The New York herald., 1878-01-17
THE POTTS MINE EXPLOSION.

DETAILS OF TERRIBLE CATAsTRopHE-
SEARCH FOR THE DEAp-HEARrRENprSo
SCENES AMONG THE WIDOWED WIVES AND
MoTHERs-LIsT OF THE KILLED AND IN.
JunED.
(py TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
ASHLAND. Pa, Jan. 10, 1875
Tho explosion a. Potts Coiliery, two miles south Of
this place. which occurred tst evening. has created
tho most intense excitement throughout tho neghbor
hood, aud hundreds OF people havo collected At tho
mouth OF the slope, the women crying and wringins
their hanas agony particularly those who had hus.
bands and sons in the mino when the accident took
place.
DETAILS TEE ACCIDENT.
The following the details Of the sad affair -
gathered from a visit to tho scene About seven
o'clock last evening Walter Dixon and hts butty who
were repairing the slope arway thought they heard
a voice calling to them from the bottom, and upon
going down found The door boy OF the gangway,
Joseph Kinney who horrihed them by stating that an
explosion had occurred In the gangway. anu that he
had Just crawsd out and did not know what had hap
pened 10 the mon inside. The boy was almost
hausted, and WAS Immediately taken 10 tho top.
Roger Dixon and David Davis who were umbering In
the slope, proceeded to the scous OF the reported
catastrophe. They went carefully for fear Of the
fatal damp, which Is destructive TO life
fire damp itself and always follows explosions AT
distance OF almost $50 yards from The face they
found = wagon smashed by the force OF
tho explosion. Immediately in front OF it
Was found the body Of Jacob Geiger the driver, the
back whose head with part OF the brains. had been
carried away and has yet been found. His face
and body were comparatively uninjursd. The mule
was also killed Geigers body was removed, and
when within hundred yards OF the face OF the gang
way ono of tho rescung party halloocd, "ls there
any In thero ?" and ney were overjoycd TO heat
'.Yet. For Gods sake come and help me out"
They pressed forward and found George Sniveihood,
one OF the Two laDorers In the gansway. He was
lying on his back, terribly burned. In his agony he
had torn all hs clothing from his body excepting his
Of raw nrsh Pretty soon two more miners and
laborcr we're found dead and burned In scxening
manner. There were SIX peraons asoessher employed
right tho aith Was fatally injured, but one, ~
door boy, escaped miraculousy.
The killed are Harry Jones, miner Weshman,
about nity years old. He resided In Locust Dale and
leaves wife and two children, ten and twelve years
OF ago respectively.
William Bosxctt laOorer, m Englishnan, who has
aged about iortyhv and leaves wife and family
IN England
years he resided at Locust Dale And leaves wife
| and iour children, Two Of whom married.
Jacob Geiger, dr,vor American, aged eighteen. HIS
| father mother 1.-Two ~ Locust Dale
Tho injured arc George Sniveihood laborer badly
bruised terribly burned, who complains OF ntsr-
nal pains Though burned made. Last night II was
| not thought he could recover. He lives IN Locust
| Dale and has = wife and Two small children. ho 10
about thrty-ons years Of age.
Joseph kinney. the door BOY, 10 somswhat bruised
| and made almost miraculous escape
The theory oil tho accident Is that feeder, de-
post oi gas The coal seams was struck IN the face
| OF tho gangway which forced tho gas down the
| men, and was fred Dy nre blown through The gauss
OF tho safety lamps, tney being tho only lamps per.
mitted 10 DO used In tho mines
II was oil the bost ventilated coeries IN the
regIon. As At all the other Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company's colicries work bcen
suspended the past wcek, but Tho Rangways were
being driven and sOme necessary repairs made.