New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-14

CJLLTRY.
rBY TFGEGRArH TO THE TEIBrS-l
LYNCHBURG, Va, March 13.--Shorty after md
night a terrific explosion alarmed the residents OK
Pocahontas, Tazewcll County. Virginia, and soon
thereafter a scene Of the most intense eHc'ement
ensued. Men, women and ch ldren arose from their
beds and rushed ont into the open air IN thcWnight-
dresses The streets were thr0nged, and all were
at a loss to determine what had happened. 1t was
not long before the truth WAS known and then tic
excited crowd rushed toward the principal coal
mine in the southern suburb. Upon arriving there,
| dense volume of smoke was found pouring forth
/ from the shaft of the mine.
Scattered around within radius Of a quarter OF
! mile were broken tmbcrs and broken mining ma
chinery of every description. Upon every side lay
| fragments of human bodies, some Of which were
lodged upon the top of sheds aud in the branches Of
adjoining trees. The shTieks of the women and
children filled the air, and added more horror to
the scene.
Everybody appeared paralyzed at the spectacle,
and it was some time before the braves Of the men
present realized the extent of the disaster, and
began to take steps to ascertain the extent Of tho
damage. After two hours had elapsed and
nothing accomplished by the pauic-stricken
crowd, a man with giastly white face mounted
the debris and cried out, For Gods sake men, let's
stop this. We all have friends and relatives down
below, and may be can help them"
FUTILE ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE THE INJURED.
Let us what we can do" he added; " and let
the women folks do the crying" Every one of the
officials of the Camp were below, besides Que hun.
dred and fifty laborcrs There was no one to
lead the reScuing party, and it was with the
utmost difficulty that volunteers could be induced
to go near the mouth Of the mine. Tie leader again
! addressed the men present and then, throwing q
blanket around his head, made effort 10 ascertain
! if il was possible TO enter the mine lie soon
| turned and announced that all attempt at rescue
! Of the poor creatures who were entOmbcd was
less.
| FIRE BREAKS OUT-FRENZIED GRIEF.
dense volume of flame then began pouring out
! of the mouth of the mine, and Illuminated tho
country for miles around; crowds of people collect
ed in groups of half dozen or more,
discussed the terrible situation, and lamented the
death of either father, brother, or husband. When
| it became evident that nothing could be done be-
fore daybreak, every endeavor was made by the
men to quiet the women, one of whom In her frenzy
tore the hair from out of her head by the handful
and cried out: "Oh, my nnoT hii55duI. lie is
burning TO death! Won't some one help hmP
REMOVING THE MANGLED REMAINS.
! When day dawned the horror became apparent.
| The men were by this time more composed and tho
women in measure quietcd. The latter began to
gather up the fragments of the bodies of the unfor.
tunate miners who had been working near the shaft
az the time of the accident and were blown upward
out Of the mine. Every of the fifty men at this
time was overcome with the horrible conylctinl,
doubtless true. that every miner was dead, from
the shock of explosion. or subsequent sHfOcati0n.
1t is impossibletO get detailed account OF the ex-
! p,vslUn III TIE PG5dAOntas Hines, as every thlng
| there is in the utmost confusion. Ihe tele-
| graph operator there has been on duty
two Pisns and is tbd unable dece " pr@ssRs nas&s
teecrams for particulars receive no response.
Another operator was sent there tonight and IL -
thought that there will be trouble III securing
fullaccount of the disaster early tomorrow. TEL
epTam received at o'clock tonight says the whole
of the east mine was shattered ny the eNposOh'and
! every hing m front or the nam entrance was ne-
I moiShed. Both of the mine engines are sale, but
most OF the mine cars were completely wrecked.
FIRE IN TIE MINF-LOCAL EXCITEMENT
Fire can now bc seen at the mouth of the mine,
and no oue can enter. The Farmhouse and
tan are total wreck As soon as they
can he repaired attempts will bc made
| 10 60 INTO the mines A party Of ex-
/ pcriehcol miners under charge OF Colonel George
/ Dodd- from the Coaiicld mines. ChcsteI1eId
County. passed through Lynchbqrs thls evening,
aud viii arrive at Pocahontas at u
o'clock Tonight. The men employed !n the MINES
were mostly llunparans. without families. mum
ber of negroes from this city and the surrounding
region we're also employed there, aud the excite
ment here Is consequently very great
MONEY sunk IN TIE MINES.
What effect the disaster will have on the opera
tions of the mines can only ba conjecturod until
the full extent OF the damage is known.
The mines have not been loag
opened hut the company had gotten well uuder
way and was Supplying large area or
country with coal. and tie prospect was
most encouraging. large coains STATION
for the supply OF ocelh steamers
being in process OF construction AZ Norfolk. "Alle
the accident will have ;he effect Of lctaldng work
at the mines. il is not beIeyed tha5
it will cause permanent Giscontnuauce
| of oneratiOns. rs a great deal of money had ben
expcudrd there by Northern capitalists composing
| the >outl west Improvement Company
WHOM THE MISE Is OWNED BY.
RICHucyD. March 13.-Ihe mine IN winch the
disaster occurred is known as the Flat Top Nine,
and is situated al the base OF the Flat Top Noun
tains. which divide flat part of Virginia from
West Virginia The company working the miLe
IS nomiually known as the Southwest
Vireluia Improvement Company, but
tbe mine is really under tue
control of the Norfolk aud Western Railroad Conn
many who have q B. anch road known - lie New
! PiTGr Division running from New T. er 10 Foca-
| Loutos a10ut sixty miles. John {. I-cy OF Penn
svl,auia is president of the Improvement company
and " Milhanl A. Lathrop = superntcnocnt Inc
! mine j. comparatlXely new. having been ~ ac;lNe
| oneration but little over 2 year IIOu 900 10 OUo
hands employ ed ,ii't "a large quantity Oh cOaI
! was being taken Out