The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-12-07
Coal Mines Caving in.

OOdl lulilC5 OaV1uR IN.
The most extensive and serious min.
ing casualty ever known in the Wyo.
ming (Pa.) valley has just occurred, and
seems to be still progressing, at the
Chsupcy and Grand tunnel mines, be.
tween Plymouth and Nanticoke, about
two aud half miles south of the former
place. About two weeks ago, Mr.. Rob.
erts, one of the proprietors Of the Cbaun-
cy mine, noticed that the roof of the
opening was working in most extraordi-
nary manner, indicating that inside oper-
atoms were attended with considerable
danger to those engaged in digging coal
in the different chambers or employed 10
the various gangways. He was fually
convinced that the niue was doomed and
about eleven o'clock on the morning Of
the 18th inst. gave orders for the men to
leave the mine as soon as possible, and
remove as much of the company's prop.
erty as could be taken out on the spur OF
the moment. The miners to the number
Of l25 left their work at twelve O'Clock,
and within two hours the mine caved in.
Had it not been for tho caution and fore
sight of MIR. Roberts most fearful loss
OF life must have occurred, as the whole
number Of miners must have been en-.
tombed BY about forty acres of rock
which crushed down and filed I'D the
honey. combed opening beneath.
The disaster also extended to Grand
tunnel mine, adjoining the cave, it seem
ing to drag over the roof in a southerly
direction until stopped by huge wall o.
rock, known to mining engineers as ga
fault" which raised up between the
Grand tunnel aud the adjacent mine op.
Grated By the Susquehanus coal compa,
ny. In the Grand tunnel some sixty OIL
serenity acres of rock have been hurled
effectually closing operations for month,
to come. The whole fall embraces oveI
one hundred acres. The damage to thu
mines is over 500, 900, and several hun
dred miners have been thrown ou. Of en-
ployment.
The effects Of the caving in we're ter
rife. Huge powders were thrown out O
the mouth Of the tunnel by the com
pressed air, as if they had been pebbles
and the shock of the crash was like tha
OF an earthquake. The working of th
roof previous to the disaster ia represen
ted as awe-insprlng in au eminent de
gree, The mountain seemed to be il
travail and the rocks groancd aud writhec
as if in the throes Of intense agony, whll
the hollow chambers ie.echoed the dis
NAL sounds.
The dissolution of the mountain ap
pears to be still going on, and thero is u
predicting how much more desolation i
to ensuc in that quarter. One or two ca
wings in Of mines have taken place i
other parts of the valley during the pas
: two weeks, and from the peculiar coinci
deuces in the matter, the idea is gainin
strength that the casualties are ihe re
suit of slight earthquake, whch recent
ly passed through the valley in a north
eastcrly and southwesterly direction
XIV VAax- g r---l-- NJ, -. ,,Io -,
E The Champiain transportation CON
pany, SO exceptionally prosperous an
successful through long series Of year.
says the Burlington Free Press, has bee
peculiarly unfortunate this year, and tn
season just closed is notable for its sue
cession Of accidents and disasters. Th
a last Of these we are called upon to chror
icle to dsy-an accident, to be sure, {
slight moment, Is it resulted, but b
! which many lives and large amount {
property were porilled,
The steamer Vermont, Captain Georg
Rushlow, left her dock in Burlington f(
f, the south at half past ten o'clock, Frida
=. morning, heavy south wind prevailir
= at the time. The vessel had her usu
= crew and some twenty-five or thirty pa
f, sengers. When about two miles mort
: side of Essex, N. Y her main shaft su,
denly broke, without any warning wha
= ever, and the steamer waa at the mer(
= of the winds and waves. The accident
> which was properly welded Tor some s
or seven inches from the outside, but VI
not welded at ell Oh the inside. IT
- anchor, with three huul'ed feet Of cabl
, was at once thrown overheard, but it ia
- ed to catch, and the great steamer drift
~ a helplessly, broadside to the wind,
- about six miles, At length, when ne
. the most southerly of the Four Brother
:, the anchor caught and for time, at lea
all was safe. A few moments more al
- the steamer would inevitably have go
, to pieces on the island and an awful d
r. aster must have been the result.
~ some places in that part of the lake t
~ water is no less than 334 feet deep, a
that the anchor caught where it did "
y, very fortunate.
=, In the meantime, the life boat h
W y, been launched and Alexander Mark
= ere of the pilots, and Edwin Rockw'
~ ~ wheelsmen, rowed to Burlington, (arr
=, - Ing short after one o'clock) and brouG
- the tidiugs of the disaster, The Adirt
~ dack, which was in port, started to
W y. assistance of the disabled steamer as SC
", as possible, and the j. G. Witherbee a
ad I wen: over, reaching the Vermont an hC
-, in advance of the Adirondack and no
:, ~ ing her off the rocks. The Vermont v
~ soon safely towed into Shelburn harb
> the passengers transferred to the A
ho l. rondack, and the danger was over.
" was certainly narrow escape, and all
-, board should celebrate a special than
10 giving.
70 Heal Thyself."