The Portland daily press., 1884-10-29
TOGUs.
SAD SPECTACLE.
Scenes at the Mouth Of the
Youngstown, Pa, Mine.
Fourteen Dead Miners Removed Four
9th rs Injared-O Opinions Concerning
the Cause of the Explosion.

UNIoNTowN, Pa, Oct 23.-The worst fears
touching the fate of the men who were impTis.
ODed in the coal mine at Youngstown, four
miles from this place, by an explosion of fire
damp, which took place there at O'Clock last
evening, have been fully confirmed Six Of
the Miners were taken out soon after the dis
aster. Two of them were dead, and two of the
other four ara so seriously injured that there is
no hope of recovery. There are still from IA to
10 men who are supposed to be still i'm prisoned
In the mine, but the exact mum Der was not cer-
tainly known. The work of reaching these
men was continued indnstrlously throughout
the night, and by morning the dead bodies of
twelve had been brought out and delivered to
their friends and relatives at the mouth of the
pit. This makes fourteen dead in all, and !,
with the four who were injured, accounts for
eighteen of the whole number supposed to be
In the mine. Whether there are any more re.
mains yet to be discovered, bnt it is believed
that all have been found
AT this writing complete and accurate list
OF the dead cannot be given. The scenes at
the mouth of the pit as the disfgured bodies of
the dead were brought to the surface and Civ
gu into the hands of wives and relatives was
distressing IN the extreme. 1t was sad
spectacle indeed, and moved to tears many Of
the hundreds who had been drawn to the place
by the news OF the disaster. 1t cannot be stated
now whether the explosion was due to Careless
ness OF the company or not. The miners al
lege that it WAS, but on the heels of calamity
No ehio tHU urob iup pulse usually Is To atbflOuL6
piame TO the company. 1t is well known how
ever that the Youngstown Company has al
ways been very CAREFUL and the knowledge
tnat their mine was a dangerous one and pre-
disposed to generation of fire damp made them
more careful than ever. The mine was in
spected every morning, and whenever the pres
ebca OF fire damp was detected it was in
variaoly ordered TO deny the men admission to
it until that gas had been expelled. This was
the rule, and the fficials say that 1t was rigid
~ enforced. But it is claimed by the miners
that the company discharged competent fire.
poss about two months ago. and have sinGe en-
ployed n that capacity one who was not COM
petent to determine whether the mine was safe
or not.
Fourteen dead bodies have thus far been re-
covered. The dead men were found in every
conceivable position. The greater part of them
were suffocated by after-damp, some were
burned to crisp, and mauy we're badly bruis-
cd by bsing knocked against the sides of the
pit. Those who were not killed instantly
showed evidence of having mace great endt av
ors to escape. Seven were saved. but were
No re or less burned and bruised.
Coroner Bsttin has impaneled jury, and
on Thursday morning will begin thorough
investigation.
The fourteen bodies which have been rscov-
cred and the seven men injured, making in all
twenty-one, are all that ere supposed to have
been in the mine at the time of the explosion
Most OF the miners we're tatives and nearly
all OF those killed were married men and had
families. There is great excitement here.
fourteen cotdns arrived from Pittsburg this
afternoon. The dead have been laid out and
tomorrow the bodies will be Inferred
The generally accepted theory of the cause
OF the explosion is that the gas which was
known TO bavs gathered in a portion Of fiat
No 6, escaped into the place where the men
were at work through the door left open by
Careless driver. Several of the men who were
woIRirg at the place had to open their lamps,
and it was from these that the gas ignited