The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-07-30
rue DEATH DAMP.
THREE OF SHENANDOAH S MOST PRO MINENT
CITIZENS iosT.

Sheraud1sh, July PA terrible dis
aster occurred here this morning and has
thrown the community into gloomy excite
trent FIR the past few days the , resence
of that deadly gas, black damp, in very con
siderable "a. tLies has been noticed in the
working parts OF the Thomas coal company's
keely Run coliery near this place Yester.
day it became so strong that some of the m en-
had to stop work ing before quitting time.
Last night jonathan Wasley, Esq, the su-
perintendent, and Frank Whitman, the in
side boss had q consultation with respect to
the matter, and it is supposed called u BON
John Reece, the Superintendent Of the coal
and iron company for the Shenandoah dis
trict for his advice. About o'clock lat
night, fast time they made up their minds,
it is supposed, to 90 into the mines end find
out, If possible, where the gas was coming
from as its presence in such unusual quanti-
titles was an enigma. Mr. Wa4ley told his
wife that he would be back in an hour, and
when Mr.. Reece went home to put on his
gum boots he made asimlar remark to his
wife and told her to look for him about
midnight. About one o'clock Mrs. Reece
became alarmed at the continued absence of
her husband and sent her son. boy of fiji
teen years, and young sman, her brother
in'law, up to the Keely Run colliery to
search for..her husband. They saw the fire.
man who said that about II O'Clock Will
man had been at the engine house and got a
lamp, and he and two other men had gone
down into the mine by sn opening in an old
breast that lad iallen in, which is located
about two hundred yards from the slope.
When morning came the families of Mr..
Wasley aud Mr. Reese became alarmed, aud
a general search was instituted. Inspector
Gay, Thos Roberts and John Ormsby at
tempted TO make search of the east gang
way, near which he men were sup.
posed to be. They Immediately detected
the presence of the deadly gas in large guam.
titles, and hivirg pushed f. rward Il certain
distance. Mr.. Gay said; Now letu turn
and run" The warning was not given a
moment too soon In attempting to get cut
of the gangsay Mr.. Gay fell, overcome with
the deadly damp, and was carried out insen-
sihle. He was taken to his home where he
is now lying, but he will recover
A party consisting of Col. David Brown,
George johns, of Mahany Plane, John
Beddoe, Jacob Shuey aud Inspector Samp-
son Parton determined TO make an attem pit
by the old breast by which the missing men
had entered 1hey did so AMI found the
air much better, and succeeded in getting
in far enough TO find the bodies. Three men
were found at 1890 O'Clock lying in the
gangway about 70 feet east of the breast
where they entered the mines They were
overcome by the damp evidently after Gu
tering. The body of Mr.. WssIey was first
| fo1nd. Then that cf John Reece little
further in, that Of whitman, all face down.
wards as they had fallen. When it was
! announced on the bank that the bodies had
been found the excitement was intense, and
rumor that they were alive rapidly game d
circulation. 1t reached the homes of the
unfortunate men, raising the hopes of the
families which were soon dissipsted as the
lifeless forms of their dear ones were car
ried in. The gas is wha. is known a white
damp. Inspector Gay was on the bank at
the scene of the disaster long before he had
fully recovered trom the effects of the gas.
rwen'y-eght men were overcome by gas
during the work Of the morning.
The funerals Of the threa nnfoYtnnata
men will take place at l / o'clock on Thurs.
day morning next. They were all members
of the Masonic lodge here at Shenandoah.