The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-02-09
Terrible Explosion.


CoALFIELD, VA, Feb. IA terri.
! BILE explosion occurred at the Grove
shaft OF the Midlothian coal mines,
about one and one-half miles from
here, about ten O'clock Yesterday.
Thirty-two men were caught i'm the
shaft and there is little or no hope
that any of them will be taken out
alive. Gas testers went down
nearly to the bottom of the pit three
times, but were forced TO return on
account of the smoke and gas which
was sutfocating. They report the
PIT on fire, but will try again to-day
TO reach the uniortunates. News
of the disaster rapidly spread
and soon "A crowd had gathered at
the shaft, and the scene was most
distressing, as nearly every one had
some relative or friend among the
buried miners. The cause of the
disaster is not positively known.
Some attribute it to the gas, others
say the boiler in the pit exploded.
George M. DodsoD, superintendent,
states that the gas testers made an
examination yesterday morning and
reported that there was no gas to
burn. There is no doubt, however,
that those not killed by the explo-
sion will be suflocated by the black
damp and smoke with which the nit
is choked, and through which no
fresh air can penetrate. The follow
ing is the list of the victims:
Whites. VIM. II. Marshall, Bottom
Pass, James b. Hall, Thomas M.
Hall, George Jcwett, jr., y. w.
Jewett, James Brown. Joseph Coar-
nav, John Morris. James Shields
and Richard Cogbell. Colored,
Richard Morgan, Robert Binford,
Samel Cox, Pleasant Stewart, John
Cunduph, Benjamin Brooks, Alex.
Logan, Peter Hopper, Major Vol
keid, Solomon Layle, esq. w. Bright,
John Fueer, Lewis Hobs, Daniel
Hammonds, lsham Groves, Ed. Ross,
Robt. Brooks, Thos. Sumnells, AL
bert Hughes, Jas. Mills, jeff Cole
man and Fred. Anderson. The
shaft in which the explosion oc-
cured is nearly 600 feet deep, and
running about three-quarlers of a
mile in n Lateral direction. The
Midlothian coal mines have be-
longed to the estate of III. IL. Bur-
rows, OF New York, for twelve
years.
RICHMOND, VA, Feb. 4.-Informa-
ton was received here this morning
from the Midlothian mine disaster
of the most discourgaing nature.
II says that there is no earthly hope
that any of the entombed are alive.
Every effort is being made to enter
the pit, but il is impossible to reach
the point where the men were for
days, and perhaps weeks. The ex-
plosion destroyed all the apparatus,
including that used for ventilation,
and this will have to be replaced
before successful operations can be
resumed. AS it may be supposed,
this frightful calamity has cast the
deepest gloom over the village of
Midlothian, where most of the
miners have their homes. A majority
of the victims were married
men, and in many cases their fam
lilies are left without support and
are dependent upon charity. VIM.
III. Marshall, the bottom foreman,
was the son of an old English miner,
brought here by the English COM
pany operating the mines nearly
fifty years ogO. lie was aged forty
five years, and had a wife and four
children. James Il. Hall, deputy
bottom foreman, was native of
Chesterfield county, and was about
forty years of age. The two Jewell
boys were young men and sons OF
an English miner. James Cournice
was of Welsh extraction. His father
was killed in an explosion in shaft
ing in 1876. John Morris, aged
twenty, was the son of blind Eng
lishman who lost his eyes in pit.