Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-30
Terrible Disaster five Men Killed

Terr1Dlc DtsAsttf-flFe men hlIie0.
CONFLUENCE (Pa). October 29th.-A terrible dis
aster occurred Brooks tunnel on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, yesterday morning about
o'clock resulting in the instant killing of five men,
The railroad company have been strengthening and
widening the tunnel, and some distance outside a
magazine had been erected, in which was stored
200 pounds OF dynamite to be used for blasting
About the hour named freight train had lust
passed through the tunnel aud was side-tracked to
allow passenger train overdue to pass. Four of
the crew walked back to the vicinity Of che maga-
zine and were engaged in conversation with the
watchman, when people living in the vicinity were
startled by terrible conclusion. The houses for
fifteen miles around were shaken TO their founda
tios and windows, for distance of seven miles,
were shattered Horror. stricken, the peop.e ran
from their houses, and upon investigation it was
found that the dynamite had exploded with fearful
effect. Everything in the vicinity gave evidence of
the terrific force OF the explosion. Trees were up
rooted huge rocks torn asunder and telegraph poles
for half q mile Frustrated. Nothing remained Of
the magazine, whi the five men who were preseut
W, re missing. Portions of bodies, legs, arms,
hands and heads have been picked up half mile
from the spot, but they so badly dsfigured as
to be unrecog lizable. The names of only three of
the victims are known. They engineer George
Reynolds, brakeman Tice and watchman Hammond.
Tne cause of the explosion is enshrouded in mys-
terry, and as the five men who might have thrown
some light the affair dead it is quite proba-
BILE that it wi never be known. Not far from the
a ;cident gun was found, and it is supposed that
causing the dynamite to explode. An inquest was
held, and a verdict OF accidental death rendered.
Great excitement prevails here and hundreds have
gone to the scene of the disaster.
Another COIIiery Horror.
SCRANTON (Pa), october 29th.-A explosion of
fre-damp is reported from the Pennsylvania Coal
Company's shaft, No. Z, three miles from Pttston.
Thirty men were in the mine. Five are badly
burned. One Is dead. The fate Of the others is
known.
SECOND DISPATCH.I
SCRANTON, October 29th.-Ihomas and James
Gallagher (brothers), brought out dead, burned
almost to a crisp Six others were seriously burned
and injured, and they will probably die, having in
hailed the afterdamp. Thirty-fve men were in the
part OF the mine where the explosion occurred. The
balance escaped through the mule-way. The force
of the explosion blew down the buttresses ard props
and tore the gates apart lifting the up bodily
and hurting some distance OF twenty and thirty
feet
The Mormon Question.
NEW YORK. October 29th.-The TIibuHe's Wash
ington special says From one danger at least the
Mormons are secure. No action by the Government
adverse TO their interest will ever take them by
prise Their agents and missionaries are every
where, and they always on the alert. Yesterday
George Q. Cannon, the former Mormon Delegate to
Congress, we'd here. 1t is understood he will
remain in Washington during the winter, although
he docs not greatly fear adverse legislation while the
Democrats have a majority in either branch of Con-
gress. Governor hamsey rails against the Edmunds
law and declares it is an utterly worthless piece OF
legislation. The annOYance it has caused them is,
he says, one OF the reasons why they have been
more determined and denunciatOry than usual in
their public expressions. Another reason he assigns
is the activity of the Josephites non-polygamous
Normons, who have been unusually earliest in their
denuncations of polygamy and energetic in .her
efforts to convince the people that no orthodox Nor
mon be polygamist. He says while numer-
lea ly weak, the Josephites strong in wealth,
nteig nee and influence, and are making some
headway Governor Rsmsey thinks that if the sug-
gestous and commentators made by the Utah Com
mission In its report had been framed into law it
would have been greatly strengthened. STILL in his
opinion, much more might have been accomplished,
the law stands, if the officers charged with the
duty OF prosecuting the offenders against it
more energetic and earnest in their efforts Even
in Utah, he says, much could thus be done TO check
ana punish polygamy, while in other Territories,
Ike Idaho and Arizona, where i had not secured SO
firm footho'd, he believes it could be virtually
suppressed il the full force of the penal provisions
Of the statute were brought into play. While Gov
ernOr Ramsey does not seem unfavlrably disposed
toward the pTOp sition to govern Utah by means OF
= Legislative Commission, to be appointed by the
President and confirmed 10y the Senate, he is in
clined TO doubt whether Com ress would be willing
to adopt so radical measure except under the
pressure ct greater emergency than at present ap
pears to exist. lie also doubts the wisdom OF
an appeal to military force, which some persons
favor.
CHICAGO, October 29th.-At Washington. yes
terday, the Mormon Apostle Cannon was asked
whether there was any truth in the report that he
was likely TO be the successor Of John Taylor
President Of the Mormon Church. He answered
that there was no truth in it, and that there is
never likely TO be any truth in it. Those who fave
circulated this story do not know John Taylor He
has not been in better health for five years and he
is OF those ofticehol5ers who, as Jackson SAID,
seldom die and never resign. Mr. Taylor has no in
tenton of resigning, and certainly have DO aspi-
rations for his place. No man need sspire to the
Presidency of the Mormon Church, for the who
fills that position will make himself the target for
endless abuse.
Excitement In Texas.