Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-02-22
DROWNED MINERS.
Further Details Ut the sickenlng Disaster
III an Illinois Mine.

IVA @u AsAusVbb uhhucs
Braidwood. Feb. l9.-The work of res.
cuing the buried miners has assumed
more businesslike manner. Three com.
panies OF workmen have been formed,
consisting ofsixty men. Each company
has foreman and works eight hours per
day and night. Tramways have been
o'clock this morning the dam was COM
pleted and pumping commenced with two
pumps, and box was lowered and raised
on the cage. The box has a capacity of
five barrels. At 6 O'Clock tonight the
water in the main shaft had lowered five
feet. This is very encouraging. Three
moro large pumps will arrive tonight.
Considerable complaint is heard that the
coal company are not using sufficient
effort to get the water out. Some suggest
that the vast quantity lying on the land
for miles should be drained, and that
would cause the water pumped out to
flow away from the shaft and obviate the
necessity for building the dam higher
and draw the water from the ground
around tie whole, and prob
ably prevent more caving. which is
much feared, es the ground underneath
the surface around the cavity is filed
with qnicksand. Superintendent Carey
OF the coal company says that draining
the land would be impossible, as if
bitches were dug the quicksand would
soon fill them. Other superintendents
are of the opinion that the Diamond is
doing oil that can be done unless it be
to get nore pumps. At meeting of
citizens and miners of this community
Mayor Mclaughlin presided. Adjt.. Gen.
Elliott was present by direction of Gov
Hamilton to inform him officially of the
necessities of the sufferers. Gen. Elliott
being called upon, expressed his pro.
found sympathy for the sufferers, and
read the following letter from Gov.
Hamilton:
Gen. J. Fl. Elliott, adjutant-general-
Dear Sir: A terrible calamity has be-
fallen the miners employed in the Dia-
mond coal mines near Braidwood. The
misfortune foudly appeals for public aid
and sympathy. Something ought to be
done for the suffering people. am not
sure whether it is in the constitutional
power of the executive or the legislature
| OF the state to do anything for them or
not, but if anything can be done it ought
| to be done promptly. / feel very solici-
tous about the matter, and in order to be
personally and semi officially advised as
to the axtent of the calamity and the
necessities of the people, advise and
request that you proceed Immediately to
the scene of the disaster tonight. II
possible make as full an investigation as
you can asltoithe extent of the calamity
the suffering. immediate necessities o.
the case, and make report of the same
without delay. I hope you can get away
at once. JOHN NJ. HAMILTON,
Governor.
| Gen. Elliott's report to the. governo
will be that the widows and orphans no
only claim the substantial and immedi
ate assistance of this city and count,
but of TIE state and country. A resolu
ton was passed with hearty appIaus
thanking Gov. Hamilton and his repre-
sentative for prompt attention to til
calamity that has befallen the commu
nifty. Communications were read fror
the archbishop of the Chicago diocese
saying that he would take care of th
orphans of Catholics.
A telegram was received from Go,
Hamilton saying bill was introduce
this afternoon in the legislature to aI
propriate $4,000 for the relief of widow
: andsorphans. An official report wl
read giving the number of widows at g.
e orphans, 80. The following col
trlbutions have been r
ceived: Chicago, $500; Conra,
Seipp & Co., Chicago, $500: Markert
Co, Wilmington, 800; O'Dell, Brail
e wood, Sl00; Father Hogan and friend
5000.
. A resolution was unanimously adop
ed that each miner on tie coal-tield pa
q an average days labor into the reli
y fund on the next payday. The rcli
!, committee have issued the following q
= peal:
q Between forty and fifty widows a,
h 100 orphans are left destitute by Il
1t Diamond shaft disaster. Their conc
h tion present and prospective, deman
- prompt assistance from immediate 81
IS ferlng. The undersigned, in the mar
< and for the use of the sufferers, W
d receive property, acknowledge the san
a. and apply all funds received:
ROBERT Huston, Postmaster.
y WIZ. O'DE11,
j. Cashier of the Commercial National Ban
ID E. w. FELTON,,
M Vice-President of the First Nation
:. Bank, Braidwood, III.