St. Landry democrat., 1884-03-01

The Bodies all Recoverable Large Mum
Der of Widows and Orphans Left tt
Mourn.
UNToNToWN, PA, Feb. 20.
The little mining village of West Leisen
ring, four miles north Of here, was thi;
morning the scene of the most terrific ex
plosion ever known in the coke regions
The Connellsville Coal and Iron Company
have 1000 coke ovens here which have beer
| 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 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 past six o'clock, while the
men were digging, suddenly, without warn
ing, there occurred an explosion that con-
valsed the mine in every apartments and
threw the men into the utmost consterna-
tion. The scene Of the explosion was in one
of the apartments, fully 800 feet distant
from the bottom of the shaft, and therefore
about 1900 feet from the surface opening,
yet the report was heard on the outside for
a 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,
800 feet from the explosion, and the crush 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
Gerfof-Strlcken miners can not be de.
scrlbed. 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
tire damp left the mine filled 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.
VI 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 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 mis- com.
panlon, with instructions to take the same
He then started for the main
entrance, bidding his companion to follow.
Lhey ran over the bodies of men and over
shattered wagons. They could see nothing,
put could hear the groans of dying men.
PRESENTLY Balsley's companion protested
mat they were not going in the right direc-
ion and turned back. Like Lots wife, he
1erished. Balsley pushed on until he fin
lily saw the light and was taken out.
When the news of the explosion was
dashed around the families of the men gath
red about the shaft and were wild with
uspense Balsley's story gave them little
round to hope that any of the miners
would be got out alive. So dangerous was
he after damp that it was fully two hours
1etore any volunteers could enter the
mines. Many were on hand ready to make
he search, but were unable to do SO until |
lope of rescuing the unfortunates alive had |
quite fed.
1t was about eight o'clock when the first |
'ody was brought out. 1t was that of |
Michael Ripko, q Hungarian. His face |
,ore no marks of violence and he had evi. |
lently died from suffocation.
The work Of rescuing the men now went |
n rapidly by willing volunteers and at |
loon nineteen bodies had been carried OUT.
The company's books were then examined, |
he roll called, and it was announced that /
Ill the men were accounted for.
Coroner Baton of this place. with many |
itizens, went from here and the inquest I
'egan at $3.50 O'Clock. No testimony was
AIKEN except that which identified the |
cad, the list of whom is as follows:
THE DEAD.
Michael Hefern irish, bruised in the face.
caves wife and six CHI dren. 1
John Buckley, Irish, unmarried; no visible
PstT,icly Rannadx, Tr;ob 1,,,,, - -. $780,
larried and only child Of widow
Jalnes Tracy, irish. badly burned In the face
SINGLE
James Baker, Irish, terribly burned In face:
caves wife and two children.
David Lloyd, Welsh, unmarried; burned in
Thor as McGarr. Irish, badly burned; leaves
life and three children in Cumberland C0un-
r England.
M fISa Ripko' hungarian; wife and two
George Calls, Hungarian; leaves wife in the
Id country. "
Daniel 8uckner, oosored; leaves wife and
John Murray, Irish, wife and one child.
Peter Walters, Irish, single; brother Of Mrs.
.urray.
william Soaring. native; wife and four chin.
rem.
Joe Baker Hungarian; leaves wife.
Andy Warmus, German; single. z
1aFhild.
Gk'E. May, native Of Maryland
Most Of the above bore no visible marks |
violence. but had died from suffocation. q
heir faces were very black, the smoke and
lst having been blown into the skin.
The last man taken out alive was Henry II
tilson, who had msn@ged to subsist on air
! the very bottom or the mine until res.
led. He was almost gone. Many of those
no were in otheFB parts OF the mine suf-
yed severely. ~
Alter identify ing the bodies Coroner Bar.
M. II qqHEned the inquest until Saturday
ornlng. S;fae company will bear all the
S9enses of the funerals which viii take
ACE tomorrow and next day.