Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-19
TERRIBLE MINE DISASTER.

Terrific Explosion of Gas in . Coal Mine
Near Ashland, Pa.-Three Men Instantly
Killed, and Two Others Fatally Injured
"A Horrible Sight.
ASHLAND, Pa, MayL
About noon yesterday a terrible explosion
of sulphur and gas occurred at the Keystone
| colliery at Locustdale, one mile west of this
place, instantly killing Patrick Reagen, An
drew Jones and August Welker. John
Foley was employed in cutting the pillar
between Nos. 4 and s breasts. He went
down the main-way to get a drill to put in a
hole. AS he was coming up he heard the
coal working in a very threatening manner
He sat down in the main-way, thinking the
coal would soon cease working. In a few
minutes he again heard the coal working.
Shortly afterward the pillar gave way, rush.
ing a large body Of gas into the gangway.
A strong current of air hurriedly conveyed
the dangerous body of gas until it reached
the end, when a conclusion took place. This
was an ominous sign, and the men, Reagan
and Jones, employed there took to their
heels. Before they had gone very far their
safety lamps became red hot,
and shortly afterward the gas be-
came ignited, causing the fatal explo-
sion. When the men rushed from the gang
way they cried to Charles Tyler and Conrad
Walter, who were engaged in driving an air
way, to run as the gas was a~ccumulating in
large quantities. Tyler and Walter were
just stepping out of the air-way into the
| gangway when the sulpher exploded. The
explosion blowed Town the gangway door,
tore up an air-pipe, felled a huge timber
standing in the gangway to support the coal,
and placed everything in a chaotic condi-
ton. The report was heard in almost every
part of the mine.
The miners and laborers were greatly
alarmed. Not a few threw themselves on
the gangway, there to await results. AS
soon as quiet was restored the bravest
miners started in the gangway in quest of
the men who were there employed. The
FIRST body found was Patrick Reagan, who
was SO horribly burned that the men who
found him could scarcely recognize him.
His body was also %shockingly mangled by
being hurled against the side of the gangway.
The lifeless body of Andrew Jones was found
doubled up in a nook not far from his COM
panions. His body was burned to a crisp,
his clothes having been completely burned
off his body. Tender hands conveyed the
tCuldillS ~ CiC UuOCOHl VI VIC SlOlt dIlu pldCeu
them by the side of Reagan. The next
body found was that of August Welker, who
was mangled beyond description. Charles
Tyler and Conrad Walter were found
moaning and %groaning. Tyler was horri-
bly, burned. His flesh hung in shreds. Wal
ter was found crouched behind a gangway
prop, fearing a second explosion. He was
crying bitterly and held his hands up, show
ing their frightful condition. The miners
who found the two injured men dotted their
shirts, put them on their unfortunate COM
panions, and led them to the bottom of the
slope. BY this time hundreds had collected
at the spot, fearing that their friends were
among the victims. Women and children
were crying. Soon the dead bodies were
hoisted to the surface, where the men who
accompanied the dead narrated the con-
dition of affairs beneath. The bodies were
placed in a wagon and driven to their
homes, where a scene never before
witnessed in this vicinity occurred. Walter is
sinking and can not live. Tyler is expected
to live but a short time. Reagan lived at
Locustdale, and leaves a widow and several
children. Jones resided at Ashland, and
was unmarried. August Welker lived at
Lo%custdale, and leaves a widow and three
children. Tyler and Walter are married
men, and live in the neighborhood of Lo-
custdale. If the gangway men had extin-
guished their safety-iamps when they saw
the conclusion Of air, the explosion would
not have occurred.