The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-20
A GOAEMiSE HORROR.
Particulars OF tho Disaster Near sharon
Pa. by Which SIX Men Lose their Lives
-Heartrending scenes.

Particulars OF the Disaster Near sharon,
Pa, by Which Six Men Lose their Lives
-Heartrending scenes re
[sharon (Pa.) Cor. Chicago Times.l
About two weeks ago the Brookheld
Coal Company completed tunnel to
their mines. Previous to this the CON-
pany had hauled out their coal by mule-
power. When the tunnel was in readi-
ness a small locomotive was introduced,
but it did not work well with soft coal or
coke, and anthracite coal was tried as an
experiment. For three trips it proved
successful. Then it was observable that
the long tunnel was filling with sulphu-
ric gas. AT the fourth trip the brake
men were overcome by the noxious gas,
and fell to the ground, insensible. The
engineer managed to get the locomotive
out, and gave the alarm. A large num-
Der of men instantly rushed in to rescue
the miners. All were affected, and fell
unconscious. This state of affairs con-
tinued until twenty-three men had
entered the tunnel Squads of four were
then formed. They entered the tunnel,
caught up miner, and carried him out
of the bank, aud turned him over to the
physicians present, who did all in their
power to resuscitate the men. In this
way the work went on till thirty uncon-
scious and six dead miners were brought
out. The excitement spread to the Cleve-
land shaft and Woods bank, adjoining.
Eight men from these two mines, labor
ing under the impression that other min
ers were iii the tunnel, rushed in, and all
succumbed to the deadly gas. OF these,
five were shortly afterwards brought out
insensible and the three others dead.
Among the first to enter the tunnel to
save his comrades was John Jones, the
mine boss. He had proceeded about a
quarter of mile when he fell, and an
hour later was taken out dead. He was
60 years old, and leaves a wife and large
family.
The scenes that took place as the dead
and dying miners were being brought
out were agonizing. Mothers and wives,
sisters and brothers of the miners ran
around distracted, crying and wringing
their hands over the dead bodies of their
dear ones. One woman lost her husband
and two grown-up sons. Her grief gave
vent in shrek after shrek, as she alter
nately embraced her dead. 1t was a
scene that never could be forgotten. The
excitement seized upon the crowd, and
for the time many acted like lunatics
Grim, coal black miners huddled together
like SO many sheep, completely panic
stricken.
The engineer of the locomotive, after
he had given the alarm, threw up his
arms, staggered wildly, and, uttering
incoherent words, became insensible.
A grief stricken wife threw herself on
the dead body of her husband, rolling
over with the corpse tightly clasped in
her arms, all the time crying Historically,
and cursing God and every living human
being.
Three sisters surrounded the body OF
beloved brother, and refused to allow
the physicians to strip the body, to afford
greater facility in their endeavors to
revive the spark of life.
A majority of the sufferers were men
with families, and their untimely death
falls with double force upon their poor
wives and children. The manner in
which most of the victims encountered
death, trying to save the lives of their
imperiled comrades, speaks volumes il
praise of the heroism of the miners.