The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-16
The Nova Scotia Mine Horror.
Full and DIstTesSing Details of'the
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relays Of men have been at work slnCt
yesterday filling up the slopes and OIL
shaits with clay. The fire still burns o.
fiercely as ever. He went within few
feet Of the mouth OF the shaft from which
blue sulphurous flames were ndinE
20 or 90 feet The roar from the burning
mine was something terrific. Densl
volumes of smoke continued TO ascend
from the several air shafts. No adequate
idea can be formed OF the terrible dlsaS-
tier. The computed loss OF property Is
enormous, but Is nothing 10 comparison
with the loss Of life. Ali the wood work
In the mine Is burned, and experienced
miners say 1t Is one mass Of burning ruins
below.
The causes thatle to the disaster are not
as stated, owing to the strike ofthe miners,
but to powder having been permitted to
bo used In oue OF the beds, worked BY q
miner named Robert Mcleod who in
sisted upon using it unless be received
higher rates Tor cutting without II. AT
the inquest, yesterday, several important
facts came ont In the evidence, which
show rcckle6sness OF carelessness In the
work oFsupetvising in dangerous parts OF
the mine. The tirst witness, Thomas
LoWthier, testified that the mine was
carefully attended during the time the
miners were out on q strike. so there
could have been no accumulation Of gas
when the miners returned to work on
Tuesday.
The second witness James DustOn,
who was in the mine when the fire Oc-
CURED testified that lie louIli nothing un.
usual in the mine when he descended.
When tho word Was passed that the mine
was on fire all hands were requested 10 80
and put 1t out. These who refused 10 US
sist were ordered 10 leave rs BY remaining
they would only impede the progress OF
others Had the men Obcyed tlIu order
when It WIGS found possible 10 stop the
fire there would have been plenty OF time
TO get 1t out, the same level had been on
fire before. A man was always stationed
in the cabin to give the miners Informs
ton as TO the condition Of their places,
and to warn them OI danger, these were
attended rs were also the furnaces for
ventilation OF the same levels.
Alex. Lorimer was next called. The
gist OF his evidence was in stating that II
powder had not been used by Mcleod
Il would have been all right today.
When he heard the alarm given, he went
to the pumping pit, having heard cries
for help, and assisted John Bonnell to the
surface.
Andrew Mcleod, brother Of Robert
Mcleod, testified that he was In the ford
cutting coal, where the fire took place.
They always worked their place with
sulphur. Can't say he found much gas
in the ford. Always used powder alter
the third shot. Fired two shots and was
preparing TO fire the third when lie dis.
covered tho ford on FIRE: Endeavored
to put 1t out by ordinary means and with
wet rags. But after working over fifteen
minutes, and the fire gaining on them,
they called for assistance, and two men
came. Was exhausted and made for tho
slope. All of thom went out TO the land
ing, shutting the door behind them. Joe.
Richards then come down and directed
the men to get at the fire, but he soon re.
turned and gave direction TO come out.
Witness then started for the opening, and
had scarcely reached the mouth Of the
slope when the mine exploded, throwing
him out on the bank. There were some
behind him and one before him.
Mr.. Pool, the inspector OF the mines,
said that the witness testimony relating
to the firing OF shots had the most impor.
tant bearing on the cause OF the disaster,
fit was evident that the first and second
shots had decided the effect and blew
down the coal. The third shot, however,
was only blown out when 1t opened back
In the bench, which then became the res.
ervoir Of accumulsting gas. The latter
Immediately ignlted and set fire to the
coal, which burned with great rapidity,
engendering intense heat and smoke, and
making 1t impossible for the men to work
In putting out the flames.
At 8 o'clock the inquest was adjourned
10 meet to-day at one o'clock.
Robert Mcleod, who fired the shot
which caused the disaster, escaped, but Is
TOO Ill TO attend the inquest.
The miners appear 10 attribute tho
direct cause OF the calamity to be the re-
lusal Of the manager 70 give an extra
price TO Mcleod for getting out coal In
his ward, thereby enabling him 70 dis
pense with the use Of powder. i the use
OF powder, as stated, was prohibited In
that ward then It was the duty Of some
one 10 see that the regulations were strict
ly enforced. To give some idea OF the
extent OF tho explodop Il may be stated
Of an old shalt, close TO the miners
residence, and distant from the mine
some six or seven hundred yards, that
hug pieces OF timber were driven through
Il up into the air, some falling on the roofs
Of houses, crushing them.
1t was truly heartrending 70 pass
through the square Of buildings where the
families Of tho lost mfners reside The
window blinds arc drawn, and the
poor widows Of the mon whose
charred remains are Tar. down IN
the burning sepuleher mourn inces.
sanity and piteouRly ior the loss OF those
who have been 90 suddenly taken from
them. As you pass close TO the saddened
homes Of these families you can hear them
sobbing and crying.
Az. N.-TWo or three witnesses were
examined at the inquest this afternoon
whose evidence went 10 show that most OF
the men were In tho slope endeavoring 10
get out when the explosion took place.
This fact was further corroberated by 3
number oipoWder cans, which tho miners
carry, coming out OF the mouth Of the
slope with the second explosion, .
John Leorimer, who formerly worked
In the mine on the level below the one
worked by Mcleod testifes as 10 the
dangerous character Of the room from
the constant accumulation Of gas and
was obliged to quit work because the
powder could not be used.
Adam L0rimer testified that he was
lin the mine when the fire took place,
When the explosion occurred, he look
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