Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-30
The Diamond Mine Horror.

The Diamond Mine Horror.
THE BODIES or THE MINERS REcovKREp.
BRAIDwooD, H., March 26.-There
are marks of the destroying angel plain
ly visible in the little towa of Diamond
where tonight at midnight there were
brought to the surface the bodies of
nine of the miners who lost their lives
by the sad catastrophe of February
10Th. 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 block
ed with excited people going to and
from the mine. Late last night it was
announced that the bodies which had
been found by an exploring party would
be brought to the surface and
placed in the morgue by ten
o'clock. The available grounds in the
vicinity OF the hoisting shaft was COM
pletely packed with a crowd of people
numbering not less than 1000, who
were excitedly mingling with each
other, discussing tho probability of the
indentification of the bodies when they
should appear above the mouth of the
hoisting shaft. The water was vir-
tually out at nidnight last night,
enough SO to permit party of work
ere to carry on the operations of re-
moving the soap-stone and debris that
had fallen in the passage-way blocking
it enough to prevent the searching
party from removing the bodies from
where they lay. When the first
entrance was made to the main shaft
it was ascertained that the roof had
caved to slight extent. It was de-
termined that it would be injudicious
to bury up the bodies in the morning
as was vt hrst profsosed, and 4bat the
fact was announced to the crowd that
the dead bodies would not be taken
out until tomorrow morning on ac-
count Of the inside work that had to
be done during the day. However,
private search was instituted
and a thorough examination of
the various passages was made while
in the south working of the mine this
rarity came across the trap door, which
was partly imbedded in the caved roof.
Hosting open this door the party made
an entrance into the passage in spite of
the black damp that almost choked
them, and discovered not far ahead two
bodies, both lying upon their faces.
Proceeding farther two more bodies
and still further two more were found.
Upon Two of them were huge piles of
soap stone, which had dropped from
the roof. Without removing or any
way touching the bodies, the party re-
treated before the black damp that was
coming upon them faster and faster,
to the main shaft, where they were
raised to the surface when it was
learned that six bodies were found.
The Diamond mine officials made
active preparations to get the search
ing party into shape 80 that just as
soon as darkness came they could 90
down and speedily remove tho bodies
already located. At s o'clock this
evening this party secretly prepared
for the journey to the depths below,
and without attracting attention any
more than was absolutely necessary.
They were lowered and after deec ent
of minute or so stood upon the cage
plates at the bottom in inches OF
water, and proceeding to where
the bodies lay they were placed
upon canvass stretched out and borne
to the mouth of the main shaft where
they remained until midnight, when
they were to be cased in wooden boxes
and hoisted to surface. At midnight
two great soft coal torches were lighted
and the party below instructed to send
up the first body. A slight putting Of
the engine, gentle glide Of the cage
up from the gloom of the shaft and q
body was at the surface, ready for re-
moval. Willing hands seized the box
, and it was borne to the morgue, where
it was placed upon the floor and the
crowd allowed to pass around and view
the dead, in hopes some one would be
enabled to identify the corpse.
Nearly half the crowd had
passed by when small boy
in looking into the box, recognized
features and cried out, "It's my falher."
The child's Identification proved cor
rect, as it was the body Of Paddy
Wall. The face was in horrible con-
| dition, the flesh being red, while the
scalp was badly bruised. Other bodies
were then raised and two of them iden-
titled as VIM. johnson and John Huber.
Further developments are expected to-
morrow as two shafts will be at work
all day working their way through i'm
manse piles Of soap stone that had
fallen from the roof and blocked the
way. The searches that have been
IA fOrftxnokalrT hnrx. aRk 1~1
by no serious disaster, though it ia said
they are in great danger.
BRAIDwooD, March 26.-Great crowds
of miners, women and children remain
ed throughout the night and q greater
portion to-day to witness the removal
Of the drowned miners from the i'll
fatod Diamond mine, and some Of the
scenes were distressing. From mid
night up TO noon 26 bodies were taken
from the shaft and Of these the follow
ing could be recognized: Patrick Wall,
Joseph Smith, Joseph Carroll, Frank
Kloes, Michael harmon, John Johnson,
Mathew Redmond, John Cullough, An
son Drenbroeky, August Paleusis, Frank
Marry, Daniel cBride, John Brakanan,
Herman Umber, John Boyd, John Akin,
Seven remained unidentified. The
bodies generally arein avery advanced
state of decomposition. At seven
O'Clock this morning the funeral train
| left the city for the Diamond mine to
remove the bodies TO the cemetery.
By nine o'clock eighteen bodies in cof-
fms were transferred to two fat Cars
and the train moved ont. Ar it was
passing the edge Of the village lof Dt
amond Mrs. Redmond signalled the
train and was allowed to take the cof-
| I'm In which her boy was placed abe
declaring that she would give it, prop
er burial 1t Braidwsod. ~.