Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-06

CoALFIELD, VA, February Am expIo-
sion occurred at the Grove shaft Of the Mid
lothian coal mines, about one and a half
miles from here, about one o'clock yester-
day afternoon. Thirty-two men were caught
in the shaft, and there is little or no hope
that they will be gotten out alive. The gas
testers went down nearly to the bottom Of
the pit three times, but were forced
to return, on account Of the smoke ana gas,
which was suffocating. They report the pit
afre, but will trv again to- day to reach the
unfortunates. News of the disaster rapidly
spread and soon crowd had gathered at
the shaft, and the scene was most Distress
ing, as nearly every one had some relative
or friend among the buried miners. The
cause OF the disaster Is not positively known.
Some attribute 1t to gas, Others say the boiler
in the pit exploded. George NJ. Dodds, the
Superintendent, states that the gas testers
made an examination yesterday morning
and reported that there was no gas re- burn.
There is no doubt, however, that 'hose not
killed by the explosion viii be suffocated by
black damn or smoke, with which the Dit Is
choked, ard through which TO fresh afr
can penetrate. The following Is a list of
the victims: William II Marshall, hot
tom boss; James E Hail. Thomss " Hall,
Geo. Jewett, Jr., A. w Jewett. Jas. B-own,
JOS. Cournow, Jno. Norris, Jas. Shields,
Richard Coghill, Richard Morgan, Robt
Binford, Samuel Coke Stewart, Jos. Cud-
lipp, Benz. Brock, Alex Logan. Peter Hop
per, Pollard, solomon TAYLOR, Squire Bright,
John Green, Thos. Hobbs, Ed. Ross,
Brooks, Thos Shannon, James Mills, James
Smith, Fred. Anderson and jeff Coleman.
The shaft In which the explosion occurred
is nearly six hundred feet deep, running
.fNfo ~. -,
direction. The Midlothoian coal mines be-
long to the estate of H II. Burrows, of New
York, and cost twelve years ago, between
$400. 900 and $500 000
RICHMOND, Februgry 4.-Information re-
ceived this morning from the Midlothian
mine disaster Is of the most dseouraging
nature. There is no earthlo hope that any
of the entombed are now alive. Every effort
is being made TO enter the pit, but it will be
impossible to reach thepoint where the men
are for days and perhaps weeks. The ex-
plosion destroyed all the apparatus, inelud-
ing that for ventilation, and this will have to
be replaced before successful operations
can be resumed.
As may be supposed, this frightful calam-
itV has cast the deepest gloom over the VII
lage OF Midlothian, where most OF the min
ers have their homes. The msj ,rlty OF the
victims were married men, and in many
cases their families are left without support
and dependent upon charity. William H.
Marshall, the bottom boss, was the son of
an old English miner brought here by the
English company operating the mines fifty
years ago. He was aged forty-fve years,
and had wife and four children.
James <. Hall, the deputy bottom boss,
was native Of Chesterfield county, and was
about forty years Of age.
The two Jewetts were young men, and
sons of English miners.
Joseph COurnow was OF Welsh extrao-
tion. His father was killed In an explosion
in the same shaft in 1876.
John Norris aged twenty years, was the
son of a blind Englishman who lost his eyes
in the pits.
A telegram from Coalfeld in relation to
the mine disaster at Midlothian saws the
Superintendent and two others went down
into the shaft about noon, but returned be-
fore reaching the bottom. They found
no indications of fire. Another
party OF five went down this afternoon to
repair the brattice and restore the ventila-
tion, which was cut off by the brattice
being tumbled in by the force of the explo-
sion. This party remained below until after
O'Clock, when they came up and reported
that there was a Slight prospect Of
reaching that portion of the mine
where the men were entomhed tonight.
The miners are still st work, however,
anu NtnIlIsblon at p. M had been
restored to the bottom OF the shaft. The
sorrow-stricken relatives and friends of the
victims and many people from the sur
rounding country are about the mouth OF
the shaft, anxiously waiting and watching.
This disaster has left % widows and I0S
orphan children. A subscription has been
started in this city for the benefit OF the
stricken families.
RICHMOND February 5 The latest intelli-
gence from the Midlothian mine disaster ia
that the miners at work clearisg the shaft
discovered one body, but it was so foul that
they were forced to suspend operations and
come out.