New-York tribune., 1884-02-21
THE DEADLY FIRE DAME
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN A NINE.
NINETEEN MEN sUFFoCATfD-INIkNsh hNO'i+
MrXr AT IEIsENRlNG.

a
Uxoxrowx. Penn. Feb. 2o'-lhe n''0 N"."s s
.f West Lesenring, four miles noi.n Va "0l.'
a. ,,oruinc the scene of the most Ter
sieo oxnlosion ever known IN this re-
r;ar The Connelsville Coal and Iron
-. or which Judge Lciscnrng. OF Mauch
Cr,,I ;s nrcsident has 200 coke ovens here, which
have been in operation about year. lhe WORKS
give employment TO about 100 men, and quite
town has sprung up, named after the PresldchI
of the company The coal is obtained by means OIL
q shaft which reaches the mine at distance of 4oo
feet from the surface.
This morning part of the force, who had WORKED
during the night, left the mine at a ittle alter d
o,clocl, and 20 others took their places, making
the usual morning shift. At about 6:3o O'CLOCK
while the men were digging. suddenly and without
warning. there occurred an explosion that shook the
mine in every apartment and threw the men into
the utmost CONSERVATION.
The scene of the explosion was in an apartment
fnllv 500 feet from the bottom of the shaft and
therefore about 200 feet from the opening at 'hc
surface vet the report was heard OUTSIDE loI " eo
siderable distance, and the cOncnSslo WY; T.; ~ So
that the top of the derrick, 100 feet hlgh, WIS
tnocked off Two mules were standing at the
bottom of the shaft 500 feet from where the eA.
plosiOn occured and the Isn ol an oodcn m"s eage
that one OF them was blown through WOODEN Saee
shatternc il. The other mule died from Sunocd
ton.
AWFUL CONFUSION IN THE NINE.
The awful scene that ensued among the terror
stricken miners cannot be described All ,hcil
lamps were blown ont, and they were left in dark
ness and confusion. They had not time 70 recover
from the shock before they found themselves unable
20 breathe The explosion, which was caused by
fredamp. term which miners apply to the hgnt
carbonated hydrogen, or coal gas, that issues
from crevices in roofs of mines, leit
the m; "a filled with afterdamp, which contains no
oxygen and renders impossible Tor ne 10 oe sS 70
tanned for any time This a1teruamp Is ugmSe hrafra
tho upper part of mines aud the men, therefore,
congregated near the bottom. But even here they
did not long find relief. , -
OF all the men who were in the heading where tne
explosion occurred Dick Basley alone escaped t0tei
the awful story. When the explosion came ana al
the lights were blown out Basley w was oIt 1uSff 81
his clothes tightly around his face and mouth to
keep the foul ar from choking hlm ana gave inc
IefI mitb u instructions to take the same
UTecautions wnsn lie then started for, the mann
entrance, bidding his companion 70 lolIoWt tnroS
ran over the bodies of men and over snatteleu
wagons. They could see nothing, but could c9uld , near
tbe groans of diving men. Presently, Balsleys com
ganG36 gSbt retton ah0y and turned
and perished. Balsloy pushed on until he
finally saw light and was taken out. Ills escape PEI Is
regarded by experienced miners as one or 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 10 aIter-
damp until finally they succumbed.
THE ANXIETY OF THE MINERS FRlENDS'
When the explosion became known the families
of the miners gathered about the shaft aud
awaited developments in breatheSs suspense.
Basley's story gave them little ground TO
hope that any of them could be got out alive.
SO dangerous was the atter-damp that 1t was fully
two hours before any volunteers could enter the
mines. Many, were hand ready to make
search but ere unable to do so until all hope of
IL, LoH Ha1 / fxxqC
about o'cloclr when the first body was brought
out. 1t was that of Michnl RiPko, Hungarian,
whose wife and two little children were waillng
and weeping at the shaft. His face bore no marks
of violence and he had evidently died from suHOca
rRECovERING THE DEAD BODIES.
The work o. recovering the bodies then went on
RAPIDLY it being done by willing volunteers, and at
noon 10 bodies had been carried out of the shaft
The company's books were then examined and the
roll called. 1t was found that all the men were ac
counted for The work proceeded quietness and
order. amid the subdued sObs and wringing
of hands of tho grief f-strcken families. The bodies
were taken TO their homes near by and laid out
Coroner Baton, of this place. with many toWnSnen
went from here. and the inquest began az hal1-pasl
.hree No testimony was taken except that which
jdcntiiied the dead.
SEVERELY BURNED HEARTGENDING SCENES
Nearly every one Of the nineteen victims left
wives and children. Most of the dead bore no
visible mark OF violence ana dted HOm suhoc"-
ton. Their faces generally were very black,
the smoke and dust having been blown into their
skin. The last man taken out alive was Henry
Wilson, who maDagedt TO subsist on air at the very
bottom of the mine, until rescued. He was almost
gone. Many of those who were in other parts Of
the mines suffered severely.
Dick Balsey reports that the men acted much
Ike horses in burning stable. They were bewil-
6ered and not knowing which way to go, refused to
go in any direction. Some of them were SO burned
that the flesb dropped from their bodies when they
were removed.
The scenes at the afflicted homes tonight are
heart-rending beyond description. In Hackney 8
house lie two cOrpses those of himself and friend Uay.
In the house of the Hungarian, Ripko, is perhaps
the saddest sight This family seem to have ad-
Napccd far heVOnd their average COuntrymen IN CIV
jzatjor aud their house cheerful and attractive.
The aeaA husband and father lies upon the bed;
J},s satlsSnq wife sits az hs head kissing and
eaIessaug Kan. while his two little children stand
sui call him in Vgi9.