The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-14
MINING HOLOCAUST.
Dreadful Explosions In the DrummOnd
Mines, Westville, Nova Scotia.
Nearly q Hundred Men Supposed
10 Have Perished.
THE MINE ON FIRE.
Four Only Rescued and Further
Assistance Impossible.
NO WATER AT HAND.
Heartrending Scenes at the
Mouth OF the Pit.
Two Would-Be Rescuers Blown
to Atoms in Descending.
Painful Suspense as to the Real
Number Killed.
NO WATER AT HAND.
Heartrending Scenes at the
Mouth Of the Pit.
Two Would-Be Rescuers Blown
to Atoms in Descending.
Painful Suspense as to the Real
Number Killed. !.
HALIFAX, N. s., May IS, 1873.

Halifax, N. s., May IS, 1873.
Nova Scotia, which but month ago fur
nished to the world the most appalling ship
wreck of the century, to-day contributes
another horror which, if far less appalling, is
regarded here as terrible one, and creates a
doubt as to the safety of the numerous coal
mines which form the most important indus
try of the province. The village of Westville,
in the county of Pictou, 1O3 miles from Hall
fax, is one Of the most
EXTENSIVE MINING SETTLEMENTS
in the province. Apart from the numerous
prospecting operations continually in pro-
gress, there are three large collieries in full
operation, exporting large quantities of coal.
Navigation having recently opened, and bust
ness becoming active the workmen in most of
the collieries demanded increased wages, and
mines, called the Drummond Colliery owned
by the Intercolonial Coal Company Of Mon
treal, has, in consequence been closed up for
some days. Yesterday the difficulty was ar
ranged, and to-day the men went to work
again.
THE FIRST EXPLOSION.
At half-past eleven this morning q shot in
the coal set fire to the slope, and half an hour
afterwards . fearful explosion took place,
caused by the accumulation Of gas during the
time the mine was closed. About two o'clock
second and more terrible explosion occurred,
coming up the slope air shaft, an old trial
shaft with terrible force, and, it is believed,
killing nearly every one in the mine. 1t is
impossible to give the precise number who
were below.
GREAT NUMBER IN THE MINE.
It is variously estimated at from forty to
one hundred, including men and boys Soon
after the first explosion cries were heard at the
foot of the air shaft. Men were Immediately
lowered with ropes, and four of those below
brought up
TWO MEN BLOWN TO PIECES.
Two men were going down the air shat to
render assistance when the second explosion
occurred, and they were blown to piees. All
the men in the neighboring mines drned out
to assist, and fremen came from tie neighbor-
ing town Of New Glasgow.
MO WATER 10 PIT OFT TIE FIRE.
There was such small supply of water,
however, that little could be done to quench
the fire. There no hope of saving any of
those now belos, as all escape was cut off by
the explosion
AT 10 o'olock tonight the fire was still
raging fercdy, immense volumes of fame and
dense masses of smoke were pouring out of
all the openings, and threatening to destroy
all tn, surface buildings.
rHR MANAGER AND FOREMAN DOWN THE MINE
james Dunn, the general manager, and
Richardson, the underground foreman, are
among the lost.
families. The scene above ground is most
Iheaxtrending. The wives and relatives of
the miners are running about crying pite-
cusly, and begging the men to save their.
loved ones At latest accounts it was
believed that the entire works will be COM
pletely destroyed.