The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-05
.TELEGRAPHIC
FRIGHTFUL CATAsTROPHE
ThIrty-twO Men suffocnted In
a coal Nine.

Richmond, 3.-Informstioa was re-
ceived tonight OF q gas explosion AZ
Grave shaft, Midlothian coal mines.
Chesterfield county. Thirty-two men
were caught under ground. No details
yet received.
A later dispatch states there is little or
no hope for any of the men in the shaft.
Gas testers went down nearly TO the bot
tom of the pit three times. but were
forced to return on account OF tie suffo-
eating smoke and gas. They report the
Dit on fire, but will make another effort in
the morning 10 search for the unfortu-
mates. News of the disaster spread very
rapidly. and in short time q crowd had
gathered The scene was most distress
ing, as nearly every Ons had some rela-
tive or friend among the entombed min
ers. The names Of the men entomb bed
are: hites-Wm. II. Marshall, bot
tom ooss James Hall. Thomas N. Hall,
George j. Jewett, Jr., A. w. Jewett,
James Browne Joseph Cournow, John
Morris. James Shields and Richard
Cogbill; coloTed-RichArd Morgan, Rob-
ert Bingford, Samuel Cox, Pleasant
Stewart. Jo.eph Cunlupp, Ben Brooks.
Alex. Logan. Feter Hopper, Major Pol
lard, Solomon Tyler, S9uirs Bright,
John Green, Lewis Hobbs, Daniel HAM
mond, Isham Graves, Ed Ross, Robert
Brooks, Thomas Summeils, Albert
Hughes, James Mills, JEFF Coleman and
Fred Anderson.
The shaft is nearly 600 feet deep, run
ming about three-fourths Of mile In
lateral direction The Midlothian coal
mines belong to the estate Of the late h.
II. Burroughs, of New York, and cost,
about twelve years ago, between $780,
600 and $500, eOO.
Richmond. Va. 4. -Informstion re-
ceived here this morning &om the Mid
lothian mine disaster is Of the most dis
coursging nature. There Ia no earthly
hope that any of the entom bed men are
now alive. Every effort is being made
to enter the pit, but it will bs impossible
TO reach the point where the men are for
days, and perhaps weeks. The explo-
sion destroyed all the apparatus, includ-
ing that used for ventilation, and this
will have to be replaced before success
full operations can be resumed.
New York, 4.-The Posts Coalfeld,
Va, special says: The Grove shaft, at
the scene Of the horrid explosion yester-
day, in which thirty miners were burned
alive, is surrounded this morning with
women and children, despite the fact
that the ground ia covered with snow,
and it is falling rapidly. Hundreds are
about the mouth Of the shaft anxiously
watching the men in their preparations
to descend to succor the entombed min
ers. The appeals OF wives and mothers
for assistance in getting to their loved
ones are heartrending. I he suoerintend-
ent OF the mines has large force at
work endesyoring to communicate with
the bottom Of the shaft. To add to the
terror Of the situation it is feared that the
mines are on fire. II there are evidences
of this the men will have TO stop work
and abandon all hope of rescue. An at
tempt to reach the coal-dAmp in the pit
would cause another explosion, and add
fuel to the flames. The superintendent il
one Of the most experienced miners in
the country, and will do all that is pos
Eble to do to assist the fellows impris.
ons6 400 feet below the surface of the
earth. 1t is believed now that all of the
thirty-two miners have persisted.
Richmond. 4.-Disps!ches announce
that there Is some prospect of reaching
the entombed woFkmen in the Midlothian
Mine tonight. The disaster has left
twenty-seVen widows and los orphans.
A subscription for their relief Is opened
here.