New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10
| DEATH IN A COAL NINE.
FATAL EXPLOSION OF Fire DAMP.

FATAL EXPLOSION OF Fire DAMP.
SEVEN MEN KILLED AND SIX SERIOUSLY INJURED
~ THE wADEsyILLE CoLuERY or THE PHIiA-
DELPHA AND READING COAL AND IRON COM
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THF TRBUsEl
PoTTsvIILF, Penn. May "a terrible explosion Of
fire damp occurred at the Vaudeville Shaft Collery
of tho Philadelphia aud Reading Coal and Iron Com
pany this morning, instantly killing six men and
badly injuring seven more, one Of whom has siDco
died.
This colliery is the deepest in the anthracite re-
gou, with the exception OF The same company's
new Pottsye mines the shaft being nearly 700
feet IN depth IL has long been noted as a very
fiery miue and has been the scene of numerous eX-
plosons but none before disastrous as this. The
point where the explosion occurred was near
the end of long gallery ami mile
or more from the entrance This portion
of the mine was worked Out and the men were en-
gagged in robbins the cangway preparatory to ADAM
dornG it. This work is always considered the most
dangerous branch Of mining rs il consists in re-
moving the pillars Of coal which support the roof,
letting the superintendent rock drop Into the va
Gated spaces of the mine. There is always danger
of a fall of rock on the heads of the workers, and
in fiery mines there is additional danger from tho
volume of gas which accumuiates in the cavities
thus made in the roof. A sudden fall OF rock on
Il blast or even q rush of air, viii often bring this
gas down on the lamps of the miners, when IL in
stanty exploles. The accident to-day is attnb-
uted to this cause though IFS origin viii probably
never be ascertaned with certainty.
Edward Weabram who escaped unhurt. while his
companions, working scarcely % feet from him,
were killed. says he saw a body Of flame shooting
down an alley in the coal, and throwing himself
fat on the floor Of the gangway the fiery storm
passed over without touching him. lie aftcrward
assisted in rescung the wounded.
John Durkn was killed by flying t;mbers. Thomas
Conners was literally blown to pieces, both head
aud feet being blown off. William King, Joseph
Mward. Herbert Moore and Benz Moseley were
burned to death and shut in behind amass Of fallen
coal and debris Moseley being deeply buried that
his body was not recovered until late tits evening
Al except Nlwarl were married, and some of'them
leave large families. Patrick Owens John McAtee
Abraham Jones, John Reese, John Glcary, Dennis
Brennan and James Liddy were taken out alive
but sey ely burned. Liddy has since died.
The cA ploson was followed as usual 10y the fatal
after damp or c4rbonic acid gas, and, rs the doors
and brattices were shattered by il there was great
difficulty in restoring the circulation Of air suih-
GENTLY 10 enable the searchers for the dead miners to
work This they could only do about 10 minutes at
a time i'm the sufocating atmosphere, when they had
10 give place to fresh gang, and their lamps
dimmed SO quickly that it was necessary 70 keep a
supply lighted in frcsher air currfnt. Still, volun-
teers for tine difficult and dangerous work were nu-
merous rs it was for a long time believed that the
miners Imprisoned behind the barIicdde Of fallen
rock were still alive and might De rescued The
three insiG, foremen, Edward Herbert William
Watkins, and John Orcl, especially distinguished
themselves by their bravery. At the time Of your
correspondents visit al three were lying insen-
slbe or nearly go, overcome By the noXious gases
and the violence of their eXcrtons.
Tho loss 70 the company has not yet been ascer'
tanned. but sill not be heavy. The explosion was
confined to a single section Of the mine. aud that
not AN extensive one. Work will continue in the
rest Of the coery, which is not injured in tIeeast
Wadesyille shaft is about two miles from Pottsye.