The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-03-01
10 DEAD MEN.
HORRIBLE NINE DISASTER
In FAYETTE COUNTY.
Men ImprisOned I'm the Mime ard
Su6ocated by the Deadly
observation-disclosures
Bodies TaI<em Out
..Dfstressi
Scenes.
Union,own Republican Standard Of s.s, olt

Uniontown Republican Standard Of afst alt
Yesterday morning at West Lessen
ring, four miles north of here, oc.
Cured the most disastrous affair oil
its kind ever known to this region
At halfpast 6 o'clock an explosion
from gas took place in the mines OF
the ConnellsvilIe Coal and Iron com.
pany at that place, which resulted in
the death of 19 men. The explosion
came suddenly without warning. 1t
blew the mems lamps out and con
sternation and confusion ensued.
The men could not see their way out,
and they were sufocating from the
arfterdamp, the explosion having left
the air without oxygen and rendered
itincapable ofsustaining life. Penned
up there, the unfortunatcs lay down
and died-choked to death. Dick
Balsley alone escaped Of the score of
men in the heading where the ex-
plosion occurred. He tied part of
his clothes over his mouth and face
and started for the opening, Chamber
ing over the bodies Of his dead and
dying companions. His nearest com
rade started with him but like Lots
wife turned back and persisted. Bal
sley's escape was miraculous.
1t was two hours before the coal
gas had cleared sufficiently to allow
the men outside to go in and gather
the harvest of death. Then the work
began, carried on amid the weeping
and shrieks of wives and children as
one after another dead body was
brought out and recognized. In all
10 were carried out. Coroner Baton
went to the scene. as did many others
from here, and began the inquest. He
went only so far as to identify the
bodies, and adjourned the inquest till
Saturday at $3.50 A.. NJ. Following is
list of the dead:
Michael Hefferen, Irishman, 80
years old. Burned in face. Leaves
wife and six children.
John Buckley, Irishman, 80 years
old unmarried. No visible injury.
Patrick Kennedy, Irishman, 80
years old, burned in face. Unmarried
and only child of widow
James Tracey, Irishman, 45, badly
burned in face and body. Single.
James Baker, Irishman, "a years
old, terribly.burned in face. Leaves
wife and two children.
David Lloyd; Welshman, % years
old, unmarried, burned on head and
face.
William Davis, Welshman, single.
Is years old. No marks.
Thomas McGarey, Irishman, 80
years old, badly burned. Leaves wife
and three children in Cumberland
county, England.
John Hart, American, % years old,
single. No marks.
Michael Ripko, Hungarian, 35
years old, leaves wife and two chill
dren.
George Calls, Hungarian, 25 years
old, leaves wife in old country.
Daniel Buckner, colored, leaves wife
and two children.
John Murray, Irishman, 81 years
old. Been in America since May last,
wife came in August, one child.
Peter Waters, Irishman, 81 years
old, single, brother of Mrs. Murray
William Soaring, native, aged
about 35, wife and four children.
Joe Bakos, Hungarian, % years
old, leaves wife.
Andy Warmus, German, 80 years
old. Single and sent his wages to
his mother, in Germany, every
month.
Alban N. Hackney, 35 years old,
leaves wife and one child. Grand
son of John G. Hackney, of Luzerne
township. Married daughter of
Robt. Rankin, decd, of Dunbar
township.
George E. May. Nothing known
about him except he was from Mary
land.
Pen cannot describe tue scenes of
grief in the homes where these bodies
lie. The company will bear the ex-
penses Of the funerals, which take
place tomorrow.