The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-15
IMPRISONED IN i COAL NINE.

Seven Men Rescued After Five Days
Imprisonment In . Pennsylvania
Coal Pts-Ssrong Mon Cry for 10y at
witnessing tho Reunion Of tho Re.
covered Miners with Their WAITING
Erie nds.
A special telegram from Wilkes
barre, Pa, to the Chicago Tribune Of
the 29th ult. gives the following par
ticulars of the rescue of q number of
miners who had been shut mp for five
days in q coal mine. The roof had
caved in and completely closed up all
entrances to the mine, literally burying
the men alive:
The public sorrow for the seven unfortunate
men who were entombed in the Sugar otch Mine
i've days ago was changed into rejoicing to-day BY
the unexpected tidings that all the men werr res
For i've weary days and nights, the perilous
w0rkof excavation had been going on, meeting
with 60 many obstacles ~ to make the undertak-
ing little elee than . forlorn hope, when, about
made that the drill had passed through the
wall Of coal, and had communicated with tho
sS q .s the T SD, tS: noss saS
the outset. When the drill was Withdrawn
strong stream Of air and gas followed The lights
were Immediately extinguishcd until the gas had
passed, and NO explosion occurred. The hole was
at once plugged, work commenced with renewed
and vigorous rapidly, for at last, they had found
opening and knew that in few short
Ing was stopped. and the work Of going through
nine feet Of coal was done with the pick, Is there
were indications Of fire damp precud1g the aa use
hours laborious digging the pillar Of coal was
pierced, and the last obstacle was overcome, the
q the says ssng P:e
err above ground, who awaited the ndings with
baied breath. for the imperiled men were half
mile distant. ine-Inspector Williams and
tlufty miners. organized themselves into an ex-
ploring party, and began to tread their way
through the labyrinth Of passages, and. IN doing
lights being extinguished. The party who had
made the greatest descent hallooed to their com
panions that they might join, when they were
far down the depth. the voices Of the i'm
prisoned men. 1t was but the work of few
minute: to form junction, and every man was
Tho men say that, on Wednesday morning last,
when the young hero, John Clark, came furiously
dss mule the t. warn them
to seek escape through the tumbling rocks, but
were persuaded to desist and remain in the secure
portion Of the mine: To this wise decision they
many hours, after which the men penetrated in
every direction. but found every avenue Of escape
blocked. and with 500 feet Of solid rock above
stopped for moment, while an abundant natural
how Of water satisfied their thirst The hret days
experience was horrible one filed with fears Of
slow, lingering death. but, after the second day,
the reports Of the blasts fired by the relief party
came to their ears from time to time, and
encouraged them to hope. Their provisions soon
gave out, and on Thursday the mule was tied with
ropes, killed with heavy hammer, and dressed
and quartcred with an AZ, af0rding them food for
many days. A IRE was built, and the mule steaks
boiled in the dinner-pa or broiled on the COW
ers. The carcass with difficulty saved from the
hungry rats, which were present in droves Not q
watch was owned by the party, and they were In
ignorance Of the time, losing their reckoning by
twenty four hours. The time was passed In explo
rations, in occasional examinations Of the roof
entire party united in fervent prayer each day, and
when, as the blasting ceased, owing to the
final approach into the lowest gangway.
they feared that the workers had either been
driven from their posts by gas, were
going in the wrong direction, or had abandoned
the search. It was after eighteen hours Of dead
silence that they heard the call Of their rescuers
This morning the scene at the mouth Of the pit,
when they made their appearance. cannot be de.
scribod. The multitude could hardly believe theil
eyes, and It was several minutes before the situa
ton could be grasped, when . shout arose thai
made the hills ring and echo with joy - friends
received their dear ones and comrades grasped the
hands of the rescued. The spectacle was so thrill
ing as to break down strong men in tears Con
veyanccs and physicians were in waiting, but none
were needed, a. the men looked none tho worsi
for their terrible experience and stated that they
could have Nvcd tor DAYS to como.