Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-23
THE COAL MINE HORROR.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE EX-
Pl0Sl0N.
The Accident Caused by the Ignition of
Gas, not Powder-eight Persons
Killed-Rescue of the Living.

TERRE HANTE, November 22.-The
following is correct account OF the ex-
plosion in the coal mine Of landlord
Bros, ut Sullivan, twenty-five miles
south of this city, at four o'clock yester-
day evening:
1t was the gas only which exploded;
a dozen kegs oil powder had been stored
in the magazine in the upper vein, but
it was not ignited. The depth to the
upper vein is POL feet and the other
vein is A. feet lower. Two entries or
rooms were being excayated toward
each other, the gas had accumulated in
the roof of one The miners in the other
had been warned they were nearly
through and that any more
Wasting might go through and fire the
gas in the other entry. They We're
directed to fan the gas out OF it before
connecting the opening. One OF the
men, however, took the risk and fired
one more blast. 1t broke through the
thin wall OF coal, and the accumulated
gas exploded with q terrible conclusion.
Eight men were killed by the shock or
soon died OF suffocation. There were at
the time twenty-seven miners at work,
of whom fifteen were in the lower
vein. Seven of these were saved after a
lapse OF over an hour, but how they
managed to survive in the dense fumes
and damp is mystery. The - men III
the upper vein were badly stunned but
unhurt. The eight killed are, Tom
landlord, Samuel Handtord, Jack
Leeden, Albert Smith, John Bulger,
William Wales and Patrick Dunn.
There were but four or five
men courageous enough to go
into the lower vein after the explo-
sion, but after they had saved the seYen
who were living, they worked on until
three o'clock this morning, recovering
the bodies of the dead. Then work was
resumed after rest of three hours, and
by twelve o'clock to-day the last corpse
was taken out IngresS to the vein was
obtained through very small hole in
the debris. The first two on the list
above were among the proprietors, OF
whom there were four. Four of the
bodies are shockingly burned and
bruised. Harper and Croach, two
young men who are among those saved
from the lower vein are badly burned;
the latter has leg broken and arm
burned to crisp, besides other in
juries which may prove fatal. The
bodies were taken to the homes of the
men and will be buried tomorrow with
out an inquest. The timbers OF the
mine are badly shattered and one OF the
surviving proprietors estimated the loss
at S2,O 900. The citizens of Sullivan are
subscribing literally toward the relief
of the bereft families. JOS. landlord,
Tom Irwin and Jack Smith distinguished
themselves for their bravery in perilling
their lives 10 save the living and re-
cover the dead. The last named
especially won the commentators OF
the whole community.
INDIANAPOLIS, November 22.-The ex-
plosion in the coal mine at Sullivan
Ind, Yesterday, was caused by gas and
not powder, rs reported last evening
The powder was found to-day intact
The work of recovering the miners was
continued until after midnight and re-
sumed early this morning, the last body
being recovered about noon to-day
The saved are: Boyer Griffith,
Will Richardson, Henry Nichols,
Thos. Maskell Frank Smith, Joe
Smith, John and Joe Handford, John
Kelly, John Richardson, VIM. Jones,
Ell. Rogers, Geo. Jarvis, John Smith,
Sr.. and Henry Smith. Every possible
assistance has been rendered 10y the citi-
zens relei committee, who are at work
and meeting with success. The mines
have been i'm operation about five years.