Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-04-07
The BRAiDwooD NINE HORROR.
anxious Crowds Gather to Witness the Re-
suits Of the CHASTITY Search ut Braidwood,
i1ll.-Twenty-two Corpses Taken from the
n Mlne-A6octinr Scenes.

f0uAee OF the GhAStly Search ut BratdWOOd
t1ll.-Twenty.two Corpses Taken from tn,
e1lne-AnectinE Scenes.
- .BRA1DwooD, Ill, March "a
Thle was q day Of intense excitement at thu
diamond mine. Wheni 1t became known earl!
This morning that the bodies which were dis
covered had been brought to tho surface
crowds surged to the shaft, and a scene of the
widest confusion ensued. Relatives ant
friends of the unfortunate victims pressed
eoout the morgue clamoring for admittance
impossible. Even where the poor miner hat
escaped the horrible fate Of being crushed BY
rocks and earth, the action of the
water had bloated ana discolored hii
nooy beyond recognition. Up to 1890 p. m,
tae efforts of the searching parties had been
rewarded by the finding Of twenty-five bodies.
Inose identified were: Patrick Wall, Joseph
smith, Joseph Carroll, Frank Kioss, Mike Ban
non, John johnson, Mathew Redmond, John
Cullough, A. Dembrosky, John Dembrosky.
George Boukosky, August Palcnis, Frank
Marry. Daniel Mcbride, Herman TIMBER.
John Atkins and job Boyd. The remains were
IN every instance in d most shocking cOnd1.
ton. When being placed In the collins even
tne most gentle handling caused the flesh to
1ali on in pieces. The rnorgue itself was filled
SAS NASS AC&iAAS ~ oA ass"S ~ "N -
6l0ed mass. The fumes of the disinfectants
out added to the horrible stencil.
Tho funeral train, appropriately draped,
left Braidwood for the mine at seven q. M,
returning at nine q. IN. Eighteen collins, with
their disagrecable contents, were taken on
the cars. But, disgusting as was the oondf-
ton OF the bodies, it did not detract from the
grief Of those whose loved ones were being
taken to their fnal resting-places. A Mrs.
Redmond, residing near the village OF
Diamond, signaled the train to stop as It
passed her house. With hcartrending shricks
she demanded tho remains OF her boy, en-
easel In one of the collins. This terrible
burden in her arms, she rushed frantically to
her ~dcsolate home, saying she could not per
init Ter child to be buried without seeing that
the body was decently prepared for inter-
ment.
When the train with ite load of humanity
reached the depot at Braidwood q most dis
tressing scene took place. Women ind CHI.
dren shrieking and crying demanded that
they be allowed to see the remains. This
demand was acceded to, when the cofin-iids
were taken off, the o. passed and looked
with curious eyes and hated 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 Dclnbrosky. His
hereaved wife, rending the Dir with her cries,
wringing her hands, and weeping in the agony
of woe, called upon God o 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
professions passed along the thronged streets
of Braidwood.
A The excitement seems to ave ahated some
what, and, although crowdspress eagerly for
ward on the sidewalk, it is only out of idle
curiosity. The remains Of q miner who had
been q member of some benevolent organize
zion, are being conveyed to their last resting
Ilace. A band Of music heads tho procession,
and then follow relations and friends in car.
Hages and wagon 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
we're being identified were Of tho most melan-
choly kind. A man came in, and, hastily soan-
ming the faces of the dead, at last stopped be-
side one, claiming 1t as his brother. 1t the
same m a woman, who had been engaged
In the sad task Of looking at tho bodies in fear.
ful hopes Of seeing the face of O lost one, OK.
claimed that the same corpse was that of her
husband. A dispute arose over this, when
the woman said she could ten II she was fr SIEbt
tHf6sH y shdsband, upon the fatal morning,
when he got up, finding one Of his own socks
wet, had taken one of hers. Accordingly. tho
boots OF the dead man were taken off, and
disclosed one mans sock and one woman's
stocking.
The scene at the Diamond Shaft last n,,ht
was devoid of exciting details. Relays Of
miners stood about discussing the incidents of
tneir 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 It's next
load OF victims. The Daily N:,us representa-.
tive. running across Johnnie Skinner. of the
II" shaft, was told that, IL desired, he could
down the Diamond shaft. Accordingly the
party started. Upon reaching the bottom by
means OF the cage it was found that about
one 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.
up the passage. In numerous
places 1t was only by crawling upon the hands
ana knees That progress could be made. Scat
lered along the route were the relics Of the
aead. Here was q dinner pail, the contents
Just as the unfortunate man had left them
oNS "AiSH B6lueECu LulCklS over
mem. A little farther on was a widowed coat. 4
and Still further q pair Of mittens. As the al. |
vance OF the exploring party was made places
we're pointed out where such and suck a
body had been found. In one spot II
was sald a BODY had been found on tho ton Of |
me supporting timbcrs of the roof, doubtless |
Where the poor fellow had crawlcd. hoping to
escape the relentless food. Twice the partv
over the dead bodies Of mules which
we're buried under the fallen rock. The oD.
was continued to the point where
work of ~excavating had been stopped.
;o'ne hve hundred yards from the mouth of
he shaft.
1t Is hard to convey an idea of the immenaa
aoor to be accomplished before the work ~
earch can be finished. Tons and tons of
ock will have to be removed. A nit boss re
years experience claims that the
line can not be cleared unit the 18th of .Julv
ext, and similar opinions exist among the
liners. No conception of the task to be- nor.
0rmed mad entered the minds of the mon I'm.
! to-day. Tonight q new system Of worl.
as put III operation. A shift of men was
ut 70 work at the mouth OF the shaft, and
efforts will be directed toward clearing
the debris away, so that the cars can he
IN on the tracks and utilized to take
way the rubbish and stone. There ia
D douot. that many an unfortunate victim
Is buried under these masses Of debris. Old
iners say That i'll all their varied exrer;erna (;
ulShSyefS YneV nHIy0r m 1no