The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-04-06
RECOVERING THE BODIES OF THE
DEAD MINERS.

Anxious Crowds Gather to Witness the Re.
suits OF the Ghastly Search at Braidwood,
m.-Twenty-two Corpses Taken from the
Mine-Anecting Scenes.
BRAIDwooD, H., March %,
This was day Of intense excitement at the
Diamond mine. When it became known early
this morning that the bodies which were dis
covered had been brought to the surface,
crowds surged to the shaft, and scene of the
widest confusion ensued. Relatives and
friends of the unfortunate victims pressed
about the morgue clamoring for admittance.
In some cases identification was absolutely
impossible. Even where the poor miner had
escaped the horrible fate of being crushed by
rocks and earth, the action of the
water had bloated and discolored his
body beyond recognition. Up to 12:30 p. m,
the efforts of the searching parties had been
rewarded by the finding of twenty-five bodies.
Those identified were: Patrick Wall, Joseph
Smith, Joseph Carroll, Frank Kloss, Mike Ban
non, John johnson, Mathew Redmond, John
Culiough. A. Dembrosky, John Dembrosky,
George Boukosky, August Patents, Frank
Marry, Daniel Mcbride, Herman TIMBER,
John Atkins and John Boyd. The remains were
In every instance in most shocking cOndi-
ton. When being placed in the collins even
the most gentle handling caused the flesh to
fall off in pieces. The morgue itself was filed
with the disgusting odors arising from the pu-
trified mass. The fumes of the disinfectants
but added to the horrible stencil.
The funeral train, appropriately draped,
left Braidwood for the mine at seven a.. m,
returning at nine a. IN. Eighteen collins, with
their disagreeable contents, were taken on
Abe cars. But, disgusting as was the condi-
ton of the bodies, it did not detract from the
grief of those whose loved ones were being
taken to their final resting-places. A Mrs.
Redmond, residing near the village of
Diamond, signaled the train to stop as it
passed her house. With heartrending shrieks
she demanded the remains of her boy, en-
cased in one of the collins. This terrible
burden in her arms, she rushed frantically to
her desolate home, saying she could not per
init her child to be buried without seeing that
the body was decently prepared for inter
ment.
When the train with its load of humanity
reached the depot at Braidwood a most dis
tressing scene took place. Women and chill
dren shrieking and crying demanded that
they be allowed to see the re~ aims. This
demand was acceded to, when tn coflin-lids
were taken off, the crowe passed and looked
with curious eyes and bated breath at the hor-
rible sight exposed to view. One of the most
affecting scenes occurred on the coffin con-
tanning the body of John Dembrosky. His
bereaved wife, rending the ar with her cries,
wringing her hands, aud weeping in the agony
of woe, called upon God to return to her the
support of her life. Kind friends took her
away, and the collins were placed In hearses
and taken as quickly as possible to the ceme-
teries. During the afternoon several funeral
rocessions passed along the throEged streets
{ Brlidwood.
The excitement seems to have abated some
what, and, although crowds press eagerly for
ward on the sidewalk, it is only out of lido
curiosity. The remains of n miner who had
been a member of some benevolent organiza-
ton, are being conveyed to their last resting
place. A band of music heads the procession,
and then follow relations and friends in car
riages and wagons. Trade is going on in the
stores as usual, and is probably increased, as
the town is full of strangers. The saloons OF
which there seems to be no lack, are crowded.
The scenes in the morgue when the bodies
were being identified were of the most melan-
choly kind. A man came in, and, hastily SCAN
ming the faces of the dead, at last stopped be-
side one, claiming it as his brother. At the
same moment a woman, who had been engaged
in the sad task of looking ut the bodies in fear
full hopes of seeing the face of a lost one, ex-
claimed that the same corpse was that of her
husband. A dispute arose over this, when
the woman said she could tell if she was right
when the boots were removed, for the reason
that her husband, upon the fatal morning,
when he got up, finding one of his own socks
wet, had taken one of hers. Accordingly, the
boots of the dead man were taken OF, and
disclosed one mans sock and one woman's
stocking.
The scene at the Diamond shaft last night
was devoid Of exciting details. Relays Of
miners stood about discussing the incidents of
their work of excavation during the day. The
funeral train, consisting of two coaches and
two fiat cars draped in mourning, was stand
ing on the track near by, ready for its next
load of victims. The Daily Ystos representa-
tive, running across Johnnie Skinner, of the
81" shaft, was told that, If desired, he could
go down the Diamond shaft. Accordingly the
party started. Upon reaching the bottom by
means of the cage it was found that about
ne foot of water still remained. Although
the pumps are kept steadily at work the
water does not seem to lower much. Pass
ing along the road of the mine the
party encountered immense piles of soap
stone, which had fallen from the roof,
stopping up the passage. In numerous
places it was only by crawling upon the hands
and knees that progress could be made. Scat
tered along the route were the relics of the
dead. Here was dinner pail, the contents
Just as the unfortunate man had left them,
save for the mold which gathered thickly over
them. A little farther on was widowed coat,
and still further pair of mittens. As the adj
vance of the exploring party was made places
we're pointed out where such and such a
miners body had been found. In one spot it
was said body had been found on the top of
the supporting timbers of the roof, doubtless
where the poor fellow had crawled, hoping to
escape the relentless food. Twice the party
crawled over the dead bodies of mules which
were buried under the fallen rock. The ex-
ploration was continued to the point where
the work of excavating had been stopped.
some five hundred yards from the mouth Of
the shaft.
1t is hard to convey an idea of the immense
labor to be accomplished before the work of
search can be finished. Tons and tons of
rock will have to be removed. A pit boss of
thirty five years experience claims that the
mine can not be cleared until the 4th of July
next, and similar opinions exist among the
miners. No conception of the task to be per
formed had entered the minds of the men I'M
til to-day. Tonight a new system of work
was put in operation. A shift of men was
put to work at the mouth of the shaft, and
all efforts will be directed toward clearing
all the debris away, SO that the cars can be
run on the tracks and utilized to take
away the rubbish and stone. There is
no doubt that many an unfortunate victim
lies buried under these masses of debris. Old
miners say that in all their varied experience
Df disasters they never came across one in
which there Stlch immense mass OF
rubbish to get rid of. They also said that the
mine was one of the safest in which they had
ever operated. While the EXPLORING party
efforts which had been made one miner said
that many a time he had stopped right there
and smoked his pipe, feeling as safe rs if in
his own cottage. Pitt Boss Gallagher said no