Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-29
DEADLY FIREDIMP.
over Twenty Miners Impri soned in a Burn
ing Shnft-Two Taken Out Dead.


irg Shnft-Two Taken Out Dead.
A Unionlown pa special to the Herald
says: The dreadful explosion OF fre-damp
by which nineteen miners lost their lives
at West Leisenridge last March led to such
q rigid system OF mine inspecting through
out the coke regions as, il was thought,
would guard against further calamities OF
that kind. But all precautions have failed,
and the deadly Gre-damp has caused an
other explosion in a neighbOring niue,
probably as disastrous as that at West Lei
senridge. Four miles north OF UDiontown
are located the coke.works OF the Youngs-
town Coke Company, whose owners are
Henry BOnneli, OF youngstown; L. w.
Kennedy. and other wealthy capitalists in
The Maboning Valley, Ohio.
THE NINE.
There are go ovens, and they are fed
with coal taken from the mines by slope.
The mine is supposed to be we'll ventilated
with air.shafts, and since the Leisenridge
disaster care has been taken TO have it kept
perfectly safe. This morning the fre-boss
made his usual inspection and found moth
ing unusual TO attract his attention. The
men who take the day turns went on duty
and came out about 4 O'Clock. Their places
turn, over twenty in number Superinten-
dent Refs and Pit Boss James Cole had Just
been in the mine making some examina-
tons and had gone to the company's Office.
TWO EXPLOSIONS.
Not more than two minutes bad elapsed
before they heard heavy explosion. The
first report was followed in about five min.
utes hy second aud on going to the mine
they found II all ablazc, the fierce flames
reaching out TO the surface and blocking all
the avenues OF entrance. After nearly an
hours work they succeeded in descending
by way OF an air.shaft and began TO take out
the bodies Of the miners. II was found
that the explosion bad occurred on the
right slope on the sixth fiat, hilf a mile
from the mouth OF the mine. The men
bad been drawing ribs, and ii is sup
posed the roof gave way, thus liberating a
large quantity OF fire-damp. The report
OF the explosion had spread rapidly through
the community and many people gathered
about the scene. The first dead body
brought out was that OF joseph Zebley.
His aged father had been standing at the
mouth oi the mine anxiously awaiting the
search. Dleading the answer, he asked
them whose body II was. When told II was
tbHt va h'o SVh tbC Oih Aith va,
with grief.
Jack Lqpe, a rope-rider, suffocated bv
the fatal afier-damp; he was married and
leaves two children; Joseph Zebley, pump
er, found horribly burned and crushed.
THE WOUNDED.
The following were taken out alive,
although some Of them are fatally injured (:
no.. IL
arm broken and BADLY burned: David
Cole, pit-boss, burned and bruised proba-
bly, beyond recovery; Jacob Cole, father OF
bruised; Washington Refer, slightsa IN
iured. y
THE RESCUED AND MISSING. @
Wash kefier was not much hu,s,isa he
had the presence Of mind TO lie down In
pool OF water and avoid inhaling the gas
He resembled drowned rat. Two of the
six were thus fatally suffocated, and proba-
bly, one or two more OF them may die.
There Is a difference II opinion "a 10 how
many were In the mine ut the time OF the
explosion. One count has it twenty.one
and another twenty-four, so there are vet
In the mine either fifteen or eighteen men.
Every effort has been made tonight up 10
late hour 10 rescue them. but in vain.
ALL PROBABLY DEAD.
There Is scarcely chance for any of them
10 be taken out alive now, rs il is thought
they have all persisted before this in the
deadly after-damp. There ia only one es-
cape from this gas, and that is to do as Kef-
fer did and bury ones self In the water.
But, even " water was not lacking, prob.
ably presence Of mind was and the terri.
BILE prospect OF taking out fifteen or eigb-
teen c0rpses now remains. while wives and
children cry around the mine IN shrieks of
beart.rending agony. Not until morning
will The terrible tale be known. The coro-
ner and many others have gone from here
TO the scene.
ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA.
1t Is remembered that there is a striking
resemblance between the atmospheric con.
ditions to-day and the day when the Lei.
senring explosion occurred. To-day. AZ
then. there has been wind and rain, and a
mountain storm with heavy and murkv
atmosphere. This Is demonstrated 10 be
favorable for the accumulation OF the fire.
damp in mines. Nevertheless no pas had
been discovered In the mine for q month.
The men were drawing ribs, some with
safety lamps and some without them.
Either the condition OF the atmosphere was
peculiarly favorable TO the rapid aceumula.
lion OF the gas, or else the falling in Of the
roof suddenly liberated large gas seam.
fBy Associated Press.l
THE WORST FEARS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MORE BODIES RECOVERED.
UMoxrowH, October 9S.-The worst
fears touching the fate Of the men who
were imprisoned In the coal.mine N
youngstown have been fully confirmed.
The work Of reaching The imprisoned uen