The state journal., 1884-02-23
THE DEADLY FIRE DAMP.
A SCORE OF MINERS OVERWHELMED
IN a TWINKLING
Nineteen Men Almost Instantly Killed
Grief of the widows and Children of
the Dead Men-Shocking Scene
which Confronted the RescueTs
story or Suryiyor-&c,

explosion Of fire damp occurred in the
South Butt heading Of the C0nnellsvllle
coke and iron colnpany's shaft, and nine
teen miners were almost instantly killed.
The explosion took place at two minutes
past 6 b clock in the morning, two hours
after the eighty five miners who worked
during the night left the Shaft, and their
places were taken by an equal number,
who were to work during the day.
The Scene Of the explosion was in an
apartment fully 500 feet from The bottom
Of shaft, Which IL 400 feel deep, and
therefore about 200 from the opening at
the surface, vet the report was heard out
side for q considerable distance, and the
conclusion was SO great that the top Of
the derrick, 100 feet high, was knocked
off. Two mules were standing at the
bottom Of the slaft, 800 feet from where
the explosion occurred, and the rush Of
air was 50 great that one Of them was
blown through wooden cage, SCATTERING
it,
The awful scene that ensued among the
terror stricken miners cannot be de-
scribed. All their lamps were blown out
and they were left in darkness and contu
sion. They had not time to recover from
the shock before they found themselves
unable to breathe
The explosion left the mine filed with
after damp which contains no oxygen
and renders it impossible for life to be
sustained for any time. This after-drmp
is denscst in the upper part Of the mines,
and the men therefore congrcgated near
the bottom But even here they did not
find relief.
OF all the men Who We're in the head
ing where the explosion occurred Dick
Balsley alone escaped TO tell the awful
story. When the explosion came and all
the lights were blown out Balsley was
Just changing his clothes. He at once
wound part Of his clothes tightly around
his face and mouth to keep the foul air
from choking him, and gave the rest Of
his garments to his companion with in
structions to take the same prccaution.
He then started for the main en-
trance, bidding his companion to fol
low They ran over the bodies Of
men aud over shattered wagons
They could see nothing, but could hear
the groans Of the dying men. Presently
Balsley's companion protested that they
were nos gang in lie right direction and
turned BACK ana persisted, Ralsley
push on until he finally saw light and
was taken out His escape is regarded
by experienced miners as one of the most
marvellous on record. He says that some
Of the men kept their heads under water
as long as they could, and would change
from water TO after-damp until they
finally succumbcd
The houses Which compose the hamlet
are located several hundred yards from
the mouth Of the Shaft, but the sound Of
the explosion had hcan heard everywhere
in the narrow valiey, and in q q few min
utes the MINE Was surrounded by an awe
stricken group.
The majority of thosc Who gathered
were women ana children whose hus
bands and fathers bad entered the place q
short time before With agonizing cries
the women bcsiegcd the men about the
shaft to go To The rescue Of those at the
bottom, or OF ii they were dead, bring
their bodies to the top.
Several attempts we made 10 enter
the mine, but it was nearly two hours be-
fore the foul air OF after damp was sGtfi
GENTLY dispersed to enable any person to
reach the bottom alive. The sight that
was revealed by the glare Of the lamps
carried by the first persons who de
scended was horrifying in the extreme.
Dead mules, broken wagons, twisted
timbers Of the south Roadway. inanimate
forms Of men who had a short time before
been full Of vigOl, were scattered all
about OF the twenty-one persons
known to have been at work in that
department, not one seemed to be
alive. The other headways were then
examined. About the entrance OF each
were evidences Of the great force Of the
explosion. but in distant rooms where
they had gathered, not knowing whether
they would live another hour or not
the balance Of the miners. Not one was
injured, the swift current Of air that
passes through the mine from one en-
trance to the other having proven an
effectual barrier to the gas when itreached
that part Of the mine from which the
various headways diverge.
1t was about s oclock when the first
body was brought out. 1t was that Of
M chael Ripko, q Hungarian, whose wife
and two children were wailing and weep
ing at the Shaft. His face bore no marks
Of violence, and he had evidently died
from suffocation. The work Of rcscuing
the bodies then went on rapidly, it beiAg
done by willing volunteers, and at noon
nineteen bodies had been carried out Of
the shafts. The company's books were
then examined and the roll called. 1t was
found that all the men were accounted
for. The work proceeded with quietncss
and order, amid subdued sobs and wiring
inc of hands of the griefstricken families.
The bodies were taken to their homes
near by and laid out Coroner Baton,
of this place, with many citizens went
from here, and the inquest began at $50.
No testimony was taken except that
which identified the dead. The inquest
was adjourned until Saturday.
Most of the dead bore no visible mark
of violence, and died from sulIocation.
Their faces were generally very black,
the smoke and dust having been blown
into their skin. A number Of the victims
had been hurled against the sides Of the
pit and were terribly mangled others
were burned almost beyond recognition.
Two men, Richard Boswell and Henry
Wilson, were not dead, and recovered
when restorativcs were administered.
Dick Balsley reports that the men
acted much like horses in q burning
stable They were bewildered, and not
knowing which way to 60, refused to 60
in any direction. Some Of them were SO
burned that the flesh dropped from their
bodies when they were removed.
The company will bear all the ex-
penses of the funerals, which will take
place on Friday The accumulation Of
50 much Gas in this mine as to cause
such an explosion IS matter of much
surprise No accident had ever before
occurred there, and it was regarded as a