The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-05-04

FEARFUL ADVENTURE IN A COAL NINE.

FEARFUL ADVENTURE IN A COAL MINE.
A despatch from Scranton says that in
calculating the cost of coal there is one inn
portant item which is never taken into con
sideration 10y capitalist consumer, and
that is the loss of life and limb incurred in
the work of digging ''dusky diamonds and
preparing them for market. a glance at
the list of deaths and accidents published
monthly in the ioca. papers is sufficient to
send a thrill of horror through the stoutest
heart but familiarity soon makes parti-
ally indifferent to such matters, and il is
only when some thrilling calamity occurs,
such as the Avondale and West Pittsburg
disaster, that we are fairly aroused to the
perils incident to the work of mining. The
people of The metropolis know but little Of
these things unless when they see an occa-
sional account of some extraordinary catas-
trophe published, and even then they can
but family realize the mishaps that befal!
from day TO day in the way of fire damp ex-
plosIOnS, falling roofs and the innumerable
other death-dealing agencies that lurk in
the depths of the coal mine.
One of the most heartreudng accidents
OF this character which has been recorded
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 work
men. When they least dreamed of danger
there was sudden convulsion overhead.
and an instant later they were overwhelmed
by fearful fall of roof. The terrible ac-
cioent put out their lights, aud they were
III utter darkness. Mooney, after consider
able difficulty, succeeded in extricating
himself from among the massive boulders
which fell about him in such n way as to
form a sort OF cave. and upon freeing him.
self his first thought WAS for his compan-
ions. lie called aloud for Quinn. but re-
ceived no answer-only the echo of his own
voice oeateu back hy the rocks lie felt
himself growing faint, and realized that he
was seriously injured, but was determined
10 ascertain the condition of his fellow
miner. After calling aloud in vain for
some time lie CROPPED about i'll 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 big boulder which law
upon one of ms mauglcd legs The other
leg had been completely severed from the
body 10y the fail. To release him was a
hard task, but Mooney, forgetting his own
injuries, set about the work with a will aud
succeeded i'll setting Quinn fIee
How TO carry him To he light Of day was
the next trial, but be was determined 10 do
1t and taking him upon bis back he began
groping his way through the piichy dark
ness III the direction Of what lie considered
was the foot of the slope. For two hours
he wandered about that living tomb. with
his dying comrade on lis back, meaning in
the most pIteous manner. The situation
was awfuI, and after roaming thus for a
long time POOR Mooney was disheartened
to find that he had come back to the very
point fIon which lie had set out, and where
the accident occurred. He summoned up
his last falling strength aud made another
effort, siiil taking Quinn on his back, but
after proceeding short distance he grew
FAINT, and Vas unable to GO further with
his precious burden. Then laying the dy-
ing man down i'll as comfortable "a position
AS he could Mooney crawle6 oI, his hands
and knees towards what he thought was
the slope AT 81 o'clock party of miners,
while proceeding down No. slope were
startled by the appartion which their lamps
revealed. 1t was Mooney crawling slowly
up the slope on his hands and knees, hls
face black and bloody, and his whole body
sore from contact with the Jagged pieces of
coal and rock. His eyes were at first daz-
Zled by the light. he had beeu in darkness
SO long ana trying To see, and he was
speecaless with joy for some seconds to find
relief at last. This was eight hours after
the accident had happened, and they were
eight hours of awful mortal agony. As
soon as Mooney found words to speak he
related the story i'll brief, and begged the
party to hasten to the assistance of Quinn.
who might yet be saved
They hurried to the spot indicated and
found the unfortunate fellow in the coudi-
ton already described, with one leg severed
from his body and the other crushed to
pieces. lie was i'll alive, aud they took
him up III their arms 10 carry him 10 the
slope, but he never reached it alive He
died liz the arms of his comrades Mooney
who is severely wounded, is expected to re-
cover. He played the part of hero in the
unselfish manner i'll which he risked his
own life trying to save his cumrade. But
such acts are not OF rare occurrence among
the miners. They are most unsefish.
brave lot of fellows, and will face death in
ihe mines at any time to save one another
The men who met Mooney crawling up the
slope were moved To tears by his haggard
woe begone, and saddened looks, and they
never saw such pitiful sight before.
a SINGULAR PHENOMENON The Pan