The New York herald., 1875-11-29
FEARFUL MINE CAVE.
Roof of Extensive Mines in the
Wyoming Valley Fallen In.
IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
Narrow Escape Of Operatives from
a Horrible Death.
ADDITIONAL DISASTERS ANTICIPATED.

WmKEsBARRE Pa, Nov. 28, 1875.
The most extensive and serious mining casualty ever
known in the Wyoming Valley has just occurred and
seems TO be still progressing at the Chauncy and Grand
Tunnel mines between Plymouth and Nanticoke about
two and half miles south of the former place About
two weeks ago Mr. Roberts, Of the proprietors of
the Chauncy mine, noticed that
ROOF
was working in most extraordinary manner, in
dcatng that inside operations attended with con-
siderable danger to those engaged in digging coal in the
different chambers employed in the various gang
ways He watched the phenomenon with the greatest
interest and was finally convinced that the mine was
doomed to certain calamity. About eleven O'Clock in
the morning OF the 10th inst he gave for the
men to
LEAVE THE NINE
possible, and remove as much OF the COM
panys property could be taken out on the spur Of
the moment The miners to the number of 125 left
their work at twelve O'clock taking with them the inn
plements Of their calling and two hours later
cAvED IN.
Had not been for the caution and foresight OF Mr.
Roberts most fearful loss OF life must have occurred,
as the whole number of miners would have been en-
tombed by about forty acres of rock which crushed
down and filed up the honey y-combed opening beneath
DISASTER
extended to Grand Tunnel mine adjoining the cave 1t
seeming to drag the roof In soutberly direction
until stopped by huge wall Of rock known to mining
engineers as "a fault" which raised up between the
Grand Tunnel and tho adjacent mine operated by the
Susquehanna Coal Company In the Grand Tunnel
sixty seventy Of rock have been hurled
enectualy closing operations for months to The
whole fall it will be seen, embraces hundred
acres, and
THE DAMAGE
to the mines is estimated at over $780, o0o Several
hundred miners have been thrown out OF employment
just at the time when 1t is most essentially important
for them to be at work The effects of
we're truly terrific Huge bouiders were thrown out of
the mouth OF the tunnel by the compressed air II
they had pebbles and the shock OF the crash
like that of earthquake. The working OF the roof
previous to the disaster is represented inspiring
In an eminent degree. The mountain seemed to be in
travail nd a.
GRoANED
and writhed IL in the throes OF intense agony. The
hollow chambers re-echoed tho dismal sounds, and,
taken altogether the scene was calculated TO in
tmidae the heart Of the hardest miner in the land.
The dissolution of the mountain appears to be
STILL GOING ON,
and there is no predicting how much more desolaton
is to ensue in that quarter.
The Chauncy mine is operated by Messrs Albright,
Son. Roberts Co.. and the Grand Tunnel is under the
control OF the Susquehanna Coal Company. One or
two cavings in of mines have taken place in other
parts OF the valley during the past two weeks and from
the peculiar condolences in the matter the idea is gain
ing strength that the casualties are the result of
A SLIGHT EARTHQUAKES
which passed through the valley in northeastery and
southwestery direction. This is the theory OF the
mine owners, who repudiate the impression that rob-
bing the pillars in tho mines has had any effect in pro-
ducing the caamities
MOLLY MAGUIREs
said to have made their appearance in Nantcoke,
and the indications that another horrible outrage
win be laid to the door of that band of murderous
miscreants.