The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-02-28

Another Coal Mine Horror.

CNIONTOWN, IA, FeDruary U.-The
little mining village of West Leisening,
four miles north of here, was this morning
the scene of the most terrific explosion
ever known in the coke region. The Con-
nellsville Coal and Iron Company has 900
coke ovens here, which have been opera
ting about a year. The works give en-
ployment to about 100 men. The coal is
obtained by means of a shaft, which reaches
the mine at a distance of 400 feet from the
surface. This morning, THAT part of the
force who had worked all night left the
mines little after three O'Clock, and sew
enty others took their places, making the
usual morning shift about half-past six
O'Clock. While the men were digging, sud-
denly and without warning, there occurred
an explosion that convulsed the mine in
every apartment and threw the men into
the utmost CONSERVATION. The scene of
the explosion was in one of the apartments
fully 800 feet distant from the bot
tom of the shaft, and therefore about
1000 feet from the surface opening,
yet the report was heard on the out
side for considerable distance, and caused
such jar that the top of the derrick 100
feet high was knocked off. Two mules
were standing at the bottom of the shaft,
800 feet from the explosion, and the rush
of air blew one of them through the wood
en- cage, shattering it to pieces. The other
mule died of suffocation. The awful scene
that ensued among the terror stricken min
ers can not be described. ALI their lamps
were blown out, and they were left in dark
ness and confusion. They had not time to re-
cover from the shock until they found
themselves unable to breathe. The explos-
ion of the fire damp, left the mine filled
with the after damp, which contains no
oxygen and renders it impossible for life
to be sustained for any length of time.
This after damp is densest in the upper part
of a mine, and hence the men hovered near
the bottom, but even here they did not long
find relief. OF all the men who were in the
Dick Balsley alone escaped to tell the
awful story. When the explosion
came and ali 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 companion, with
instructions to take the same precautions.
He then started for the main en-
trance, bidding his companion to
ss feow Of pnsy ana rsn over tas Shattered SSa
wagons. They could see nothing, but could
hear the groans of the dying men. Balsley
pushed 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 some men
kept their heads under the water as long as
they could, and would have to change from
water to after damp until they finally gave
up the unequal struggle. Nineteen dead
bodies have thus far been recovered.
UNIoNTowN, Pa, February 22.-The fu-
neral of the victims of the explosion at West
Leisenring took place this morning. A
special train ran out to the shaft from
Uniontown and returned with bodies and
friends at O'Clock. Four cars were filed
with relatives of the dead and the scene
was sad in the extreme. Three victims
were inferred here, six at Dunbar, seven at
Connellsville and two have been sent to
Washington, D. G. Large crowds were at
each place,