The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-02-29
DEADLY FIRE DAMP.

DEADLY FIRE DAMP.
Nineteen Miners in = Pennsylvania CoIiIery
Killed by - Explosion Of Fire Damp
Eno Bodies all Recovered-A Large Mum.
Der Of Widows aud Orphans Lett 70
Mourn.
UNIoNrowN, PA, Feb. 20
The little mining village Of West Lelsen-
ring, four miles north Of here, was this
morning the scene of the most terrific ex.
plosion ever known in the coke regions.
The Connellsville Coal and Iron Company
have 1000 coke ovens here which have been
in operation about year. The works give
employment to about 100 men and quite a
little town has sprung up. The coal is OBJ
tanned by means of q shaft which reaches
the mine at a distance Of 400 feet from the
surface.
This morning part of the force, who had
worked all night, left the mines at little
after two o'clock, and seventy others took
their places, making the usual morning
shift.
At about half past six o'clock, while the
men were digging, suddenly, without warn.
ing, there occurred an explosion that con.
vulsed the mine in every apartment and
threw the Men into the utmost consterna-
ton. The scene of the explosion was in one
of the apartments, fully $40 feet distant
from the bottom of the 81 aft, and therefore
about 200 feet rom the surface ope ling,
yet the report was heard on the outside for
a considerable distance, and caused such a
jar that the top of the derrick hundred
teet high was knocked off. Two mules
acf,, IL h<>tt % IL, Sc
800 feet from the explosion, and the rush of
air blew one of them through the wooden
cage, shattering it to pieces. The other
mule died '-om snffncation.
The awful scene that ensued among the
terror-stricken miners can not be de.
scribed. All their lamps were blown out
and they were let in darkness and coniu-
sion. They had not time to recover from
their SHOCK until they found themselves
unable to breathe. The explosion of the
fire damp left the mine filled with after
damp, which contains no oxygen, and rem
ders it impossible for liis to be susi aimed
for any time. This after damp is densest
in the upper part of the mine and hence the
men lowered near the DO tom, but even
here they did not long find relief.
or all those who were in the heading
where the explosion occurred Dick Baisley
alone escaped to tell the awful story.
were blown out Baisley was just changing
his clothes He at once wound part OF his
clothes tightly around his face and mouth
to keep the Ioul air from choking him and
gave the rest of his garments to mis- COM
panion, with instructions to take the same
precautions. He then started for the main
entrance, bid ling his companion to follow.
They ran over the bodies of men and over
shattered wagons. They could see nothing,
hut could hear the groans of dying men.
Presently Balsley's companion prot tested
that they were not going in the right direc-
ton and turned back. Like Lots wife, he
persisted. BalSley pushed on until he fin
allv saw the light and was taken out.
When the news of the explosion was
flashed around the families of the men gath
cred about the shaft and were wild with
suspense. Balsl-y's story gave them little
ground to hope that any of the miners
would be got out alive. So dangerous was
the after damp that it was fully two hours
before anv volunteers could enter tie
mines. Many were on hand ready to make
the search, but We're unable to do so until
hope of rescuing the unI ortunates alive had
qui fi,,d.
l. was about eight O'Clock when the first
Michael R.pko, q Hungarian. His face
bore no marks Of viol nee and he had evil
IDENTIFY died from suffocation.
The work of rescu ng the men now went
on rapidly by willing volunteers and at
noon nineteen bodies had been carried out.
The company'S books were then exa mined,
the roll called, and it was announced that
all the men We're accounted for.
Coroner Baton of this place, with many
citizens, went from here and the inquest
be IAN at $50 O'Clock. No testimony was
taken except that which identified the
dead. the list &C whom is as follows:
THE DEAD
Michael He1crn Irish, bruised in the face;
leaves wifi. aud SIX eli dreu.
John buckley, Irish, unmarried; no visible
injury.
Patrick Kennedy. irish. burned in face; I'm.
mar led and only child of willow:
James Tracy,, .risl. badly burned in the face
and body: single.
,mes Bake. Irish, terribly burned in face;
leaves wife and two chi lren.
David Lloyd, Welsh. unmarried; burned in
vi am DAVIS Welsh. single; no marks.
Tho "a McGarr. Irish, b:n.ly burned: leaves
wife and three children in Cumbe: land COun-
john Hart. American. single: no marks
Michael Ripko. Hungarian; wife and two
CGrorgc Calls. Hungarian; leaves wife in the
aniei Buckner. colorcd: leaves wife and
two children
John Mu ray. Irish. wife and one child.
Peter Walters lrish single; brother of Mrs.
Murray.
William Soaring, native: "ife and foul Chill.
dren.
Joe Baker. Hungarian: leaves a wife.
Andy warm'Is. German: single.
Albnn \. Ra 'kncy of this county; wife and
one child.
e. E. May, nat We of Maryland.
Most of the above bore no visible marks
of violence. but had died from suffocation.
Their faces were very black, the smoke and
dust having been blown into the skin.
The last man taken out alive was Henry
Wilson, who had managed to suDsist on air
In the very bet. I'm of the mine until res
cued. He was almost gone. Many of those
who were in other parts of the mine SUI
fered severely.
After iden; flying the bodies Coroner Bar.
ton adjournei the inquest until Saturday
morning. The company will bear all the
expenses of the funerals which will take
place tomorrow and next day.
Tue accumulation of so Ruch gas in this
mine as to cause such an explosion is a
matter of much surprise. No accident ever
n rod hnrx. md lal