The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-05-20
TERRIBLE MINE EXPLOSION.
SEvENTY.EIvE LIVES Lost.

sEvENTY-FIyE LIVES LOST.
HALrFAx, n S., May 13-This COM
munity was startled to night with the
that terrible explosion had
occurred in the Drummond Colliery,
Picton County, at l o'clock to-day, Man
agsr Dunn, Assistant Manager Richard
son and forty of the workmen were in
the pit when the explosion took place
The greatest excitement prevailed after
the fearful occurrence, and crowds of
people for miles around came rushing
to the scene Of the disaster, and saw
one of those heartrentiing scenes which
is described by witnesses as going
beyond all conception, the recollection
of which will never fade from memory
Mothers, wives, sisters, children and
friends crowded around the burning pit,
mourning pitifuily the fate OF those be-
low, their heaftrending cries being heard
for long distance
Every effort has beeh and is being
made to rescue the inen, but so far
without SUCCESS, and it is feared they
have all persisted. The fire up TO this
time-9 P MIS- Still raging. Assist
ance from Pictot and New Glasgow,
where great excitement prevails, is at
hand, and strenuous exertions are being
made to subdue the condagration. This
city is greatly excited over the news OF
the calamity.
I q
A Herald special from Halifax locates
the mine disaster at the village of West
vile, County of Picton, one hundred
and three miles from Halifax, where
there are three large colleries in full op-
GRAFTON, exporting large quantities Of
coal Navigation having recently OPEN
ed, the workmen demanded increased
wages, and several strikes occurred
One of the largest mines, called the
Drumn;ond Coiliery, owned by the In.
tercolonial Company of Montreal, has
been closed several days. and to-day
the men returned t0 work.
At half-past II shot in the coal sci
fire to the slope, and half an hb!hr after
ward fearful explosion took place
caused by the accumulation of gas du
ring the time the mine was closed
About 2 o'clock second explosion oc
Cured, coming up the old slope air-shaf
on an old trial shaft with terrible force
and, it is believed, killing every one il
the mine, variously estimated at from
forty 10 one hundred, including mer
and boys. Soon after the first explo
sion, cries were heard at the foot OF thu
air.shaft. d o, asIs - ri
Men were Immediately lowered with
ropes, and four Of those below were
brought up. Two fnen were going
down the air shaft TO render assistance
when a second explosion occurred, ant
they were blown to pieces. There wa
such a small supply Of water that littl'
could be done to quench the flames
which we're still raging fiercely at II
o'clock tonight. Dense masses o
smoke were pouring out of all the open
ings, and threatening to destroy all th'
surface buildings.
There is NO hope of saving any o
those nov below, as all escape was Gu
off by the explosion. Many Of the los
are married men, with families.
HALIFAX, May 14-Evening.-The fir,
at Drummond Colliery continues. but it i
slowly abating. All the openings are be
ing filed up, and a stream of water ha
been turned into an air shaft lately work
Z ed. p
!, The list of killed, as far as known, com
: : prises 26 men having wives and familie
! and % single men, The total numbe
! killed will reach IS. The wounded nun
Der 6, of whom are fatally wounded.
The men, who have escaped with gres
difficulty from the slope, report that Q
rnefr way up they passed tte bodies Z
their comrades, who had probably be
. come stupe6ed by smoke since the explc
! sion. Of four men who volunteered t.
! go down the shaft shortly before the sec
: ond explosion, three were killed. Seve
I raj violent explosions took place las
: night, one perCeptibly felt four miles dis
: tant An Inquest was commenced yes
1 terday and adjourned until this morning
b WEsrvILLE, PIcroN CotNrY, n S., Ma
: 14.-From 10 o clock last night until da,
q light this morning, the fire at Drummon
J. Colliery ragged with great fierceness, gatt
j. cring volume and violence each momen
s The sky in the vicinity OF the calamit
; was illuminated with the flames issuin
e from the air shaft to height of nearl
e t0Ufeet.
9 All through the hight there we're ez
n plosions at intervals. They were prect
: ded by arumbling noise resembling thur
' der. The weary watchers who RENAME
e around the pits mouth and air shaft, an
. labored to suodue the flames, were oblis
t ed to seek shelter in an adjoining wooe
f as stones, debris, etc, thrown from th
v pits mouth at each explosion, were bein
t scattered around in all directions, an
!, threatened instant destruction or injur.
! to every one within reach.
i. About 2 o'clock this afternoon thes
i explosions we're followed by one whicl
g for terrific violence and destructive fore
' dwarfed all the rest. All the woode
e works in and about the main slope wei
0 instantly destroyed, stones. wood an
# burning embers were driven high into til
. air, smoke, fame and horrible noises az
! companying the explosion, giving th
f beholder vivid idea of volcanic eruE
8 ton. The earth for miles around wa
4 shaken with the violence Of the exple
e sion.
The scenes in and around the village
are saddening. Westville and the villag
Q at the Drummond Celliery are in mourn
ing. The shops are closed and men an
? women wander about in groups, their sac
4 deneri countenances betokenfng the gres
r grief that has befallen them. No pc
8 can correctly picture, the harrowin
! scenes Of yesterday, when the terribl
9 truth was conveyed to the mournin
: wives, sisters and friends Of those VIII
! were so suddenly hurled into eternity
. The utmost excitement prevailed, and fo
4 hours it was impo to ascertain VIII
were or were not in the mine. Womer
many of whom had husbands, brother
} and sons working in the colliery, mad
the air dismal with their crying. One {
y the rescuing party killed by an explosio
. yesterday was driven into the air dis
/ tance of ahundred feet, and fell into th
. road near by, where his dead body wa