The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-21
THE MINE DISASTER.
Horrible Condition of Affairs at BraidwOod
Additional Victims.

Additional Victims.
BRAIDwooD, ILL.,, Feb. 20.-As dav by day
goes by the horrible condition of affairs be-
comes more evident and many new things
are being discovered that will tend to add to
the terrors of the catastrophe The Rev. F.
w. Adams, the pastor of the Presbyterian
mission OF the Village of Diamond is one of
the best-posted men to be found, and especi-
ally upon the detailed sufferings of the un-
fortunate families. Mr.. Adams said to re-
porter last night;
II have for the last two days spent all my
time making my way among these families
WHO have been affl cted by this horrible dis
aster, and in my numerous visits have seen
some of the most touching scenes that mortal
eye has ever witnessed. What | consider the
most terrible feature of the affair is the fact
that there are are twenty women prematurely
confined in childbirth in consequence of the
nervous shock which the news of the death
of some relative in the mine had produced.
These women are of various ages, but in
nearly every case they now have young chill
dren who need their support. What is to be
done for them do not know, for am of the
opinion that not one of the twenty mothers
spoken of can possibly recover from the
shock OF the unnatural childbirth. In most
of the houses that | have visited l have found
them in need, but in most cases the members
Oh such families are not wiling to make ap-
pi}cation for help.
fDo you know 1 am certain that there are
large number of men dead in the mine of
whom nothing is known. 1t is a strange but
astonishing fact that no list of the workmen
who were in the mine on that day was kept
aiyi even the bookkeeper of the company
does not know who were in the mine when
the disaster occurred. The only available
list that is now in the possession of sthe Off
cials of the company is one that has been
compiled from list of those who were re-
ported missing, and who themselves knew to
be in the mine"
Six new names have been added to the list
of those killed in the Diamond mine disas-
ter, making eighty in all. 1t is feared the
number may yet reach one hundred. The
new names are Lewis Williamson, who
leaves widow and six children; Sam Lin
a,ssske, who leaves a widow and four chill
s.reA in Germany; John Dowing, single; Abel
Lin ncominge relatives unknown; Louis Star
brick, family, and John Jellif
AT 1 o'clock this morning the bumpers at
the Diamond mine broke down, but re-
manned and started to work at A. NJ At
this hour, II P. NJ, the water has been
lowered twenty-five feet in the main as we'll
as in the air shaft. Three new pumps were
! received last night, and two are working
now, and the other is being put to work as fast
as possible There is great deficiency in steam
power there not being enough steam to run
all the pumps and hoist the cage. The Chi
cago e Alton Railroad Company placed To-
comotive at the disposal of the coal company
for making steam to work the pump.
Six bales of hay have been placed in the
crevice. The work still goes on with a full
force of men, and the surface-water is falling
gradually: bitches have been dug
leading from the pumps. The relief
committee met to-day and issued cir
culars TO send all over the country.
A. L. Sweet general manager of the Chicago,
ilt,aiY YfrF,N nd Nar
telegraphs that the company has authorized
HIM to subscribe $1,000, and he personally
subscribed Sl00 Weadley e. Dennehay, of
Chicago, sent 500, and some other small sub
scriptions have been received, making to-
tai fund of 81, ,4S5.
Progress of Pumping Out the Mine.
CHICAGO, Feb. 20.-The Daily News's
Braidwood, ILL.,, special says: The outlook is
much more cheeful here to-day. The water
in the main shaft has been lowered fully
twenty feet, and it can safely be said that
rogress is being made, although slowly. A
number of anxious faces still
disaster occurred, peering aimlessly
into the sink hole. The water has all
nearly disappeared in the cave, leaving
hole about the shape OF the bowl of a funnel,
100 feet by ninety and about fifteen or
eighteen feet deep A Golfer dam around
softening weather. the water seeps and
oozes back into the hole. The amount OF
water, however, is not nearly as much
as the volume thrown out by
the pumps so that there is a steady
reduction of the immense underground body
OF water The proprietors of the mine are
remedying this defect as fast as possible. and
hope to have it entirely choked off by to-
morrow noon. Three gangs of men, each
working eight hours day, are filling up the
hole with clay from dump about 800 feet
distant. First layer of hay was thrown
in, and then a layer of clay, making
what is claimed by mining engineers
to be the most effectual filling that Gamble
used. The progress made has given the
miners more heart, and many volunteers,
with willing hands, have taken hold and are
doing gall in their power to fill up the hole
and make the coffer-dam ar-tight
In conversation with w. S. Cherry, to-day
most emphatic encouragement was given in
regard to the probable time when the earth
would give up its dead Mr. Cherry is
mining engineer of twenty years expert
ence, and one in whose judgment
much confidence is placed Mr.. Cherry said:
Il hope to be able to get the water out in
ten days. and l may say the task bids fair to
be accomplished IN that time, with no un-
foreseen drawbacks. We shall add one more
pump at the air shaft here, tonight, and
we hope to have two tubs working ut the
main shaft instead of one."
Relief for the Sufferers
Special tc the indianapolis Journal.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Feb 20-Matthew Hun
ter, one OF the early superintendents of the
ID.s