Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-05-20
COAL MINE DISASTER.
seventy-aye Persons Killed by the Explosions
at Westville. Nova scotin-The Fire
Raging for "a Hours.

HALIFAX, May l3.-This community was
startled tonight with in teligence of a terri
BILE explosion in the Drummond coliery. a;
O'Clock. Manager Dunn, Assistant Manager
Richardson, and forty workmen were in the
pit when the explosion occurred. The great
est excitement prevailed after the fearful oc.
curence, and crowds of people for miles about
came rushing TO the scene of disaster, and saw
one of those heart-rending scenes which is
described by an eyewitness as something har-
rowing beyond conception, the recollection of
which will never fade from my memory
Mothers, wives, sisters, children and friends,
crowded around the burning pit, mourning
pitifully the terrible fate of those below, their
cries being heard long distance. Every eff
fort has been and is being made to rescue the
men but thus far without success, and it is
feared they have all persisted. The fire Is still
raging.
WEsTvILLE, N. S., May H.-From 10
O'Clock last night until this morning the fire
at the Drummond colliery ragged with intense
fury, gaining volume and violence each mo-
ment. The sky i'll the vicinity of the calami-
ty was illumined with flames issuing from the
air-shait TO the height of nearly one hundred
feet
All through the night there were cxplos-
ions at.lntervas. These were preceded by a
rumbling noise resembling thunder. The
weary watchers who remained around the
pits mouth, and labored 10 subdue the flames
were Obliged to seek shelter in the adjoining
wood, as the stones, debris &c., thrown from
the pit at each explosion Were being scattered
hard In all directions, and threatened instant
destruction or injury TO every one within
reach. About 2 O'Clock this afternoon these
explosions were followed by one which for
terrific violence and destructive force dwarfed
all the rest. All the wooden-works on and
about the main slope were instantly destroyed;
stones, wood and burning emberS were driv-
en- high into the air the smoke; flame and
horrible noises accompanying the explosion
giving the beholder vivid idea of volcanic
eruption. The earth for miles around was
shaken with the violence of the explosion.
Laborers are now engaged at work filling up
the shafts with clay, and hopes are entertained
that the worst danger is over unless another
explosion takes place. The scenes in and
around the villages are saddening. Westvie
and the village at the Drummond colliery are
in mourning. The shops are closed, and men
and women wander about in groups, their sad
dened countenances betokening the great
grief that has befallen them. No pen can cor
rectly picture the narrowing scenes Of yester-
day, when the terrible truth was conveyed
10 the mourning wives, sisters and friends of
those who were so suddenly hurled into eter-
nifty. The utmost excitement prevailed, and
for hours it was impossible to ascertain who
were or were not in the mine. Women, many
OF whom had husbands, brothers and sons
working in the colliery, made the air dismal
with their crying. One of the rescuing party
killed by the explosion yesterday was driven
into the air distance of hundred feet and
fell into the wood near by, where his dead
body was picked up this morning. About
DO OF the men lost were married, all of whom
leave families to mourn their sad fate. Near
ly evEy family here lost some relation or
friend BY this terrible calamity. There are
many reasons to account for the disaster, but
the direct cause is attributable 10 the stoppage
of work at the mines and the rapid accumua-
ton of gas.