Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-03-31

t.Ooavn Among the Dead mea."
BRAIDwooD, Ills. Maneh 26.-fn the
little town of Diamond last night at mid.
night were brought to the surface the
bodies of nine Cd the miners who lost
their lives by the catastrophe OF Febru-
airy l6. From the earliest hour of the
morning up to the time Of the recovery
of the bodies. the roads leading to the
scene OF the awful disaster were blocked
with excited people going to and from
the naine. BY 10 o'clock all the syaila-
bic grounds in the vicinity of the hoist
ing shaft were completely packed with
the crowd of people, Numbering not less
than 1000. When the bodies were
found there was great excitement among
those who composed the groups of look
ers,on. During yesterday private search
was instituted. and thorough exami-
nation of the various passages was made.
While in the south workings of the mine
this party came across trapdoor, partly
Undecided in the eayed roof. Bursting
open this door the party made an en-
trance into the passage in spite of the
black damp, which almost choked them,
and discovered not tar ahead two bod
les with faces downward. Proceeding
farther, there were two more on two of
the huge piles of soapstons fallen from
the root. Without touching the bodies,
the party retreated before the black
damp, which was coming upon them
faster and fasters TO the main shaft,
where they were raised to the surface.
When il was learned that six bodies
had been found the Diamond mine Off
cials made active preparations to organ
ize the searching party, so that as soon
as darkness came they could 60 down
aud speedily remove the bodies already
located. At 8 o'clock in the evening
the party secretly prepared tor the jour.
ney 10 the depths below, aod without
attracting any more attention than was
absolutely necessary, were lowered, and
after descent of about minute, they
stood upon the cage-plates in the bot
tom in nine inches of water. Proceed
ing to where the bodies lay. the search
ing party placed them upon canvas
stretchers ard bore them to the mouth
of the main shaft, where they were to
remain until mldnight. when. after be-
ing encased in wooden boxes, they were
to be hoisted to the SURFACE. AT mid
night two great soft, coal torches were
lighted and the party below were in
structed to send up the first body. A
sligh, putting OF the engine and a gentle
glide Of the cage up from the gloom OF
the shaft, and the body was at the sur
face ready for removal Willing hands
! seized the box, aud it was bourne to the
rnorgue and placed upon the floor. The
people we've then allowed to pass around
and view the dead, in hopes that come
one would be able to Identity the corpse.
Nearly half of the crowd had passed by
when a small boy recognized the fea-
tnres and cried out. "I:'s my father"
The childish Identification proved cor
rect, the remains being those OF Patrick
Wall His face was in horrible CON
, dition, the flesh being red and white,
| and the scalp oadIy Lrulsed. lie otner
bodies were then raised, and two OF
them were ideutifed as those OF William
Johnson and John Huber.
Up to noon to day twenty six bodies
were taken from the shaft, and Of these
fifteen could be recognized: The remain
der have not been identified. The bod
les generally are in very advanced
state of decomposition. At.7 o'clock
this morning funeral train lett this
place for the Diamond mine to remove
the bodies to the cemetery. BY 9 o'clock
eighteen bodies in cofiins had been trans
ferred to two fiat cars, and the train
moved out. AS it was passing the vii
laee OF Diamond Mrs. Redmond sig
nailed the train and was allowed to take
the coffin in which her boy was placed,
she declaring that she would give him
proper burial. Al Braidwood many sad
scenes occurred. Women and children
cried about the train and demanded that
| the eoffins be taken from the cars and
the lids removed, which, in many cages,
was dore. The remains were then placed
in hearses and afterwards given burial.