Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-21
ENTOMBED ALIVE.
ACCIDENT IN THE GOLDEN TERRA
MINE At OEA0xO0D.
Fall Of a Large Body Of eath-Two Men
Killed and Nine Imprisoned-1he
Result Of Hasty and Care
less Mining.
ASCENE OF THE GREATEST HORROR.

were entering the tunnel for the night,
and when at the first chamber, about
three hundred va DIS from the mouth ol
the tunnel, the works caved in, carrying
down the timbers with terrific crash,
filling the great slope and bufying the
foremost man beneath the debris. The
compression Of the air forced the rear
portion OF the shaft through the tunnel
as though fired from cannon distance
of 100 feet, instantly killing Thomas
Greene and seriously injuring John
Bates, VIM. Wren, Martin Lago, John
Hall, Charles Rouse, Patrick King and
Timothy Sullivan. A number es-
capped unhurt through the tunnel
to the Homestake mine or back to the
open cut. Among those known to be
buried beneath the cave and probably
killed are Jas. Farley. l.. Weigen, J.
J. Wedlock, John Miller, Thos. Thomas.
7. Calvin, Angus McI.ain, Jack Beavy,
Jack Eddy. Joseph Hsrkins and Nc.
Cormick. The news OF the disaster
spread rapidly to all the camps, and
thousands OF men were soon on the
ground with picks and shovels. Super.
intendent McMasters, of the Home.
stake Company, brought one hundred
men, who went to work with will
digging for their comrades, while as
many men az could work were
sent into thetunnel from the Home
stake side. After hours OF work in the
excavations they were able to converse
with Jas. Farley, who said he was PIN
ioned by timber and rock, and exclaim-
ed, "For Gods sake, boys, hurry; can't
stand it much longer" This inspired
the men to a greater effort, but Farley's
voice soon died out, and probably he,
as well rs his companions, are dead. At
one o'clock this morning no bodies have
been extricated. The vicinity OF the
mine is crowded with friends OF the mi
ners; women and children crying and
wild with grief, presenting scene OF the
greatest horror. The work will be con-
tinucd till the tunnel and chamber are
clear. The Golden Terra nine belongs
to the Homestake company, and IS con.
sidered one OF the best in the hills. The
point OF the catastrophe is known as
the disputed ground between the Gopha
and Terra companies, to secure posses
sion of which both companies have
been working with undue haste, and
timbering in careless manner. The
chamber was sight sets OF timber, or
So feet high, 200 feet long, and 100 feet
inside. A perfect mountain OF ore and
dirt, probably 100 feet in depth, fell into
and filled this vast space. Had the acci
dent occurred five minutes later every
one OF the sixty men would undoubted.
ly have been killed.
Further Particulars.
DRADwooD, ID. T., May 20.-Last
nights disaster occurred at Golden
Terra mine at 7 O'Clock last vening, by
which it is supposed thirteen men lost
their lives. The night shift OF sixty
men were just coming on, but only about
twenty had entered the tunnel, when
large body OF earth fell in a distance
of nearly two hundred feet from the
mouth.
Tearing and Throwing Timber
at fearful rate as far as one or two hun
dred feet. One man, Thos. Green, was
thrown by the compression oi the air
nearly eight feet out OF the tunnel,
against the sidewalk OF an open cut,
and killed instantly. Two others were
blown right through the tunnel
towards Hgland mine, Lead City.
One escaped unhurt, and the other
was struck by a timber and died last
night. Eleven were buried under the
debris The cave is supposed TO be
about $50 feet long, 100 feet inside and
50 feet deep, and occurred directly over
the large ore chamber, completely filling
il. Hundreds OF miners were al once set
TO work from Lead and Central cities,
and the shifts were changed every fifteen
minutes, only five or six being abe to
work on the other side OF the cave at a
time. The tunnel runs entirely through
the hill. connecting the Terra and High
land mines. Seven escaped with moth
ing more serious than a few bruises.
Through the tunnel to the Lead City
side OF the hill large number are now
working from all directions, but the cave
is 30 extensive that it will certainly take
some time TO clear it and retimber the
tunnel.
The Killed.
as far as known, are Thomas Green and
Pat King. Those imprisoned IN the
cave are J. Farley, l.. Wiegens, J.
Wedlock, John Miller, Thos. p. Calvin.
Angus Mclean, Jack Beatty, Matt Plum.
kett. Joe Paskens and a man named
Mccormick, all Of whom are supposed
to oe badly hurt. The men who were
working heard Farley talk last night for
some time. He said the timbers bad
fallen on him and there was no hope for
him. Werk has been received
that two men, Farley and
Jack Beatty have been taken
out OF the cave. One was dead, and the
other died in q short time after being
released. There will be no detention in
the operation OF the mine.
Later dispatches, just received, say
that
Nine Men still Remain IN the Nine,
and that the miners there can talk with
them. 1t 10 expected that all will be
taken out alive this afternoon. The
affair has caused great excitement, and
il cannot be explained. There was no
fault with the timbers or the workings Of
the mine. Particulars could not be OBJ.
tanned in time to telegraph last night.
LAter-The Men Rescued.
DEADwooD, May 0.-The miners who
had been imprisoned in the mine since
seven O'Clock last evening, we're all
rescued this afternoon at O'Clock, none
OF them sustaining any injuries. This
leaves only three-Thomas Green, Jas.
Farley and Jas Beaky-killed, and FIVE
slightly hurt. Farley was single man.
Beaky leaves wife and family, Who are
now en- route 10 the Hills. Green also
leaves q wife and Eve children. The
work OF clearing the tunnel out is pro-
crossing rapidly, and il is thought by
Sunday the mine will be entirely clear,
although no delay has been occasioned
by the accident Subscriptions for
the relief OF those made homeless and
destitute have been called for by the
rrona of the HiIis and The peonle N ave