Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-05-21
COAL NINE DISASTER.
Terrible Explosion y 9-seAaxa Scotia co!!iery

Terrible Explosion j s.a,Naya Scotia co!!iery.
HALIFAX, N. 3 May ls.-rhi. com
munity was startl0a tonight With the
intelligence that terrible explosion had
occurred in the Drummond colliery. Pic
ton county, at one o'clock to-day. Man
ager Dunn. Assistant Manager Richard
son and sixty workmeu were in the pit
when the explosion took place.
The fire caught from blast Of gun
powder, and the men remained to put
out the flames.
NEW GLASGOW, May l4.-The fire
at Drummand colliery continues to burn
briskly. bnt slowly abating all the open
ings being filled up and stream of wa.
ter turned into the air shaft lately work.
ed. The men who have escaped with
great difficulty from the slope report that
on their way up they passed the bodies
of their comrades, who had. probably,
become stupefed Dy tho smoke.
Since the explosion none have come
up alive. OF the four men who volun
teered to 60 a5sn the shaft shortly be-
fore the second explosion, three were
killed. Several violent explosions took
place last night. One was preceptibly
felt four miles distant.
The Inquest commenced yesterday -
The number of victims will probably
reach seventy five.
WEsTvIILE. Picton County, May IA
From ten o'clock last night until day
light this morning the fire at Drummond
colliery ragged with intense ferceness,
gathering volume and violence each mo-
ment. The sky in the vicinity of the
calamity was illuminated with the flames
issuing from the shaft to the height of
nearly one hundred feet.
All through the night there were con
tinuous explosions at intervale. These
were preceded by rumbling noise re-
sembling thunder. Stones and debris
were thrown from the pits mouth at each
explosion. About two clock this even
ing these explosions were followed by one
which, for terrific violence and destruc.
tive force, dwarfed all the rest. All
wooden works in and about the main
slope were instantly destroyed. Stones,
wood and burning embers were riven
high into the air. The earth for miles
around was shaken with the violence of
the explosion.
People living at Westville and Stellar
ton were very much frightened, as they
knew not how far the disaster would ex-
tend or how soon such an explosion
would occur. Since two o'clock this
morning the fire has continued to burn,
the flames issuing from all the air shafts.
although not 60 intense as they were last
evening.
The scenes in and around the villages
are saddening. Westville and the village
at Drummond. colliery are in mourning
The shops are closed and no work is be-
ing done. Men and women wander
about in groups, their saddened counten-
ances betokening the great grief that has
befal!en them.
No pen can correctly picture the har-
rowing scenes of yesterday when the
terrible truth was conveyed to the mourn
ing wives, sisters and friends of those
who were SO suddenly hurled into eter-
nifty
People rushed frantically toward the
scene of the disaster. The utmost *
citement prevailed, and for hours it was
impossible to ascertain who were or were
not in the mine. The women, many of
whom had husbands, brothers and sons
in the cvlIiery, made the air dismal with
their crying.
After the explosion to-day four men
volunteered to descend into the down.
cast air-shaft for the purpose of attempt
ing rescue. They were blown up by the
second explosion, which Immediately fol-
lowed.
One Of them, miner, named Edward |
Barns, was driven into the air distance
of one hundred feet and fell into the
wood near by, where his dead body was
picked up this morning. About forty
five of the men lost were married, all of
whom leave families to mourn their sad
fate.
1t was the first day in the mines for
some of the unfortunate men. Several
of the unmarried who had lately CON-
menced work belonged to Cumberland
county.
Every person here speaks in the high
est terms Of the bravery displayed by
the manager, Mr.. Damn, in descending to
the mine after the first explosion, and
thus sacrificing his life to save others.
Every family here lost some relative
Or friend by this terrible calamity.
An inquest was held on the body of
John Dunn, one of the miners rescued
from the pit. but who died shortly after
being brought to the surf ace. The YER