The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-28
Especial dispatch to the Timcs.l

4
| wuxEsBARRE, March 26.--Tbe story OF a
most remarkable escape from horrible
death comes from the LaurehRun Slope
coiliery OF the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Company. As telegraphed last night, an
explosion OF fire-damp occurred late yes
terday afternoon. The slope extends hall
| a mile underground, and three mcn-Wil-
| liam Ashford. James Williams, and Will
| liam Scoyhle--were at work when the ter
riblc shock startled everybody In the neigh
borhood. Fire followed the explosion, cut
ting of all means OF escape OF the miners,
and II was thought they could not sur
vivc. The fire spread among the timbers
| In the slope about the lower chambers, and
had TO he fought with buckets OF water
passed from hand 10 hand. After six hours
Of undated labor on the part OF the COM
radcs OF the entombed miners, who by rca-
son Of the fierce heat and binding smoke
that filed the gangway leading TO the
burning timbers were forced TO relieve
each other at rapid intervals, the fire was
put out, and shortly before midnight a
search for the supposed victims was begun.
NEWS PROM TIE DEPTHS.
At the mouth OF the slope five hundred
or six hundred people were gathered, the
wives Of two OF the men standing nearest,
and gazing with anxious hearts down into
the dark gangway, where, every now and
then, the 1ickering OF the miners little
lamps could be seen signalling the approach
of workers from below. Eagerly these
were questioned as they came up, but
while none were cruel enough to saw
there was no hope, it was quite evil
dent from their confidential whispers
20 brothcr-miners that they did not
expect 20 find the men alive. The three
imprisoned miners had beer engaged In
cutting an airway to some old working TO
secure better air for the chambers that
were being worked, the ventilation having
been recently impaired by an accident.
The fire following the explosion ragged fu-
riously for five hours, and played sad havoc
with the brattices and props for three hum
dred yards. People at the surface did not
know that the fire was cxtinguished until
some time after il really was out. The
men leading the rescuing party, rs soon
as they had got the better OF the flames,
pushed their way through to the
place where they knew the men were
last working. This was distance OF some
800 or 900 feet. On the way one OF the
miners picked up hat and coat belonging
10 Scoyille and somebody conveyed these
to the mouth Of the pit. The story at once
spread that Scovilie's body had been torn
to pieces, and when this came to the ears OF
Mrs. Scoyille, who was seated on a log near
by, she went nearly frantic and rent the air
with her piteOus screams, which were sup
pemented soon after by the cries of Will
liams's wife and by other excited women.
THE MEN FOUND.
..,, sl,t
transpiring around the mouth OF the pit "A
scene OF very different nature was taking
place below. There the leaders in the
search were sending up shouts Of JOY over
the miraculous discovery OF the three men,
Ill alive. Williams and Ashford were met
coming up the gangway. They had heard
their deliverers and were approaching TO
meet them. Scoville, who was badly
burned, was too weak to walk and
was lying where he fell. All three men
were quickly assisted to the mouth
Of the pit, where the excited crowds
who had been told only a moment before
OF the wonderful discovery, stood hushed
and silent for moment as the forms OF
Williams, Scoville, and Ashford were
borne tendery out into the open air.
Then the surrounding hills sent back the
clamorous shouts of Joy that arose for seve-
raj minutes after the men were carried
into their homes near by. Hundreds visit
ed the scene of the accident to-day. All
three men are quite sick, but Scoville is
the worst. Williams says the explosion
occurred Just when the opening to the
old workings was made. The latter were
filed with fire-damp, which was ignited
by the open lights Of the miners. Right
alter the explosion the fire broke out, and
the terror-stricken men threw themselves
on their faces along the gangway rails,
with their mouths close to a little narrow
stream In that position they remained
for nearly six hours. OF up to within few
moments Of their rescue. The gangWay
was filed with gas, and the stream was all
that saved them.