The New York herald., 1876-03-08
SUDTERRANEAN PYROTECHNCS.
An Explosion at the Prospect Shaft Of The
Lehigh Valley Coal Company.
MILES OF COUNTRY ILLUMINATED

ilTrSTON Ia, Marcn I, 1910.
The greatest explosion that ever occurred in the
coal mines IN this country and probably in The world
took plac, night point about five miles below
this place. The explosion occurred in the mine known
the Prospect shaft and owned by the Iehigh Valley
Coal Company The nine has been in operation about
five years aud has always had the reputation OF making
more gas than any other in the anthracite coal
region. In consequence the utmost precautions have
always been taken against explosion while the
NINE was in operation, by applying the best
ventilation known. some idea may be formed OF the
rapdity with which gas formed IN this minc when
IL is known that many parts OF il generated the
fearful amount OF nearly two thousand cubic feet OF
carburctted hydrogen gas minute; yet, notwith-
standing the terrible danger always attached opera
tions In this collcry, only lives have been lost by
explosion since the shaft sunk, although there
haye been mauy narrow escapes On The night OF the
10Th OF January the mine took 1re from the Ignition
OF current Of gas, just after blast had been made
by a miner. Tho most earnest attempts were maic oy
tho superintendent J. A. Dryden, with largo force
OF men, TO stop the progress OF the flames, the
efforts proved fruitless and II found necessary
forco water into the mine for three weeks Tho work
OF flooding the mno continued until it estimated
that nearly millions OF gallons OF had boon
poured into the dark chambers below
WATER.
On tho 25th of February last operations
menced TO take out the water and this was done by
means OF buckets holding 100 gallons cach which
nxod IN tho shaft and raised and lowered alternately II
calculated that about CO. 600 gallons raised
this way every twenty-four hours. Tho shaft has
depth from the surface OF feet When tho work OF
bailing the mine commenced there wero about
100 feet of water in the shaft showing that the cham
bcrs and gapgways below, which space OF
about half mile square, all filled. AS the water
AZ.
since the lrc began push way through tho
II Is calculated that the water was charged
with millions of cubic feet Of gas.
or less; the gas escaped up the shaft
Tho work Of battling continued until last evening
about nnc O'Clock, when suddenly low rumbng
sound was heard below ground and in moment after
explosion like n hundred earthquakes broke tho
air and sent its terrible echoes along the valley for
miles IN evcry direction. Tho shaft is located a
high hil and instantly stream of nre forty feet long
and twelve feet wide, shot up into tho for distance
OF 500 feet The whole country around for miles was
brightly illuminated by this vast column OF burning
gas Tho houses in the vicinity OF the shaft shook
like reeds at the moment Of the explosion, and thou
sands OF people turned terror to sec what had
caused the unusual commoton.
EPFEcr AT wILKEsnARRE
At Wllkesbarre, htte distance in the valley below
tho loud report heard and the great amo OF light
shooting heavcnward above the shaft in the mountain
caused the greatest excitement which grew momcnta-
rily as the illumination continued. Those distance
could only conjecture what the Of tho ycsuvius
counterpart was Many people really believed that
volcano had broken loose and seized upon
than nervous witness The tremendous stream OF
rc shot up from the shaft for three hours loud expo-
sions occurring every fifteen minutes. In the
time thousand OF excited people from all sections
Norl I'd tha vi initv of ha ghan nd
witnesses OF the greatest sight which any eye had
looked upon. There were only two men in the head
house at the timo OF tho explosion, and, won
dcrful to say, they both escaped anything
serious than being burned II is supposed that as the
taken out OF the mine. tho pressure below
became lighter, and the gas which had boon pushed
back by tho weight OF the water before now mingled
with The Gsoa, and 10 such extent that tho water
iseif was capable OF being ignited at the touch OF
match; this must have been the for one OF tho
mon. who Ftocd the mouth OF the shaft with a
hghtcd lamp whom bucket OF water up, was
spiashcd by the overflow and drop falling In the amcs
or his lamp instantly caught Gre, and mement tho
frame heading which stands the shaft took nro
and tho sparks dropped into tho deep pit below they
gniiod the gas there generated and OF an cx-
posion followed The force OF the explosion has prob
ably, never been equaIlcd in tho history Of mining
operations in this or any othcr country.
sToPPAGE WORKS
The disaster will stop work in this colllery for at
least six months, while the damage caused by the cx-
plosion last night will reach nearly 100000 People
from tho towns and cities for miles about visiting
the locality to-day, while there is much excitement
caused by the anticipation OF supplementary explo-
sions, which may occur at any time