The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-05-15

HALIFAX, May l3.-The Drnmm mond
coal mines in Pictorie county, caught
fire to-day, and is still burning tonight.
Mr.. Dunn, the manager, and fifty Of the
workmeu are below in the mine and are
supposed to be lost Every effort is be-
ing made to extinguish the fire and
rescue the men. No particulars OF the
disaster have as yet been received.
The is great excitement in Pictorie and
near Georgetown.
LATER.
HALIFAX, May IA. The cause OF the fire
was the explosion of gas from blast,
fred by the coal cutters in one OF the
boards. This fire communicated with
the gas, in other parts Of the mine, and
Immediately caused fearful explosion
which cut of all escspic There is a
down-cast air shaft about three.hundred
yards from the entrance to the mine.
Cries were heard at the bottom OF this
shaft. Ropes and men were immediate
ly procured and four men rescued.
Before any more could be saved the
fire reached this shaft and caused an.
other fearful explosion, blowing up four
men who were in act OF going down to
save others. The number OF men in
the mine were estimated from fourty to
fifty. The fire was burning fiercely up
to midnight. and volumes OF dense
smoke and flames issuing from mines
stu Later from the Orummond
Mine Disaster.
WEsrvrLLE, May IA, via. HALIFAX
From 10 o'clock last night until day.
light this morning the fire at Drum
mond Colliery ragged with intense
fierceness, increasing in volume and
violence each moment. The sky in
the vicinity of the calamity was illumi-
mated with the flames issuing from the
air shaft, a height Of nearly hundred
feet. Although the night there were
explosions at intervals, and these were
preceded by rumbling noises resem-
bling thunder.
Since two o'clock this morning, the
fire has continued to burn aud the
flames are issuing from all the air
shafts, although not so intense as they
were last evening. Lsborers are now
energeticslly at work filling up the
shafts. with clay; by this means they
have 80 far succeeded in subduing the
flames that hopes are entertained that
the worst is now over, unless another
explosion takos place. One of the air
shafts is now drawing the air aud this
TACT renders the situation very precsri-
GUS. 1t was feared that the fire would
spread into the Arcadia mine which ad
joins the Drummond colliery, but every
precsution having been taken to guard
against such danger no appreheusions
are felt al the Arcadia works this
morning.
The sights around the village are
saddening. Westvile and the villages
adjoining the colliery are in mourning
The shops are closed aud no work is
being done. Men and women wander
about in groups, their cad countensn~
ces betoken the bitter grief that has
fallen on them. No person can cor
rectly picture the narrowing scenes OF
yesterday, when the terrible truth was
made known to the mourning wives,
sisters and friends OF those who were
is suddenly hurried into eternity. Peo-
pie rushed irsntically to the s0ene
of the disaster The utmost ex-
element prevailing, and for hours it
was impossible to ascertain who were
in the mine, and the women, many OF
whom had husbands, brothers and sons
working in the Colliery mine made the
air dismal with their cries. After the
explosion Yesterday four men volun-
teered to descend the air shaft for the
purpose Of attempting rescue. They
were blown up with an explosion which |
Immediately followed. One miner,
E. Burns was driven into the air |
distance OF one hundred feet aud fell in |
the woods near by. His dead hody |
was picked up this morning. About
As of these were married men and all |
leave families to mourn their sad fate
1t was the fret day in the mine for
some OF the men. Unfortunately v sew
eral OF them were married men, belong
ing TO Cumberland county, who had |
lately contracted work. Everybody |
here speaks in the highest terms OF the
bravery displayed by the manager, the,
late Mr.. Dunn, in descending the
mine after the first explosion, srd thus
sacrificing bis life to cave the lives OF
others Much sympathy is expressed |
for his beresved wife. The land, TO-
deed, may be said to be filed with la
mentation and mourning. Nearly
every family here has lost some rels-
tive or friend.
The following ia list OF the lost :
James Dunn, manager Philip Dunn,
John Dunn. Thomas Gleuwood, Joseph |
Richardson, underground managers:
John Bowan CATER, E. Burns, George
Burney, Jno Emery, Kennett Cameron,
r Cameron, John 7. Elliott Robert
Duncan, 0. NcLeed, John Sinclair, j.
Cummiu, T. HoWett, J. McKithen, A.
Purves, jr., J. Mcpherson, jr.. John
Wicket, J. McKelvey, jr, James RAM
say, D McRae, D. Neil, J. Prayer, D.
Holiday, D. McLlsw,H. Glllis, J. |
Campbell, H. Hall, Donald Mcdonald,
James Mcdonald, D. Mcdonald. John
Mcdonald. W. OBrien, II. Freeman,
J. AcMill. c. MeNicholson, II. Nc
GiIVey, II. hcDoBald. A. Guy, A.
Smith, J. Ellis, Mat Doyle, Matthew
Nanny, F. Jones, J. Webb, colored,
Alerander O. Alma oolored