St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-04-07
RECOVERING THE BODIES OF THH
DEAD MINERS.

Mine-Afecting Scenes.
BRAIDWoOD, H., March rs.
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 thes
water had bloated and discolored his
body beyond recognition. Up to 1880 D. 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
Cullough, A. Dembrosky, John Dembrosky,
George Boukosky, August Palenis, Frank
Marry, Daniel Mcbride, Herman TIMBER,
John Atkins and John Boyd. The remains were
in every instance in most shocking condf-
tion. When being placed in the collins even
the most gei2tle handling caused the flesh to
fall off in pieces The morgue itself was filled
with the disgusting odors arising from the pu-
triied 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. m. Eighteen collins, with
their disagreeable contents, were taken on
the 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 frantica1ly to
her desolate home, saying she could not per-
nit 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 q most dis
tressing scene took place. Women and chill
| dren shrieking and crying demanded that
they be allowed to see the remains. This
demand was acceded TO- when the coffin-lids
were taken off, the crowd 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 gDembrosky. His
| bereaved wife, rending the air with her cries,
wringing her hands, and weeping in the agony
| of woe, called upon God to return to her the
l.
| 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 Eraidwoou.
The excitement seems to have abated some
| what and although crowds press eagerly for
| ward ON the sidewalk, it is only out of idle
curiosity. The remains of miner who had
| been member Of some benevolent organiza-
fhni,n Laot Cfir11r
| 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 scam
| ming the faces of the dead, at last stopped be-
| side one, claiming it as his brother. At the
| same moment woman, who had been engaged
in the sad task of looking at 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 Off, and
| disclosed one mans sock and one woman'S
| stocking. Ssss, st.z -
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 flat cars draped in mourning, was stand
| ing on the track near by, ready for its next
! load of victims. The Daily Ysics representa-
| tive, running across Johnnie Skinner, OF the
"I' 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
! 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,
| 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 a dinner pail, the contents
| just as the unfortunate man had left them,
save for the mold which gathered thickly over
/ them A little farther oniwas a widowed coat,
/ and still further pair of mittens. AS the adj
vance of the exploring party was made places
were pointed out where such and such
| miners body had been found. In one spot it
| was said a body had been found on the top OF
/ the supporting timbers of the roof, doubtless
where the poor fellow had crawled, hof -zg to
escape the relentless flood 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 Ave hundred yards from the mouth of
| the shaft. sst
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 win have to be removed A pit boss Of