Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-28
NTNETEhN MAN hILLLD.
A Terrible Coal Mine Explosion In
West I.eiseuring, I'a.


UNroNTOSN, PA Feb ~ - he little
miuing village OF Wat l. isenriuR, sIt
ustsd four miles nor h OF here, was this
mornit the scene OF ih- most terrible
explosion ever kpo Ii III the coke region,
resulting in the death Of 10 miners.
The Connellsville Coal and Iron Com
pauy has 200 coke ovens here which
have bee, in operation about a year.
The works give employment to about 90
men. and quite little town has sprung
up, nameu after ex'Judge Lsisepripg,
president of the company. The coal is
obtained by means OF shaft, which
reaches the mine at distance of 400 feet
from the surface. This morning a part
of the force, who had worked all night,
left the mines at little after 8 O'Clock,
and 20 others took their places, maxim
the usual morning shift.
At about 6 80 O'Clock, while the men
were digging, suddenly and without
warning, there occurred an explosion
that convulsed the mine in every apart
ment and threw the men into the utmost
consternatidn. The scene OF the ex-
plosion was in one of the apartments
fully 100 feet distant from the bottom
ef the shaft and therefore about ] 200
feet from the surface opening, vet the
report was heard on the outside for a
considerable distance, an caused such a
jar that the top OF the derrick, 100 feet
high, was knocked of Two mules were
standing at the bottom OF the shaft, 800
fee, from the explosion, and the rush OF
air blew one Of them through the wooden
cage, shattering IL to pieces and killing
the animal. The other mule died from
suifocatiop.
The awful scenes that ensued among
the terror stricken miners cannot be de-
scribed. All their lamps were blown out
aud they were left in utter darkness and
confusion. They had not time to recover
from the shock until they found them
selves unable to breathe. The explosion
Of fire damp, a term which miners apply
to the light carbonated hydrogen or coal
gas that issues firm erevioes in the roof
of the mines, left the mine filed with
what is known as latter damp" which
contains no oxygen and renders it impos-
sibie for life to be sustained for any
length OF time. This "after damp" is
depsest in the upper part OF the niue,
and hence the men hovsred near the bot
tom; but even here they did not long fiud
relief.
OF all the men who were In the head
ing where the explosion oourred Dick
Balseley alone escaped to tell the awful
s.Ory. When the explosion came and all
the ,ights wers blown cut, Bslsptey vas
inst changing lis clo;hes, aid h3 h, o.c-
wound r potion of his clothing ugh,lt
sround hts faus aud mOatn 10 Kecp tnt
foul air from choklng him, and gave tlt
rest OF his sarm -nLs 10 his compRniou
wi n Instructions to take the same pre-
cautions. He then started Tor the main
entrance, bidding his companion tn follow.
They ran over the bodies of men and over
shattered wagons.
rhey could see nothing, however, Int
could hear the grosns Of dying men.
Presently Balselel q companion protested
that they were not going in the right
direction. he turned back, and like
Lots wife, he persisted. Bslseley pushed
ON until he ii 4eliy saw the light and WAS
taken out. HIS escape ia regarded by
exparienu-d Iniusrs as one of the most
marvellous on record. He says some of
the men kep; their heads under water az
long "a they could aud would have to
change from the water to the "after
nh"p ui'l hhsi'J tney saFe up we
unequal struggle.
" 4en tie news Of the explosion was
II ial ed around the families of the men
gathered shout tho shaft and were almost
Wild with terror snd suspense. Balseley 3
story gave them little ground to hops
that sny of the unfortunate miners could
ue got unt alive. So daugerous was the
latter damp" that 1t WAS fully two hours
before any volunteers could enter the
mine. Many were on hand ready to
make the search, but were unable TO dc
70 until the hope of rescuing the un-
tortunstea alive had been abandoned.
BY noon all the bodies OF the missing
men had been recovered. Most OF tie
bodies bore nO marks ni violence. the
vio,ims having diod from suftocation.