Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-29
A HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
Details of the Mine Explosion at union-
town. Pa.-Fourteen Dead Bodies
Observation-Disclosures scenes
AT the Mouth of the Pit.

UNIoNrowN. Pa, Oct 2S.
The worst fears touching the fate of the
men who were imprisoned in the coal nine
at Youngstown. four miles from here, bv 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 disaster Two of
them were dead and two of the other four are
so seriously injured that there is no hope of
recovery. There are still from II to Is men
who are supposed to be still imprisoned in
the mine. The exact number is not certainly
known. The work of reaching these men
continued iudustriously throughout the night
and by morning the dead bodies of ~ had
been brought out and delivered to their friends
and relatives at the mouth of the pit. This
makes IA dead in all, and the four who were
injured accounts for the Is, the whole num-
her supposed to be in the mine. Ii Is not
known whether there are any more remains
vet to be discovered, but il is believed that
all have been found at this writing. A COM
plete and accurate list of the dead cannot be
given.
The scenes at the mouth of the pit as the
disfgured bodies were brought to the sur
face and given into the hands of wives and
relatives were distressing in the extreme. Ii
was sad spectacle indeed, and moved to
tears many of the hundreds who had been
drawn there by the news of the disaster. Ii
cannot be stated now whether the explosion
was due to the carelessness of the company
or not, The miners allege that it was, but
on the heels of a calamity like this the first
impulse usually is TO attribute the blame to
the company. 1t is well known, however,
that the Youngstown company has always
been very careful, and the knowledge that
their mine was dangerous one and predis-
posed to the generation of fire damp made
them more careful than ever, The mine was
inspected every morning, and whenever the
presence of fire damp was detected it was
invariably ordered to deny the men admission
until the gas had been expelled. This was
the rule and the Officials say it was rigidly
enforced but the miners claim that the cont
pany discharged the competent fire boss
about two months ago, and have since en-
ployed in that capacity one who was not
competent to determine whether the mine
was safe or not.
Fourteen dead bodies have been recovered.
The dead men were found in every conceiv-
able position. The greater part of them
were sutlocated by the after damp. Seine
were burned to a crisp, and many were badly
bruised by being knocked against the sides
of the pit. Those who were not killed in
stantly showed evidence of having made
great endeavors to escape. Seven were saved
but were more or less burned and bruised.
Coroner Batten impannelled a jury, and on
Thursday morning will begin a thorough
investigation. The fourteen bodies which
have been recovered and the seven men
injured, making in all 2l, are all that are
supposed to have been in the mine at the
time of the explosion. Most of the miners
are natives, and nearly all of those killed
were married and had families. There is
great excitement here. Fourteen collins
arrived from Pittsburg this afternoon. The
dead have been laid out and tomorrow the
bodies will be inferred.
The general accepted theory Of the cause
Of the explosion is that gas. which was known
to have gathered in portion of fiat No G,
escaped into the place where the men were
at work through door left open by care
less driver. Several of the men had open
lamps and it was from these that the gas
ignited.