The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-11
The sirandest Sight Ever Witnessed.

"S "shh"SSt
sUBrHRRANEAN PYRoTEcnSIcs-AN EXPLOSION
At TnR PROSPECT SHAFT OF TRE LEHIGH
VALLEY COAL COMPANY.
PiTTsroS, Pa, March THE greatest eX-
posion that has ever occurred in the coal
mines in this country, end probably in the
world, took place last night at point a bout
five miles below this place. The explosion
occurred in the mine known as the Prospect
shaft, and owned by the Lehigh Valley Cos
Company. The mine has been In operation
about five years, and has always had the rep
utatIon Of making more eas than any other
mine ia the anthracite coal region.
The shaft has depth from the surface of
600 feet. When The work OF baiing the
mine was commenced there were about 100
feet OF water In the shaft, showing that the
chambers and gangways below, which ira.
verse q space of about half.mile square,
were all filled. As the water was lowered
the gas, which had been forming constantly
since the fire. began to push its way through
the water. 1t Is calculated that the water
was charged with millions of cubic feet OF
gas. more or less. Tue gas escaped up the
shaft. The work Of bailng continued until
last evening about 8 O'clock, when sud.
denly a low, runtling noise was heard
below ground, and in moment az
Ter an explosion like hundred
cartr quakes broke on the rand sent It's ter
rble echoes along the valley for miles In
every direction. The shaft is located on a
hirh hill. and Instantly a stream Of fire forty
feet long and twelve feet wide shot up INTO
tb,. air for a distance Of five hundred feet.
The whole country around Tor m'lcs was
brightly illuminated by this vast column OF
burning gag. The houses in the vicinity o.
the shaft shook like reeds at the moment OF
the explosion, and thousands OF people
turned out in terror TO see what had caused
the unusual commo;ion.
THE EFFECT AT wlLKESBARRE.
At Wilkesbarre, little distance In the
valley below. the loud report vas heard, ana
the great fame of light, shooting heaven.
ward above the shaft 10 the mountain, caused
the creates: excitement, which gre" mo-
mcntarily az the illumination continued.
Those at distance could only conjecture
what The cause Of the N'suylus counterpart
was. Many people really believed that 4
volcano had broken loeoSe, and terror selzed
upon more than one nervous witness. Inc
| tremendous stream OF tire shot up from tne
shaft tor three hours. loud explosions occur
ring. every fifteen minutes. In tue mean
| Time lUOusiEuS vi SASitSN t'"Sf'> 'A~'N-
all sections flocked 10 the vicinity OF
the shaft, and stood mute witnesses OF the
greatest sight which any eye bad ever boxed
upon. There were only Two men Ia the
head house at the time Of the explosion, and,
wonderful to say, they both escaped any
thing more serious than being burned. IL IS
supposed that rs the water was taken oat OF
the mine the pressure below became llgnterr,
and the gas, which had been pushed back
by the weight of the water before,
now mingled with the flood, and TO
such an extent that the water ltseil
was capable of being ignited at tho touch
of Il match. This must have been The case, FOR
one OF the men who stood near tue mouth 0!
the shaft with lighted lamp when buckel
of water came up was sp!ashed by the over
throw, and drop falling in the flames OF bi;
lamp instantly caught fire, and ip Il moment
the frame heading which stands over The
shaft took fire, and as the sparks droppec
into the deep PIT below they ign'ted the gas
there generated, and. Of course, an explosion
| followed. The force Of the explosion has
probably never been eQua!led in the history
OF mining operations in this or any Other
country.