The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-11
Jhaqntellf2enna
Liic in the Coal Mines.

AlAN III AAN NO"A HAAHN'
The story Of the disaster told in our
Dispatches yesterday, in regard TO the cx-
p,osion in the st. Clair mine near Potts.
vile, P :, ia sad enough to read, but
Notwithstanding more persons lost their
lives by it than by the accident at the
Trocdyrhiw mines in Wales, on the 18th
Of last month, yet the latter was invested
with u tragic interest such as has seldom
been known either in this country or in
Europe The accident occurred Just as
the day.fAiit cOllisrs were quitting the
works. Some accidental breach Of wall
or vein burst the thin partition holding
back vast reservoir Of water, which
Suddenly burst forth an angry rush, fill
in. the lower galleries and chambera, and
forcing the few remaining workmen
into the first and second adits OF the
mincs, nearest the shafts. As coon as
it was known that some 81 the opera
,ges were missing, Il number Of work
men descended the shaft, and entered
the workings. 1t was found tha. all
these to within few hundred yards Of
the bottom Of the shaft we're filed 10
the roof with water. The shalt is 27GI
feet deep, and but little hope was enter
tanned that any Ct the missing miners
could be got out alive. While the cx.
pIorers were consulting what was to be
done, they heard faint knocking on
the other side of the coal, as they conjec.
tured, about thirty feet from them. A
score OF men joyfuIly threw of their
jackets and went to work, cutting
through the solid mass Of rock. Through.
on; the night, relays of men toiled on
with desperate energy, cheered by the
kuockings and sounds OF labor from the
imprisoned mCn. The task was labor.
ious, as it was performed in deep waters;
but on the following morning man.
dill struck through and a hole was
made into a part Of the pit where five OF
the lost men were ,hut up. Immediate.
ly, a terrific explosion occurred, and one
oi the Imprisoned men was hurled
through the opening, where tho reg
currs afterwards found him, dead. This
was caused by the escape Of the com.
pressed air which had been Imprisoned
in the inner workings, and had kept
back the wafer from that locality.
When these men we're removed it was
fplni that still others were missing
knockings were again heard, and
the rescuers again set to work to the re.
LEI OF their remaining companions. These
men we're shut up in { chamber Of com.
pressed air, leading out Of gallery,
which the water had entirely filled.
Every means was now restored 10, 70
reach them, even diving was attempted;
but it was no! until Monday, the lGlh,
tha! the water in the gallery was suGi
ciently reduced by pumping to render
work practicable. From this time until
Thursday, the rescuers worked like he.
roes, by constant relays, the men carrying
on their work on their hands and knees
through the passage, which vas three feet
in diameter. One colliery owner, man
worth $4,000, went down aud worked
with the others.
Throughout all England, there waa the
most intense anxiety. Thursday they
reached near enough to communicate
ai.h the cHtombcd men. GLOW many are
Tou?' was asked. "Flye," was the an
.ser. "IIow have you lived?" "By
eating candles" came the answer. At
last, on Friday morning, the Goth, ut
10 o'clock, it was known that the men
would get out alive, and between . and 9
=. ". they were reached and conveyed to
the surface.
1t is said that just as the last man was
brought to the free air Of the upper
world, and was being conveyed on a
stretcher to the hospital, one OF the ofIi-
GERS Of the Company announced mes
sage from the Queen. The message was
from "Bidulph, Osborne, to Mr.. Wales
Mine Inspector" and read as follows
"The Queen is very anxious for the last
accounts Of the POOR men in the mine
Are they saved? Pray telegraph"
An a!Eectingiincident is given in con
neCiion with the party Of imprisoned
men, who were ftst rescued. 1t is stated
thnt inst before they heard the welcome
tapPings Of those who sought for them
they had taken farewell OF each other
and had commenced the singing Of the
weIlknown Welsh hymn;
In the deep aEd mighty watfrs
There Il none TO hold my head
But my only SwiCr, Jesus,
Who was siaughtCrCd In my stead.
lie. friend, In JoTdau's river,
Holding up my sinking head;
With His smile III 80 rrjlicln:
Through the regions q the dead.
Just then the knockings were heard
And" said the old miner, the father Of
the one who was killed by the explosion
"of went our jackets, and my beloved
so0, who is 70 more, worked all night
with the energy OF lion. He passed
the river Jordan, of which he had been
s'nsrg, and is TO day on the holy hill Of
the better land" The story isn very re,
mArhablc and touching one, showing both
Vie pcrils and the characlcrol the Welsh
miners.
Now we know what to expect in the
good time" when woman has her rights.
Nil" Van Lew, Postmaster at Richmond,
va, has shown US. ltsecms that she had