The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-03
SCRANTON, Pa, April 2S, 1877.

one important Item Wnlcn ls never TAKEN
into consideration by capitalist or consum-
er, and that is the loss of life and limb in.
Cured in the work of digging "dusky
diamonds" and preparing them for mar
ket. A glance at the list of deaths and
accidents published monthly in the local
papers is sufficient to send thrill of hor-
ror through the stoutest heart; but fami.
liarity soon makes us partially indiffer'
ent to such matters, and it is only when
some thrilling calamity occurs, such as
the Avondale or West Pittston disaster
that we are fairly aroused to the perils
incident to the work of mining, The
people of the metropolis know but little ol
these things unless when they see an oc'
casional account of some extraordinary
catastrophe published in the papers, and
even then they can but family realize the
mishaps that befal from day to day in the
way of fire.damp explosion, falling roofs
and the innumerable other death. dealing
agencies that lurk in the depths of the
coal mine.
A Terrible Accident.
One of the most heartrending accidents
of this character which has been re-
corded for some time has just occurred at
the Empire mine in this vicinity. Two
men, named John Mooney and Patrick
Quinn, were employed in No. slope
laying track, distance Of about two
miles from the opening and mile from
the other workmen. When they least
dreamed of danger there was sudden
Convulsion overhead ald an instant later
they were overwhelmed by fearful fall
of roof The terrible accident put out
their lights and they were in utter dark
ness. Mooney, after considerable difficult
ty, succeeded in extricating himself from
among the massive bowlders which fell
about him in such way as to form sort
of cave, and upon freeing himself his first
thought was for his companion. He called
aloud for Quinn but received no answer
only the echo of his own voice beaten
back by the rocks. He felt himselfg grow
ing faint and realized that he was very
seriously injured, but was determined to
ascertain the condition of his fellow min
er. After calling aloud in vain for some
time he CROPPED about in the dismal place
among the rocks hoping to find Quinn
and fearing that he was dead, At length
he touched him, but the poor fellow was
pinned fast by a big bowlder which lay
upon one of his mangled legs. The other
leg had been completely severed from
the body by the fall. To release him
was hard task, but Mooney, forgetting
his own injuries, set about the work with
a will and succeed ed in setting Quinn
free.
The Act Ofa Hero.
How to carry him to the light of day
was the next trial, ,,but,he was determined
to do it; and, taking him upon his back,
he began cropping his way through the
pitChy darkness in the direction of what
he considered was the foot Of the slope.
For two hours he wandered about that
living tomb, with his dying Comrade on
his back, moaning in the most piteous
manner. The situation was awful, and
after roaming thus for long time poor
Mooney was disheartened to fnd'that he
had come back to the very point from
which he had set out, and where the ac-
cident occurred. He summoned up his
fast fading strength and made another
effort, still taking Quinn on his back, but
after proceeding a short distance he grew
faint, and was unable to 60 further with
his precious burden. Then laying the
dying man down in as comfortable
position as he could, Mooney crawled on
his hands and knees toward what he
thought was the slope. At half past six
o'clock partz of miners, while proceed.
ing down No. slope, were startled by
the apparition which their lamps revealed
1t was Mooney crawling slowly up the
slope on his hands and knees, his face
black and bloody, and his whole body
sore from contact with the jagged pieces
of coal and rock. His eyes were at first
dazzled by the light, he had been in
darkness so long and trying to see, and
he was speechless with Joy for some Sc
Conds to find relief at last.
This was eight hours after the accident
had happened, andt hey were eight hours
of awful mortal agony. AS soon as Moo.
ney found words to speak he related the
story in brief, and begged the party to
hasten to the assistance of Quinn, who
might yet be saved,
Qulnn's Sad Condition.
They hurried to the spot indicated and
found the unfortunate fellow in the con-
lition already described with one leg
severed from his body and the other
rushed to pieces. He was still alive, and |
hey took him up in their arms to carry
lim to the slope, but he never reached |
it alive. He died in the arms of his COM
'ades. Mooney, who is severely wounded |
8 expected to recover. He played the |
oart of hero in the unselfsh manner in
which he risked his own life trying to
ave his comrade. But such acts are not
If rare occurrence among the miners.
They are most unselfsh, brave lot of
elbows, and will face death in the mine
It any time to save one another. The
men who met Mooney crawling7up the
lope were moved to tears by his haggard |
voc begone and saddened looks, and say
hey never saw such pitiful sight be-