The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-21
a TERRIFIC rxrLbHfon.
Nineteen Miners IkiiIed-Thc Awi
Story. Of ills SDle EurYIyor.

I
PiTrsnuRGn, February Gothic little
mining village Of West Leisenring, four
miles north Of here, was this morning the
Hceno Of the most terrific explosion ever
known in Tho coke region. The Connells-
vile Coal and Iron Company, Of whicl,
Judge Leiseuring, OF Mauch Chunek, Is
president, have two hundred coke ovens
which have been in operation about a
year. Us E B.l '.i8 .E m
About half pas! Six, while tho mon were
digging, suddenly there occurred an ex.
ploaion that convlllsed the mine and threw
the men into tho utmost CONSIDERATION.
Tho ecene Of the explosion was in M apart.
IN snt fully 500 leet from tha bottom OF tho
shalt and about 200 feet from the surface,
yet tho report WIS heard on the outside
Tor considerable distance and caused
such, a Jar that the top Of the derrick, u
hundred feet high, was knocked off
Two mules were standing at tho bottom
Of the shalt, and the rush OF air blew one
Of them through wooden cage, ahatter-
Ing 1t to pieces. The other mule died from
sutlocation. OF all tho men who were in
tho heading when, the explosion occurred
Dick Balslsy alono escaped to toll the
awful story. gr,
When the explosion came and NIL the
Lights were blown out, Dalsley was just
changing his clothes. lie at oacs wound
part Of his clothes tightly around his face
and mouth to keep the foul air from chol
Ing him, and gave tho rest OF his gaf-
menta to q companion, with inatruc-
tions to take the game precautionB.
lie then started for the main entrance,
bidding his comrade follow. They ran
over bodies OF men and over a shattered
wagon They could see nothing, but could
hear the groans Of dying men. Presently
Balsley's companion protf sted that they
were not going right, and turned back. n
Balslea pushed on until ho saw light,
md his escape Is regarded by experienced
miners MS most marvellous. II was about
s O'Clock when the first body was brought
out. II vas that Of Michael Rirke, an
Hungarian, whose vile and two little Gill.
dren were waiting and weeping At the
mouth Of the mine. ,.s-..,'
4 The work OF rescuing mon now went on
rapidly, and at noon nineteen bodies had
been carried out Tho conlpany's books
were then examined aud the roll called,
and 1t was announced that all the men
were accounted for. rEfl5
The dead were:
[, MICHAEL HEFrRRN, m Irishmau, 30 years
old; butned III face !, leaves . wife and six
children.
JOHN Buckley, m Isishman, so years
old; unmarried no visible injury.
PATRICK KENNEDY, an 1rishmau; 20 years
old; burned in face; unmarried.
JAMES TRACY, 1rishman Is years old
badly burned in face and body; single.
JAMES BARKER, Hishman, 81 yoarF; ter.
ribly burned III the face; leaves vile and
two children. @.
DAVID LLOYD, WelsLman, 90 yeas;
single; burned in head and face.
I, WILLIAM DAVIS, Welshmar; single, Is
year,; no marks. !, gs.-, I ..i
Thomas McGAnEr, Irish; 35 year.; badly
burned; leave1 vile and three children
in Cumberland county, Eogland. r.
JoHN HART, American, 25 Year,; single;
no marks.
MICHAEL Rlrko, Hungarian, So years;
wife and two children. @
: GHoRGE CALLS, Hungarian, 25 Year,;
has wife in the old country.
DANIEL BucKNER, colored; leaves a vile
and two children. .,.l.,".. rsl
JOHN MURRAY, Iflsb, 81 yeals; been in
America only since May l. His vile cane
in August; has one child. .ia
PETER WATERS, Irish, 81 yean; single.
WILLIAM SEARlNG, native, aged about
35; Wite and four children. as,.
JoE BAKER, Hungarian, % Year.; leavcsa
wife.
ANDY WARMus, German, 80 years; single,
and sent his wages to his mother In Ger
many every month.
ALpoN N. HACKNEY, this county; So
years; wife and one child.
GEoRoE MAY; nothing known abou. him
except that he was from Maryland. il5
4 Most OF the above boro no visible marks
Of violence, but bad died from sudocation.