The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-02-16
Terrible Coal.Mine Disaster.

Richmond, Va, February 4.
Particulars of the terrible coal-nine disaster
(causeds by a gas explosion) at the Grove
Shaft, at CoalfeId, in Chesterfield County
yesterday, were received here to-day, and in
dicate that the disaster was even more horri
bic than at first reported. CoalheId is a little
hamlet in the midst of the great coal-beds Of
Chesterfield County, and the mine in which
She disaster took place is about two miles dis
tant.
The scenes and incidents about the mouth
of the pit this morning were heart-rending
Nearly every family in the place has lost a
relative by the disaster, and, despite the ter.
rible snow-storm of last night, crowd OF
men, women and children were crouched
about the mouth of the fatal shaft, shivering
from cold and calling piteously for their loved
ones, and begging that aid should be sent
them. All the morning crowds of miners
from the surrounding country have been
pouring into the place, and all seemed intent
upon penetrating the awful pit and learning
definitely the fate of those who are entombed.
Experienced miners say that the thirty two
men in the pit are undoubtedly dead, but the
wives and children do not give up hope, and
there are not to be found those who can break
the terrible truth to them yet.
This morning at eleven O'Clock the first
attempt to reach the bottom Of the shaft was
made. A large number of miners Yolun-
teered to go down in the bucket Most OF
them were young and hardy men, and were
prepared to take their lives in their hands.
The older miners told them that the terrible
carbonic gas still fingered in the pit, and
they realized the dangers of the undertaking,
especially as no connection had yet been made
with the bottom of the shaft. Three stepped
from the crowd and insisted upon going down
in the bucket. Mr.. Dodds, the Superintendent
of the pit, was one of them. They were let
down carefully, and, after going down 100
feet, gave the signal 10 be pulled up. The
result of their investigation showed that at
least forty feet Of the brattice-work in the
mine was torn up. They discovered no gas.
Like many similar horrors, this one has
served TO bring forward another striking evi-
dence Of the devotion Of woman. A young
woman, just nineteen years Of age, living in
Manchester was betrothed to one Of the vic
tins of this disaster. This morning, when the
intelligence reached Manchester of the explo-
sion, she at once started to walk to the scene,
a distance of thirteen miles from Manchester,
the ground being covered with six inches of
snow and the wind blowing binding drifts.
FEBRUARY s.
At2:30 Superintendent Dodds, with third
P@is1f H4A4S etO HcSCShs1 remaining nearly an
hour. They explored the tunnel for some dis
tance. At the mouth Of one of the chambers
in the vicinity Of the engine they discovered
another body, which is supposed to be that Of
colored fireman, Robert Summers. This
body, with that discovered last night, was
brought to the surface this evening. The
work of repairing the brattiee forthe improve
ment of ventilation is progressing, and ft is
expected that by tomorrow a more satfsfac-
tory exploration can be made.