, 1881-11-13
near the same spot, BY one Of which five
lives were lost. and by the other eight.


lives were lost. and by the other eight =
FIRST ACCOUNT. -:
Troy, N. T., Nov. 12-This evening sklH
ferry-boat with nineteen persons was
swamped by a swell OF three. propellers
white crossing the river from this city to Port
Schuyler. The following are known to be
drowned, and three others are Inissing:
George Hay. a single lnan.
james Diamond.
Thomas Nanion Sr. +. -
Henry Leroy, his son.
Francis Reilly.
John Keys.
Mrs. Leroy, who.is dying, has not been in
formed of her double loss. Owing 10 the
great excitement it is very difficult to obtain
accurate particulars. Parties are searching
for the bodies.
A Dnd Mess Mt the Strcator Coa1"aItne-
Spseiai Dispaieh to The CHICAGO Tribune
SrEEATo1, ILL.,, Nov. 1a.-About Il o'clock
last night the bed of Prairie Greek, north
east Of town, broke through into one or tile
main entries Of No. shaft Of the Chicago,
Wilmington IL FerInllion Coal Company.
This is said to be the largest soft-coal shaft
in America, employing over Coo men anu
mining ut III average Of 97S tons OF coal
daily. At the point where the break oc-
curred there had been one or two previous
breaks, which had been stopped oil by re-
tanning wells i'll the mine. Prairie Creek IS
!, little stream that although it carries
Oft considerable surface water, often runs
entirely dry. Its bed ut this point is only
eight Or nine inches above 4 bed Of some
twenty'-eight feet of Quicksand, and the rains
of yesterday has so swelled the strealn us to
cause pressure enough to break through The
quicksand down into the mine. The hole
made. by the sink is about 200 feet wide by
400 OF 800 feet long, ana i'll places as much as
forty-tiye feet deep. For some time
past gang of - some twenty
or twenty-five men have been at
work in the mine all night, but last night
they all quit at O'Clock, bit Tim Tinsley
and Jim Stone, who were putting Il door Oh
one OF the entries, and two llungarians, who
were bailing' water. Tinsley and Stone first
heard the sound Of the roaring waters and
started for the shaft, which was nearly
half-nlle away. The wafer was close behind
them, and soon overlook them. Stones
lamp went out, and at times the water was
so high that they were Obliged to turn
their noses up in order to get
air. They, however, reached the
shaft in safety, and were hauled Up In the
cage. All hands who were on top lin-
u,ediately set to work 10 get out too!s, coal
cars, and mules from the mine. Outot nearly
thirty mules that were below. all but two
were saved, these being at work near the
watel-shaft with the two llungarlans, WHO
abandoned them and barely managed to save
ing 4 large force Of men were set to cutting
the timber from the hill near the
break and throwing it into the hole,
with the hope at stopping the washing OF the
quicksand. Tie mine, which III most places
Is six feet high, and has entries ai!d rooms
re ,cI,ing in almost every direction Tor over
mile, is full OF water anu earth, and &C !
tour feet in the Shaft above the roof OF the
mine. 4 large force of men is at work cut
ting channel through Il .hlll IN order 10
turn the course Of Prairie Greek. This
channel will be about thirty feet deep by
coo feet long, and until It IS ilnlshet'
The company have their pumps all at work.
and are throwing. out ut the rate u 1uooO
gallons per minute. Superintendent Woods
says at this ratt. they can rid the SHAFT Ut me
water i'll about four or five weeks. after WHICH
time it will take at least a month to get tue
shaft cleared Of the debris and get INTO
working order. The men viz be put into {I,i9
company for the present, but it will.
to say the best, lessen the total
amount of coal shipped from here Us much
as fifty cars per day for sorie time. 1t IS cst1-
Matel that the damage, including delay OF
work, will amount to over S1o0,ooo.