The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-29
FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH.
THE RESCUE or THE IMPRIS ONED
MINERS AT SUGAR NOTCH


Entombed Over Five Days One Thousand
Feet Under Ground-subsistInR ON the Meat
Of n Mule that was buried with Them.
WILKEsBARRE April 2S.-At q little after |
Q o'clock this morning news reached this city |
that tho long continued labors OF tho relieving |
party had been crowned by success and that |
the buried miners Mt Sugar Notch had been |
rescued and were alive and well. The news |
spread with inconccivable rapidity. and in n
brief space OF time tho city was all excitement.
Truth often moves with loaden feet. but this
time with wings. for tho story was indeed
true. II Is many day since any event has 80
stirred the people Of Wilkesbarre rs did the
bringing back to life OF these entombed miners
this morning. For moro than five days had
they boen imprisoned thousand feet beneath
the surface Of the hills. and hundreds OF
anxious eyes had turned sadly away from the
small opening in the ground to the blue sky
overhead. as though contrasting tho brightness
above with the gloom and blackness below.
Yesterday the rcscung party succeeded in
drilling hole through to the lower part OF the
mine thus showing that 1t was only necessary
to drive few feet further to effect an opening
into tho gangway. Work was then necessarily
performed slowly and carefully, as thero
were indications Of fire damp. which
noccsstatcd the driving and cutting Of the
coal with tho pick alone The opening was
effected ut o'clock. and Mine Superintendent
Smith was the first to enter Tho party made
their way into the breast and thence to the
gangway below. Tho way to the imprisoned
men seemed open. but they were not readily
fonnd. Tho explorers went down the gangway
Ia one direction without success. Another at
tempt brought them to spot whore the roof
had fallen. and they saw small hole, through
which they crawlcd. On the further side
the captvcs were discovered quietly eating
breakfast The scene that ensucd is ono that
cannot lty be described Such JOY rs filed the
hearts Of both rescuers and rescued Is beyond
the power OF pen TO depict. In brief space OF
time all retraced their steps, and at length
stepped into the open air. where the glad sun
light fell once again upon those who lor nearly
n week had known only darkness. The names
OF the rescued men are William Hawkins Ed
ward Price. Patrick Green. John Green. Barney
Rlev. VIM .kcnney and John Clark. door boy
when the imprisoned miners first realized
that they were cut of from e-cnpe by the main
entrance. they set about dcvising means Tor
their liberation. They went 10 tho top Of the
fall and laying on their backs began TO make
manhole. passing the rock taken out from
ono to another. After going 100 yards water
was encountered in su h quantities AS to render
further progress impossible. The second day
II was deemed advisable to tie the mule. lest in
his hunger he should become dangerous. IL
was well that they did. for the animal
gn9wed away the prop, 70 which ne was tied.
h. wns fastened On Thursday II WIS decided
TO kill the mule To furnish food. Green struck
the animal in the head with a hammer no less
than seven times before he fell. Then Kenney
cut of his head with an axe. Hawkins cut oil
the hind legs, and of thnt they made their first
meal on mule meat. The water wns pure. hav-
ing only slight taste Of alum, but they feared
the gas. place was selected which seemed
cans they cooked the meat by means OF lamps
placed beneath The nhsence OF gas emholdened
them TO kindie fire, and after that they In
dulged In mule meat whenever hunger prompt
Ell them.
On Thursday tho sound Of the blasting over
| head reached their ears, and inspired them
| with fresh vigor. When they became convinced
| that friends were working for their rescue their
fnliing spirits revived. On Sunday when tho
drill penetrated the wall Of coal and the blasting
ceased, they feared that the attempt 90 rescue
| them had been abandoned. At no time. how
! ever. did their spirits wholly forsuSe them,
| Certainly these brave men are deserving Of all
| praise for tho manly and courageous manner
| In which they bore Themselves. and for the pa
tient endurance and trusting fortitude they
preserved 10 the end.
Before quitting the mines the men put out
| their fire and left things in good order. Patrick
and Jonn Green liye on Ridge street Ashley.
! Thoy were somewhat weak. and much eX-
cited by the throngs Of people who
Lease from captivity. They were speed-
| ily ordered 10 bed for tho rest they so much
| young men. who had anxiousy waited at the
| mouth NJ tho pit during the whole period That
their sons were entombcd below, are filled with
John Clark was found at his home in Hartford
| street. Ashley, He is bright lad ot l3, the son
| warmest terms Of the conduct Of this boy dur
| ing his enforced stay under ground He had
drama but complained q little Of the toughness
! of the mule meat. Clarks father WAS Killed
| eight years ago, and he has dutiiuy cared for
WIN. Kenney lives on MofIat,s Patch. about n
| quarter of a mile from the mine. lie looked
we'll md showed no signs Of his long impris-
| oumpnt. He in exceedingly good SplrltS.
| When the disaster occurred on Wednesday last
| he first thought that the whole mine had cavpd
in. and he never expected to get out alive. He
WINS convinced that sooner or later he
would be found dead or alive and this
afforded kind Of consolation He said TINT nc
warming had been given them before the fall
and they knew nothing OF II untlthe crash and
roar OF falling rock made II painfully apparent
After the fall they retrented 10 the hnck part OF
the mine TO safer quarters. lie thinks that II
the mir had continued pure thry could have
lived ten days longer, He SAID that they 9nll
ate the shoulder and hind leg Of the mule. The
rest was placed in II box for future use. should
barney Reilly lives at Sugar Notch. in hous,
80. he was found at home IN good Spirits
that he had never lost hope but ieIioyod that h,
would come out alive. Some of the men wer,
nl first inclined to be despQndent, but OF
change for Tie better. Every heart WA
eluted. ant ench blast WINS awaited with intense
anxiety Reilly spoke most wnrmiy oi We boy
Clark. who first heard the approach OF the res
| currS. He says ihut II seemed an h0ur hetwecl
| the blasts. At intervals the men knocked oi
doors cans. and in fact everything that coul.
convey sound. in tho hope that II would rcacl
tho ears Of the wOrkmcn above.
| Charles Hawkins lives ON tho river road
about 200 yards from the Red Tavern. Nhcl
the reporter called upon him he was trying t.
sleep. hut could not, and this caused him murl
annoyance. He courteOuslY descended, and, II
Il uuirt. undemonsirntlye way. told his story
He is very Intelligent. clenr- headed man, an
evidently uosscesed OF COOL Judgment mud muc
Determination. He said that This WIS the nrstt m
= that he had been buried in a mine lie mad
, NJ his mind when he first heard the blasting o
! Thursday that he would eventually be rclease.
am. this served TO kceu him in good heart. II
and Price were tho contractors, and the Othc
men were nj work under their supervision. II
said that at one time. while prospecting, the
went tp the very spot through which ~
drill aftcrward pierced. hut Of course di
not know that tho men We're at wor
They drank none Of tho oil th.
had with them, Rnd conlcnlrd themselves wit
mule meat and water lie believes they coul
have lived ten days longer on the food they ha,
, | one shoulder and one hind quarter Ol the mnl
o was cnt-n and he thought Y rather good. ii
q says that all the men prayed Price nnd hlw
2 | self were PrOtestNuts and the others Catholic 20
l Tho boy CLARK cried u litlo m first Tor hi
70 ! Mothers sake. but soon grew cOniHnteu an