The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-01-27
A GREAT CAvE-M
Nearly Forty Acres Of Land Sinking in
Wilkesbarre.

borhood Of Scott and Kidder streets, in the
Second Ward Of Wlkesbarre. The ground
for a space Of twenty acres or more was COW
cred with cracks and seams, and the report
of the earth giving away was something
similar to loud explosion. The disaster
occurred before many of the res dents in the
locality had risen, and for awhile the great
est CONSERVATION prevailed. Men, women
and children rushed out Of their houses into
the cold, freezing atmosphere half clad and
terror stricken with fright, and their fear
was quite natural, us many Of the houses
showed signs of dropping oyer any minute,
the ceilings Of many Of them having fallen
10 the floor, and the buildings were other
wise injured.
The streets we're soon crowded with peo-
Pile and search was begun TO ascertain the
cause OF all the disturbance. Lanterns and
miners lamps were brought into requisition
aud it was not long before the axact stua-
ton Of affairs was learned. Along Scott
Street was discovered numerous zg.zag
gaps, from two to four and FIVE inches in
width, running diagonally across the thor
oughfare and under the houses that line
Scott street, in the vicinity of the Baltimore,
Boyd's and Barney Boy!e's stores. These
seams were threatening in character, aud
naturally tended 10 greatly increase the
alarm that was ielt Those carrying Ian.
terms in the search were followed by excited
crowds, many OF them children, and some
women, who, upon the discovery OF each
new seam, would cry out in the greatest
agony OF distress.
When daybreak dawned the excitement
was somewhat alluyed, but not to any ex
tent. The news spread rapidly, and in less
than two hours after the cave-in, thousands
were on the spot or in the immediate vi
cinity. The most conflicting reports were
anoat, which only went to add to the al
ready excited feeling existing among the
property owners, who feared another shock
at any moment which would leaye them
homeless and penniless. The greatest dam
age was found to tave been done on Scott
street. Here seams ran across the street
every few feet, some Of them measuring
four or five inches 10 width. The rave-
ments had been filed up in some places TO
the height Of several feet.
The houses on each side of the way had
nearly all been more or less seriously in
jurcd, ceilings and plaster work had been
shaken down doors jammcd to, or the frame
work forced apart, floors had been split and
the foundations of many structures seriously
damaged. The residence of Frederick
Landmesser was greatly damaged. The
huors are split and the foundation walls
cracked and thrown out of place in such a
manner that it seem almost impossible for
the house TO remain standing. Further
down the street are the buildings owned by
Mrs. Haines and the residence of Peter o.
Donnell, which are almost ruined. The
seams run across the street and under many
of the buildings. The foundation walls of
nearly all of the structures on Scott street
are more or less injured. The school house
built of brick, although itself almost unin-
jured, is surrounded by gaping earth cracks,
one of which runs completely under the
building, aud no school was held in conse
Qnence.
The ground in many PLACES has sunk full.
ly foot below the surface level. The ter
ritory that has thus caved in is situated
over the old abandoned workings once
wor! 9 by the Delaware and Hudson Ca
nal Company. It is supposed that the props
in the fifteen loot Baltimore vein, situated
about $50 feet belew tie surface, have rotted
and given way, thus causing the disaster
though old and reliable miners contend that
the accident is the result of pillar robbing
The entire extent of the cave.in comprises
space of nearly forty acres, most OF which
is covered with dwellings and other build
ings. During the day many people moved
away from the scene oi the disaster as it II
thought that this is but the beginning of a
more serious trouble.
SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.
Three persons were killed by the Gavin G
iu of a coal mine, December 10, 1869, at
Stockton, Pa. A cave in Of mine at Will
; Jamestown, ia, killed three men January
81, 1873. The roof of the Diamond Mine ,at
Scranton, Pa, iell in on November 20, 1877,
| killing two miners. Bellevue, Pa, caved
IN November "a, lS7S. Diamond Mine, al
Scranton. Pa, fell in December 4, 1877
Pittston Mine caved in at Pittston, January
10, 1877. A mine at Wilkesbarre, Pa, iel
, in April "a, 1879, entombing seven men, af
terward rescued. A mine at OXiurd, Pa.
caved IN January l2, 1880. Mine No. A, o
the Philadelphia Company near Shenadoah
; Pa, caved in May 10, 1880. Mime at Balt
more, Pa, caved in March II, 1882.
A Step Taken to Start Water Company.
I - ~. "A.