chof ,p-lnN- 1iotoncn nf 1RS
feet breaking leg otherwise injuring him.
1t is thought he will recover.
The Shamokin Herald of Thursday
morning last, gives the following addition
al particulars:
The most dreadful mining casualty that
ever occurred in our county took place on
Tuesday at Henry Clay COlliery. The col
liery is located about mile south of Sha-
mokin, on the Phila. and Reading railroad.
Most of the coal is mined from a slope that
has been operated about two years.
The disaster is supposed to have origi-
mated from the inside boss going among
the old works, where the fire damp had
accumulated, with naked lamp, aud dis
charged it. Mr.. Conrad Drumheiser was
regarded as n very cautious man and doubt
less would not have ventured their with
out n safety lamp, had he anticipated any
such danger.
Mr.. Fulton returned with the night
train, aud he and Mr.. IIemmingray, the
Mining Inspector, spent the entire night in
the mines, in search of the missing ones.
1t is believed that all the bodies are now
found except the inside boss.
Following is a.
LIST OF THE KILLED.
John S. Hayes, Scotchman, aged 81, wife
and five children.
Isaac Monsch, American, aged 26, un
married.
Daniel Powell, American, aged 10, un
married.
Nicholas Paulis, German' aged 81
! Wife in Insane Asylum no children.
Anthony Harris, German, aged 20, un
married.
Michael Deia, Pole, aged 80, wife an(
! three children in Poland. Been in thi
country about months.
Lawrence Rogulsky, Pole, aged 40 wifi
/ and one child.
Enoch Maginsky, Pole, aged 80 wifi
and three children.
Wm. Drumheser, German aged D wifi
and two children.
Conrad Drumheiser, German, aged 4S
wife and six children.
On Wednesday, Coroner Hesser sum
moned as Jurymen Job Lovel, Thos. Z
Williams, Jos. Henninger, John Kohl
Andrew Genesky and Wm. Kemp, Sr.
and in the afternoon held an inquest on a
tho bodies except Paul's, which was taker
to Pauis Valley, Dauphin Co., by th
morning train.
The jury assembled in Union Hall at
O'Clock p. M, and continued in session an
ill 7, but owing to the absence of importan
witness adjourned until this morning.
The body of G. DSumheiser was foun
Thursday morning at about 1 o'cloc
covered by the fall Of top.