The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-02-28

KiIIed by an Explosion Of Fire Damp
The Bodies all Recoyercd-A Large Num-
ber of widows and Orphans Left to
Mourn.
UNIONTOwN, PA, Feb. 20.
The little mining village of West Lefsen-
ring, four miles north of here,f was this
morning the scene of the most terrific ex-
plosion ever known in the coke regions.
The Connellsville Coal and Iron Company
have 1900 coke ovens here which have been
IN operation about year. The works give
employment to about 100 men and quite a
little town has sprung up. The coal is OBJ
tanned by means of a shaft which reaches
the mine at distance of 400 feet from the
surface.
This morning part of the force, who had
worked all night, left the mines at little
after two O'Clock, and seventy others took
their places, making the usual morning
shift.
At about half pastlsix O'Clock, while the
men were digging, suddenly, without warn
ing, there occurred an explosion that con-
vulsed the mine in every apartment and
threw the men into the utmost consterna-
ton. The scene of the explosion was in one
Of the apartments, fully SEQ feet distant
from the bottom of the shaft, and therefore
about ,2QQ feet from the surface opening,
yet the report was heard on the outside for
/ considerable distance, and caused such a
jar that the top of the derrick a hundred
feet high was knocked Off. Two mules
were standing at the bottom Of the Shaft,
500 feet from the explosion, and therush of
air blew one of them through the wooden
cage, shattering it to pieces. The other
mule died from suffocation.
The awful scene that ensued among the
terror stricken miners can not be CAo-
scribed All their lamps were blown out
and they were left in darkness and confu-
sion. They had not time to recover from
their shock until they found themselves
unable to breathe. The explosion of the
fire damp left the mine filed with after
damp, which contains no oxygen, and rem
ders it impossible for life to be sustained
for any time. This after damp is densest
in the upper part of the mine and hence the
men lowered near the bottom, but even
here they did not long find relief.
Of all those who were in the heading
where the explosion occurred Dick Baisley
alone escaped to tell the awful story.
When the explosion came and all the lights
were blown out Baisley 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 mis- com
paniOn. with instructions to take the same
precautions. He then started for the main
entrance, bidding his companion to follow.
They ran over the bodies of men and over
shattered wagons. They could see nothing,
but could hear the grOans of dying men.
Presently Balsley's cOmpanian protested
that they were not going in the right direc-
tion and turned back. Like Lots wife, he
perished. Balsley pushed on until he fin
ally saw the light and was taken out.
When the news of the explosion was
flashed around the families of the men gath
cred about the shaft and were wild with
suspense. Balsley's story gave them little
ground to hope that any of the miners
the after damp that it was fully two hours
before any volunteers could enter the
mines. Many were on hand ready to make
the searchi but were unable to do so until
hope of reScuing the unfOrtunates alive had
quite fed
1t was about eight O'Clock when the first
body was brought out 1t was that of
Michael Ripko, a Hungarian. His face
bore no marks of violence and he had evil
IDENTIFY died from suffocation.
The work of rescuing the men now went
on rapidly by willing volunteers and at
noon nineteen bodies had been carried out.
The cOmpany's books were then examined,
the roll called, and it was announced that
all the men were accounted for.
Coroner Baton Of this place, with many
citizens, went from here and the inquest
began at $3.50 O'Clock. No testimony was
taken except that which identified the
dead, the list GS whom is as follows:
THE DEAD
Michael HeTern Irish, bruised in the face;
leaves wife and six chi dren.
John Buckley, Irish, unmarried; no visible
Patrick Kennedy. irish, burned in face; IN.
married and only child of widow.
james Tracy, irish. badly burned in the face
and body; single.
James Baker, Irish, terribly burned in face;
leaves wife and two children.
David Lloyd, Welsh, unmarricd, burned in
head and face. bel. t.
Wi Tam Davis. Welsh, single: no marks
Thomas McGarT, Irish, badly burned leaves
wife and three children in Cumberland Coun-
ty, England. g-s-
John Hart, American, single; no marks.
Michael Ripko, Hungarian; wife and two
DGcorge Calls, Hungarian; leaves wife in the
Old country.
John Murray. irish, wife and one child.
Peter Walters Irish single; brother OF Mrs..
Murray
William Soaring, native; wife and four chill
dren
Joe Baker Hungarian; leaves a wife.
Andy Warmus, German; single.
Alb2n n. Hackney Of this county8 8w.fe aud
G. E. May. native of Maryland.
Most of the above bore no visible marks
of violence, but had died from suffocatiOn.
Their faces were very black the smoke and
dust having been blown into the skin.
The last man taken out alive was Henry
Wilson, who had managed to subsist on air
in the very bottom of the mine until
cued. He was almost gone. Many of those
who were in other parts Of the mine suf-
fered severely.
After identifyingt the bodies Coroner Bar
ton adjourned the inquest until Saturday
morning. The company will bear all the
expenses Of the funerals which will take
place tomorrow and next day.
Inc accumulation Of so much gas in this
mine as TO cause such an explosion is a
matter of much surprise. No accident ever
before occurred here, and it was regarded