New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-12
THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION
A VISIT TowADEsvnLE SHAFT


AND NEGLECT or ORDINARY PRECAUTIONS
lPRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or rHg TRrprv.,
PCTTsyILLE, Penn, May 11.-Within 48 bou,,
and not three miles from this place. the Vaudeville No.
explosion ocourred-a tragedy involving TIE death
perhaps seven human beings-and yet the event 49,
ceased 10 be town talk or town thought travs,
negro minstrel tr0upe absorbs the gossip o. this even
To the better classes the explosion has become roer
stale, while the ignorant miners, by whom one vol.
think such calamity would be long remembered h.v.
not only ceased to trouble themselves about NJ but h..
needed fatal stabbing ARRAY " relieve the staps,,
monoiony of THIS place.
On reaching this town. the morning after the aecs,,
the correspondent OF TIE TRIBUNE found the erc,.
ment stl at high pitch There little OK sorrov,
be witnessed in the faces Of the people that hro,o.
the streets Pottsvilc seeming 10 be enough 70 A
scene Of tho explosion experience the excitement, A
too far 10 be greatly troubled by the horror Of the isb
ful occurrence.
Wadesyilc Shaft il little less than three miles av,v
and st. Clair village mile beyond. The mouth q,
the shaft IL on high bil, but not visible from Pom.
vile. Tho most striking object to be seen nom IN.
road is tho immense colliery Of the Philadelphia ana
Reading Railroad Company, known as the East Mlns
which not satisfied with having shaft 1900 feet dee,
making 10 the deepest mine in Americas going "a
reach tho notch OF 24OO feet whe:e the s0urdmgs o.,
diamond drill have revealed the existence Of the Nam
that will defy the century,
On reaching Vaudeville Shaft. II was found almo,t ia
serted for no work must Dc done in the mlue un ATE,
IT. victims have been buried. As stood BY the Mouth
OF the shaft and pcercd down into the 6GG feet oi black
ness below miner told in the simple dialect; which
seemed to give added pahos 10 his tale how the Door
manned bodies had appeared one by one carried In Tia
arms % six upon the cage, and how the wall oms
woman or child told Of sad recognition ~ inanimatA
Ffar come fraIfrv
"insde boss" granted THE TRIBUNE correspondent,
permission to visit the inside OF the mine Two
gentlemen from New-YOrk consented to share ,ts
descent and two trusy old miners volunteered 10 CON
duet and engaten the party. Though talking a semi
foreign language these two old fellows we're eager 10
tell all they knew about the mines and were tAs
best guides possible. "The law" gays William, as We
make the descent allows - men 10 ride the cage a.
once, but sometimes 80 get on" and this BIT o.
information, with many Others received afierward,
strikes the Observation-Disclosures and carelcsnes-o,
the Vaudeville Nine explosion.
Vaudeville Shaft is city Of tunnels crossing AID 70
crossing like streets, Of about two miles IN length and
one 10 one and half miles in width. Great beams Of
wood support the walls and roof in most places though
at intervals the rock strong enough 20 furnish its own
support In the gangways or what might De called lie
avenues Of the tunnel city, railroads laid for tie
transportation of tie coal 70 the foot Of tho shaft The
headings or cross streets are made for ventilation the
chief coal which IS mined being taken cut Of the shoots
and breast which bear most resemblance % passage
ways, leading into ard terminating in chambers,
Of which each las only one. An inclined
gangway is termed plane, and the shoots
have generally a slignt inclination 10 ess.ss
in bearing the coal fat mine, Ike the Naiea-
VILE which considered the most dangerous for CASH
50 termed by reason Of its gangways having little incl.
nation and is contrastcd with the inclined mine which
is very steep in its grades door, which common
article Of inch plank swinging only one way,
used Ike valve 10 Keep the current fresh ar 20 need
full to tho life and health OF the miners from going In The
wrong direction. battery q Sliding door used Tor tie
same purpose in pasSa ge-ways that are out OF use
With straning eyes We stood at the foot OF The dry
shaft OF tne Vaudeville mine, trying TO peer into tle
darkness Of the Old Plane thon started up its gentle
ascent stumbling in mud and the railroad ties
lamp placed near thc wall revealed the presence Of tho
foot vein which has supplied the word with coal fora
score Of years. Further on the lines Of the mammoth
were pointed ont with its j. to 20 feet Of solid richness
Differences in the value Of coal-he sold shining beet
quality AID the uiecemca, ragged, poor qualify rcrey'
ing the appropriate adjectiyes from the mouths OF the
guides On we went to where the new plain meets Tie
Old and were shown the stables Of the mules that
are taken into the minc for a lifetime They
were enjoying an extra holiday in consequence
OF the accident On we went again in TO
direction OF the explosion. Door ai,or door is passed
ard carefully shut, and the air grows warm and close
and slcclug. The railroad switches ana comes together
several times. We reach pl3c, lately worked
Listen" cries the guide sound Ike "a hive of bfes
comes creeping 81 The coal wall That Dis the gls
escaping from the coal" lie then holds his lamp up 10
this wall 10 show the working. OF the VEIN Tue
laluu dscluses some words lu chalk upon o support
"Al naked light, aye forbidden THAT wa.
put there Yesterday" said the guide. For four hons
Sat on y0nlrr and stopped 1 men WITH naked liis
Great God HAT las raj cn sllcy was tl.ic. H0t
Use where the ON man hag mounted fi3l ana
kent all naked lamps which reckless miners carried DICK
from the pac-Of danger. tine timber supports h1d Dch
hans D., the forrc OF the explosion had fallen NO tAe
BASS. zrvay Beneath that load % miner N9i-G Ails
been c.l,hcl aud the guide Shuttcrrd Hs De oo''da
me erumuled mass close tO uis p.KttnoN br.tNN
y,l- tac Little Plain: tA,n the -au-Way pointed "e'
ward ana bali a mile beyond reached the scene u
ports. cars. door. and mass oi coal oul f'c% gay
rJnd ont OF their proper places. ana the Mrh VINO Lu
como put things 10 rlghs looked discouraged at lNo
amount Of work before them. -.
There i, nothing new tOGti 20 the te'-raphc accoll'
OF the explosion. C1re examination iufJ it drI"'
aud most careful questioning OF several OK tc lHlacs
WHO could only De- approached iu The most cIulnS
manner has l,It lite room 10 doubt t.e cause 90. 80
explosion. Tu. Eel woo were Billed iaFe Ho one 10
blame but Cd .m,,ycs. They N3t h.rn warmed t"' ~
fatal breast was dangerous uut tod % c3iHi stl'y
.anlys Du! needed not When msss OF r'0a ..u ron
the " OF boo 'front.' Of them tlcy para u) attention io tis
hint and when D. fell behind fns tncy .ein US 3FeA
THIS Che fan brought gas; lt i-fed upon t-,..
lights 3nd tGeir lives tbs forfeit. me coroner
iu.y viii bring ia verdict Of accidental uftAi t"r!
might add, caused BY tarcessnc1s and GsoOede"eeC u
orders.