The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-26

A special from wilkesbarre (Pa.) says
AT an early hour Wednesday morning the
pcople residing in the northeastern part OF
this city, Familiarity known as the Five
Points," were thrown into state OF great
excitement by loud report, resembling
the shock OF an earthquake. In IL"
minutes the surrounding streets VIZ
crowded with men, women. ana cniiu ,c,
half dressed and stricken with fright. inc
weather was terribly cold and many per.
sons suffered greatly Hardly hao Tue hIs,
shock passed before another, lust a. iou9
,hn excitement. and many OF those who
stil, remained in their houses made quick
haste 10 desert them.
SCENES or WILD EXCITEMENT.
Mothers caught up their babies, and WIN
wild cries rushed out into the cold, DARK
atmosphere, not knowing but what The
ext minute they would be swallowed up:
Children Joined with their frightened
screams, and for time the greatest con-
sternation prevailed. The fathers OF ram
lilies, mostly miners, tried TO pacny tne ap-
prehensions Of their wives and children;
hut II was of no avail. In the mean
fimo miners lamps were procured, ana
10 learn the exact situation OF affairs.
Numerous gaps in the earth. from three
m EIGHT inches in width, were discovered,
running dagonally across Scott street.
These discoveries tended TO increase the
alarm. and many Of the women who FOL
lowed the explorers gave vent TO their
feelings by the widest actions. Daylight
finally appeared. The news spread like
wildtre, and soon the people OF the whole
town were on their way to the scene OF
the disaster. The cold did not prevent
them. They were bound to see all that
could been seen; the seams upon the road
were followed up, and 1t was found that
nearly every one OF these ran into and
under the foundations OF many houses
located on Scott street.
MANY RUINED DWELLINGS.
In many places the cellar walls were
found TO be cracked, while the ceilings OF
many of the houses were so damaged as TO
cause them to fall. The large brick school
house in the immediate vicinity OF the dis
aster is surrounded with long, wide, and
threatening gaps, and no school was held
TODAY in consequence. The greatest dam-
age was done on Kidder street. In many
Dlsces the earth is sunk more than foot
below the level and sidewalks tossed around
promiscuously. The extent OF the caye-in
covers space of about forty acres, very
nearly the whole of which Is covered with
dwellings, all OF which are more or less
damaged-some OF them past repair.
Fred. Landmesser's house Is almost
ruined and will probably have to be torn
down and rebuilt. The front foundation
walls are bulged out fully thirty inches.
Great cracks are observed in the stone
4. kn ns
port the balcony have been thrown out of
place and hang suspended from their origi-
nal support. The house looks as though it
would tumble forward at any moment.
The walks about the yard are completely
torn up, rs II by an explosion. Peter
ODonnelPs house Is also wreck. There,
too, the foundation walls bulge out from
two to three feet, the lower floors are all
torn up, while one corner is opened by a
huge seam. Further down are two sub
stantial houses. owned by Mrs. Haiues,
widow. The entire fronts OF these strue-
lures are ruined, foundations having been
removed several feet out Of place and a
great many other damages sustained. The
total loss is not yet aseertained, but it will
be heavy.
In the evening all was quiet at the scene
of the disaster. Those who claim to know,
however, say that another shock is liable
10 occur at any moment, and great many
people refuse to sleep in their houses in
consequence.
TIE CAUSE OF TIE DISASTER.
The disaster is accounted for upon the
theory that the props put in some time ago
in an old mine to sustain the roof have
rotted, and are gradually giving way. The
mine is owned by the Delaware and Hud-
son Canal Company. Immediately after the
disaster those residing over the fatal spot
began to remove to safer localities, and re-
movals continue up to this writing, rs gen.
cral apprehensions are felt that the worst
Is to come. The city is much excited over
the affair, and it is the general topic OF con-
yersation.
SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.
Three persons were killed by the caving-
In OF coal-mine, December 10, 1869, at
stockton, Pa. A cavern OF n mine ut Will
Jamestown, Pa. killed three men January
"A, 1873. The roof OF the Diamond Mine,
at Scranton, Pa, fell in on November 10,
1877, killing two miners. Bellevue Col
liery, at Bellevue, Pa, cayed in November
"a, 1878. Diamond Mine, at Scranton, Pa,
fell In December 4, 1878. Pltlston Mine
caved in at Pittston, Pa, January 10, 1877.
A mine ut Wilkesbarre, Pa, fell III April
"a, 1879, entombing seven men, aiterward
rescued. a NINE at Oxford. Pa, cayed in
January II. 1880. Mine No. OF the Phila-
delpbia Company, near Shenandoah, Pa,
cayed in May 10, 1880. Mine at Baltimore.
Pa, caved In March II. 1882