Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-01
imprisoned Miners Relieved.
FIVE AND HALF DAYS IN MINE. LININ
IpnN NItIE MEAT.

Imprisoned Miners Renewed
FIVE AND \ HALF DAYS N MINE, LIVING
iron MULE MEAT.
WLkEsBARRE. April 2s-The cntombed
miners at Sugar Notch were released at :
o'clock this morning Yesterday thu rescuing
party succeeded il, drilling hole through to
the lower part of the mine. thus showing that
it was only necessary to drive IA few feet fur
Their to effect an opening into the gangwav
| The work was then necessarily performed
/ slowly and carefully, a. there were indications
of fire-damp. which made it necessary that the
driving and cutting of the coal should be done
with the pick alone. The opening was effected
at 3 o'clock. and Mine Superintendent Smith
was the first to enter. He found portion OF
the men cooking a breakfast of mule steaks.
taken from the mule which the boy who was
sent to warn the men of the impending disas-
Ter had fortunately taken with him, and which
was killed on the second day of their confine-
mcnt The remainder of the party was en-
gagged in changing the direction of an air
course. Very little was said, bat the entire
party used all possible dispatch in getting out
of the mine, reaching the surface soon after
. o'clock. The crowd which had assembled
was very enthusiastic, and repeatedly cheercd
the rescued men and their plucky dclivcrcrs.
The men were then sent to their homes. They
say that during Saturday and Sunday they
could hear the rcscuing party firing blasts,
and when the blasting ceased they believed
the work had been stopped and they were
abandoned to their fate. They say they could
have subSistcd at least two weeks longer, had
it been necessary, upon their supply OF mule
meat The names of the rescued men and
L., illiau, IIuyL iuS EIv url Prize,
Patrick Green. John Green, Barney Riley.
and John Clark and William Mckinney, the
driver boys.
Too much praise cannot he awarded to the
brave men who accomplishments great work of
driving and timbering passage-way OF zoo
feet through rock, slate, and coal in the space
of four DAYS and nights, to the bosses directing
the work and to the engineering skill dis
PLAYED in locating and directing the openings.
The men, when released, had been confined
five and half DAYS. They stood the long
imprisonment very well. The boys. upon
reaching the surface. lcaped over the inclos-
urc at the mouth of the opening and ran rap
idly homeward. One hundred dollars was
presented to each of the rescued miners to-
dav by the stockholders of the Iehigh and
Wilkesbarre Coal Company, through Presi-
dent Charles Parish 4 concert for the bcne-
III b1 inc men Will Ut SlNtH III huSiC nan W.
morrow. William Hawkins, one of their
number, will relate the story of their captivi-
tv. The total receipts will be given to them.
as all expenses have been paid.
John and Patrick Green, were two of the mi
ners who were imprisoned for the past five days.
Johns story was rs follows 1--WE first found we
were shut in on Wednes day morning. Johnny
Clark the door-tcndcr brought us the word.
We at once went to the fall, but were driven
back by the fal ling coal and rock, and it WAS
then we found we were utterly blocked in.
and no way of getting out. We gave up the
thought of getting out by our own exertions.
ON Friday we could hear the shots rcsound
around our prison that were put off by those
who were working on the outside. The firing
Of shots could be plainly heard up to Sunday
when they ceased. and then we gave up in
despair. thinking our friends had deserted Us.
The firing was stopped on account of the
danger thus caused. and the coal was cut
with the pick. After we had been in about
30 hours we became very hungry and at once
killed the mule. and boiled some pieces of
him in our dinncr-pails. We ate of him for
three DAYS. until we were rescued. We
passed the time in different wavs-praying.
singing hymns, and telling stories. There
was no time that We gave up all hopes of
getting out. for as long as the air kept rs dry
as it was and the mule held out, we could
live pretty we'll. We worked about twenty
four hours, but could do nothing and gave it
up. We had plenty of water which was pure
and cold. Johnny Clark, the l2-year-old
boy. was brave to the last. and never once
showed any fears as to his safety. The last
hour that we were in the air became bad, and
we were just fixing up some boards to stop
the gas when we heard shout, which we an
swcrcd and were at once surrounded by our
friends tell you felt better when got
outside"