The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-16
WhSIVlLLE EXPLOSION.
The DrummOnd Mines Converted
into a Huge Furnace.
Frightful Sounds Emanating
from the Shafts.
GENERAL MOURNiN
Wives and Mothers Lamenting the Terri
BILE Fate Of Their Husbands aud Sons.
Gangs Of Laborers Filling the
Pits with Water.
Probable Complete Destruction Of the Bodies
Of the Dead Miners.
THE INVESTIGATION.
Official Proceedings at the COrO-
ner's Inquest.
Gunpowder in Prohibited Wards the
Cause of the Disaster.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
Probable Complete Destruction Of the Bodies
Of the Dead Miners.
THE INVESTIGATION
Official Proceedings at the COrO.
ner's Inquest.
Gunpowder in Prohibited Wards the
Cause of the Disaster.
VERDICT OF THE JURY

WESrvILLE, N. s., MAY 10 L. M.
Another day has passed over this sorrOwful viii
lage, the people OF which are only now beginning
to reaAze the extent OF the calamity. Before they
were like 50 many stupened mOrtas, not knowing
whitner to go what to do, so stupendous had
been the shock that turned many happy homes
into houses OF mourning. The grief of the women
who lost their husbands would move the
stoutest heart. Those VINO remain in
their houses near the mine sob and
cry necessarily, wringing their hands In
wild despair as they turn their weeping eyes
towards the burning pit expecting to see those
whom they loved in life, but whose bodies are now
burning in the fiery furnace below. Save the Sob
bling OF the mourning ones all is still as death in
the village. Most of the houses are closed, the
inhabitants having fed when the great explosion
occurred yesterday morning.
FILLING THE NINE TO sUBDUE THE FIRE.
large force OF aborers worked last night filling
up the burning slope with earth, and dir Getting
streams OF water into the air and pumping shafts.
Notwithstanding their exertions the fire burned as
fiercely as ever this morning, although no appre-
tensions of another explosion were entertained.
Large sulphurOus flames continued to issue from
the mouths Of the slope for distance OF thirty
feet occasionally through the day. AS the air shafts
were filed up immense volumes of black smoke
would issue from the slopes and hang like q heavy
cloud over the scene. During one OF these inter-
walls approached to the edge OF the slope.
SAD REFLECTIONS ON THE LOST MEN.
The roar from the burning mine was terrible to
listen to- and TO think that far down that slope the
bodies OF more than seventy men were lying, proba-
bly, burned to crisp ere this, was sickening; and
hurried from the scene with sad reflections. BY
hard work all OF to-day the fire has been got well
under and tonight there is very little name or
smoke to be seen or noises to be heard. by to-
morrow 1t Is thought That all the pits will be
dampened up. and 1t is further expected there will
then be sufficient carbonc acid gas In the mine to
dampen out all the fire.
The loss OF property by the burning OF the mine
will be enormous, all the wood work in IL having
been burned. Doubtless 1t is mass OF burning
ruins below.
THE INQUEsT-CAUsE OF THE DISASTER.
At the inquest, which closed this afternoon, 1t
was adduced in evidence that from the time the
first alarm was given there was plenty OF time for
all the men to have got out ofthe mine had they
obeyed the order TO leave. The direct cause OF the
disaster has proved, on inquiry, to have been the
use OF powder for blasting in the level where 1t
had been prohibited.
Mr. Coxon, the mining engineer OF the Albion
Mines gave as his opinion on oath, after having
heard all the testimony OF other witnesses, that
Mcleod, the miner who fired the shot that set fire
to the mine, had tapped "blower" the term
used in the North OF England), and, not having
ready appliances at hand, was unable to put out
the fire caused thereby. He also stated that, in
the North OF England, miners are not permitted in
discriminatory to fire or Shots there are properly
authorized persons Tor this duty.
LACK OF DISCIPLINE SOMEWHERE,
Other evidence was given to show that the level
underneath the one where the fire occurred was Of
a dangerous character from the quantity Of gas,
and It was necessary to forbid the use or powder.
How these regulations came TO be dsregarded
will, perhaps, never be known, as the manager,
Mr.. Dunn, and his foreman, Mr.. Richardson are
among the lost.
ONE SHAFT FILLED IN.
One OF the shafts Is now filled in, and only q
small quantity OF smoke and fame Issuing from
the other. The surface works OF the colliery re-
semble one grand ruin, nearly all the buildings
having been more or less shattered by the eX-
plosion.
ARRIVAL OF Mr.. DRUMMOND.
Mr.. Drummond, the President OF the colliery, has
just arrived Mr.. Clendennn, OF New York, Presi-
dent OF the Acadia Company. and other gentlemen
connected with mines in this district have ac-
companied him to the scene OF the disaster. The
mine is still burning, though the fire is evidently
subsiding.