The New York herald., 1877-11-16
AN UNDERGROUND HORROR.
Fire Damp Explosion in a Penn
sylvania Coliiery.
TWO HUNDRED MEN In PERIL.
Four Fatally and Ten Seriously
Injured by the Shock.
FIRE STILL RAGING.
!BY TLLHGGApH TO THE HERALD.

By TkLEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
SCRANTON. Pa. Nov l5 1871
The Jermyn Coliery, III tho Thirteenth ward Of ihls
city, was tho scene OF a thrilling hrc damp disaster
this morning. by winch number oi workmon were
fatally injured aud others manned . most appalling
manner. The expcs'sn occurred in o. .r- cham
bers Of the mlne, sixteen huudred eet IRON
constructing cross walls TO direct tue course Of tho
air. Tue volume OF lire d.mp comLg in contact with
their lamps, became igu,tcd and exploded with ter
rloe roar tearing ali before Il, causing the entire
NINE TO snake mud making the nrm ereakcr at the
mouth OF the shalt tremblc nike read.
SCENE HORROR.
Two hundred men aud boys IN the mine when
the accident occurred Their lights we're instantly
put out Huge pillars OF coal into lrag-
men.s Props were flung ABOUT in all directions.
Nine cars were crushed to pieces ana men and mules
carried several yards distant or buried alive amidst
great bouldcrs Of rock coal IL was a moment Of
intense terror AS soon us III men IN distant part
OF The mine vorcd from tho effects Of the shock
they 10 tho assistance OF their comrades, who
were lying helpless ana dying beneath the heaps Of
debris
rmg VICTIMS
ANTHONY COLLINS and PATRICK BRENNAN
were iounu buried mass OF coal. from winch they
cxtricatcd in dying condition. Their death
hourly expected
LUKE BURNS, a mule driver, was found crush cd
beneath coal car, with one OF his legs almost torn
OIL II is thought he cannot live until morning
MAX PHILLIPS was found lying near the scene Of
the explosion, the 1esh burned from his face and
hands He is also internally injured. HIS case Is
considered fatal
WILLIAM METZ was also found terribly burned
and lacerated.
WILLIAM LANGAN had a leg broken.
Several others are severely injured. II 10 thought
that four fatally and ten seriously injured in all
The wounded were speedily carried up tho shalt and
TO the engine house, where medical aid promptly
procured An excited crowd OF persons from all
parts ot the city rushed 10 the mouth Of tho shaft
eager 10 SOC the faces Of Tho dying and the maimed
lost somc dear friend should be among tue number
DANGER IN THE PIT.
II Is rumorcd that Two men yet In tho mine, but
its dan ngerous condition will not allow OF any
going down tho shaft, which ~ 200 feet deep. The
gas Is stili blazing 1ercciy where tho accident
Cured and tho danes are fed by hundreds OF cur
rents rushing a directions through the
OF the coal All tho mules in the mine and must
have perished during tho day
WAITING ANOTHER SHOCK.
Another terrific explosion must take place TO ex-
haust tho accumulation Of gas before any can
enter the mine. ltis hourly expected, and intense
Is the dread Of II that old miners win venture
near The mouth OF tho shalt until Il has occurred.
'"1 - 80 ONCE BxpoRE
1t s but fow weeks ago since destructive FIRE. In.
duced BY the ignition OF nredamp ragged for several
days in this collicry, and tho place only In fair
working order when this deadly accident OF day oc-
currod.