The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-08-09
THE REVEERY or DEATH.
Seren Miners Die From Asphyria IN The
BrookdeId Coal Co.'S Tunnel.
From the Warren Co.l Constitution.


time, despite the most unvarying care,
took place at Brookfeld last Wednesday
at about noon.
In these columns mention has been
made on several occasions heretofore oi
the new tunnel OF the Brook6eld Coal
Company, which was completed but a
few months ago at a cost of nearly 500.
900. The tunnel is about one mile in
length, and the banks of the company
are connected with it, so that small To-
comotive recently manufactured for the
purpose, having drawing capacity for
ten cars, could haul all the coal from the
banks out through the tunnel and so up
on the chutes, Since the pony locomo'
tive has been in operation, the soft coal
in the bank had been used up to a day
or two previous to the calamity, but the
smoke generated in the tunnel was found
to be deleterious to the health of the
miners and, it was thought, probably
dangerous. Coke was experimental
with likewise, but there was found not to
be sufficient draught and it was aban-
doned. Then the use of anthracite coal
was recommended and it was first burn
ed on the morning of the fatal day, and
to all appearances it was a success in
every particular.
Their were two men engaged in rum
ming the train, one Of whom was the en-
gineer, Albert Lands, and the other the
'spragger, or brakeman, named Evans.
Upon their second trip into the mine
they observed that the air was becoming
impure, but thought only of the disa'
greeable odor of the gas, and not that it
would be at all dangerous. 1t was not
until the engineer was coming back on
his last trip before dinner that he began
to feel inconvenience from the gas, and
looking around he observed that the
spragger' had fallen off and that he him
self was beginning to be strangely
affected. Knowing that his only hope
was to reach the open air as quickly as
possible, he crowded on all the steam
and only by nerving himself up to the
greatest self control was he able to stand
until he reached the mouth of the slope.
There he stopped the engine mechanics
ally and Immediately became delirious.
1t was nearly ten minutes before he re
covered sufficiently to tell those around
him what had happened. Mr.. John
Jones, Superintendent of the mine, acN
companied by Miles Davis and Robert
Williams rushed into the tunnel for the
purpose of rescuing Evans, but they were
Immediately overcome by the gas and
perished.
The news of the disaster spread
quickly and soon large crowd Of men,
women and children had gathered at the
mouth Of the tunnel. Large numbers OF
miners from the other coal banks in the
vicinity came to risk their lives for those
in the tunnel and the others in the banks
beyond, it being supposed at that time,
that the lives of all the men in the bank,
to the number of about 200, were in dan
ger. David Jones and Richard Jenkins,
of the Cleveland shaft; John Barter, Of
the Applegate bank, and John Young, of
Woods bank, together with large mum
Der of others. went into the bank, but
were almost Immediately overcome by
the deathly atmosphe.
The scenes at the mouth Of the slope,
as the dead bodies we're brought out,
bafled description. Wives and moth.
ers, sisters, brothers and friends were in
he agonies of grief as they recognized
he dead or apparently dead bodies of
Owed ones. Strong men seemed bereft
Of reason, and had it not been for the
extraordinary efforts of Mr.. F. H. Buhl,
manager of the mine, it is not at all un-
likely that many Of them would have
.ushed blindly into the poisoned air of
he tunnel only to be suffocated and die.
Of the 30 men who were carried out Of
he tunnel, life was found TO be totally
extinct in FIVE Of them. the lad Miles
Davis gave but one gasp after being
brought out, and John young lived near
y two hours.
The following is an accurate list Of the
lead:
John Jones, I'd, aged So years, married,
md leaves a wife and eight children.
Miles Davis, aged II years Robert R.
Williams, aged 20 years; married and
caves two children, David jenkins,
aged s. years; married, and leaves
wife and one adopted child. Richard
Tones, aged 40 years; married and leaves
l wife and one adopted child. John
Young, aged 28 years, married and
caves wife and three children. John
Barter, aged IS years; married and
caves wife and one child.
Drs Heilman and Bishop, Of Sharon,
and Stewart and McElhany, Of Brook
field, worked with the most untiring en-
.rgy, and it is doubtless due to their eff
forts that many were saved from death.
Mr.. Buhl, with his accustomed liberal
ty. has ordered quantity Of provisions
% be sent to the families Of the deceased.
John Jones, Superintendent of the
bank, has been in the employ of the
ever since the bank was open
ed, and in fact was the person who first
broke ground for it Is years ago. He
was vigorous worker, and undoubtedly
much of the success of the mine is due to
his management. He was honored and
respected by all. a1N
Some ame was first attached to the
Coal Company, there being a
ofimproper ventilation Of the
nine The verdict at the inquest held
by coroner Ewalt on Thursday morning
was as follows
That the deceased came to their deaths
by nox Gus and poisonous gases gener-
aled by using anthracite coal in the shift
er att6e Brookfeld bank, on Wednes
day, July nth, 1877,
The funerals of the deceased were held