The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-14
Funeral OF Hon. Reverdy Johnson.

this afternoon, at the family residence on
Park street. Every street in the vicinity
was crowded, rendering an approach to
the dwelling almost impossible 1t Is
estimated that 10000 persons were as
sembled. The services were conducted
BY Rev. j. S. B. Hodges, OF of st. Paurs
church, OF which Mr.. johnson was
communicant and Rev. A. NJ.
Rudolph OF the Protestant Episco-
opal Church. Many friends of the
deceased statesman were present from
Washington, among whom were Pres
ident protein Ferry, Of the United
States Senate, Chief Justice Waite and
Justices Hunt, Fields, Davis, Bradley,
Strong, Miller and Swain ofth United
States Supreme Court, Senators Antho-
ny, Baird, Cameron, Dennis, Christiancy,
Howe, Merriman, Norwood, Oglesbay,
Randolph, Frelinghuysen, Morrill,,
Hamlin, Thurman, Ransom and Whyte,
Attorney Gen. Pierrepont, &c. The State
was represented by Gov. John l.. Carroll,
and other State officers, tie entire State
delegation in Congress and many men,
bers of both houses of the general assem-
bly,; the city by tie Mayor and Common
Council in body; the judiciary, by all
the judges of the city courts, and the bar
by all the leading and prominent mem
bers. The casket containing the remains
were covered with the rarest flowers.
After services the funeral cortege pro-
ceeded to Green Mount Cemetery, where
the interment took place. Streets in line
of procession were densely packed with
spectators, and from five to seven
thousand persons were gathered at Green
Mount to pay their last tribute of respect
to the deceased. The bells were tolled
from | to 5 o'clock, and flags were dis
played at half mast throughout the city.
Terrible Explosion I'm a Coal Mine.
PlTTsroN, February lS.-This after
noon terrible explosion occurred in the
Exeter mine, belonging to the Lehigh
Valley Coal Company, and located In
West Pittston. The mines being idle
this week, on account of the suspension,
and, though the taa which supplies
fresh air to the chambers below
has been kept going all the week,
the quantity of air forced into the mines
was no. sufficient to expel all the foul
air and prevent the accumulation Of fire
damp. The immediate cause OF the ex-
plosion is not known, but sufficient
knowledge has been gained to lead to the
belief that one of the men below entered
a chamber with lighted lamp, and the
sparks igRited the gas which had accu-
muisted there since Monday. About
twenty-five men have been engaged to
repair the tracks, and gang was at the
headings. Among the number were sew
eral miners, and this morRing they all
went to work rs usual.
At about half past two this afternoon,
while the men were employed at their
work below, the explosion occurred. The
force OF the explosion was so great as to
tear away the brattice props, doors,
tracks and great masses of rock and
coal. The roof OF fan-housc At
the top of the air shaft was torn TO
pieces and other damages amounting to
of dollars wrought. Many
miners who stood rear the breaker has
tened to relieve those below. The main
shaft was very badly damaged, but an
entrance was effected. 1t was dam
gerous bust less to hunt for those below,
but the volunteers prosecuted the
search for three hours till they
had brought to the surface twelve
men, four Of them dead, and
others more or less burned and mangled.
The report of the explosion spread
among the idle miners, and in very
short time after the disaster, a crowd
gathered around the breaker. A few
women were present, and were kept in o
state of suspense pending the rescue of
those below. When at last the bodies OF
the dead and blackened forms OF the
manglcd were brought up, great
distress and sorrow was manifested
bv all. The men were returned
to the surface at intervals, and rs the
dead and injured followed each other
the agony of those who had friends still
below increased, but the work was finally
when it was ascertained that
four men had been killed outright and
six or eight badly injured. 1t is thought
that some of the latter will die