, 1884-02-21
narrowing
A Fearful Fire Damp in
Pennsylvania.
The Lives of Many Miners
Suddenly Sacrificed.
Forests. Vineyards and Lawns
Seriously Cycloned.
Exciting Incidents Occurring
at Washington.
Fearful Fire Damp Accident.

Uniontown, Pa, February 20.-The
little mining village of West Lessen
ring, Tour miles north Of here, was this
morning the scene of the most terrific
explosion eve known in the coke re-
gions. The .Connellsville Coal &c Iron
company's coke ovens here give en-
ployment to about a hundred men.
The coal is obtained by means OF a
shaft which reaches the mine at a dis
lance of 400 feet from the surface.
This morning the part Of the force who
worked all night left the mines a little
after 3 O'Clock and seventy others took
their places, making the usual morning
shift.
About $50 O'Clock, while the men
were digging, without warming there
occurred an explosion that convulsed
the mine in every department and
threw the men into the utmost con-
sternation. The scene OF the explosion
was In an apartment fully 800 feet
distant from the bottom of the shaft
and 1,20o feet from the surface OPEN
ing, yet the report was heard on the
outside Cor a considerable distance and
caused such a jar that the top Of the
derrick, 100 foet high, was knocked of.
Two mules were standing at the bot
tom of the shaft. 800 feet from the tx-
plosion, and the rush of air blew one of
them through the cage. shattering 1t to
pieces.
An awful scene ensued among the
terror stricken miners. All the lamps
were blown out and they left in dark
ness and confusion. They had not time
to recover from the shock until they
found themselves unable to breathe,
as the explosion from fredamp left no
oxygen. The men lowered near the
bottom. but even here did not long hnd
relief.
OF all men who In fading where
the explosion occurred, Dick Bslsley
alone escaped the awful story. When
the explosion came and all lights were
blown up Balsley was just changing his
clothes. He wound part OF the clothes
tightly around his face and mouth to
keep the foul air from choking him and
gave the rest Of the garments to a COM
panion with instructions to take some
precautions. He then started for the
main entrance bidding his companion
to follow. They ran over the bodies of
men and over shattered wagons but
could see nothing, but could hear the
groans OF the dying men. Presently
Balsley's companion protested that
they we're not going in the right direc.
tion and turned back. Balsley pushed
on until he finally saw light and was
taken out. His escape is regarded by
experienced miners as one Of most
marvellous on record. He says some OF
the men kept their heads under the
water as long as they could and would
have to change from water to after
damp, until finally they gave up the
unequal struggle.
When the news of the explosion
flashed around the families of the men
gathered about the shaft and were
crazy with suspense. Superintendent
Balsley's story gave them little ground
for hope that any could be got out
alive. So dangerous was it from the
damp that it IA fully two hours be-
fore any volunteers could enter the
mine. About 8 O'Clock, when the Hrst
body was brought out, the fac bore no
marks Of violence and evidently died
from suffocation. The work of re-
ceiving the men now went on rapidly
by willing volunteers and at noon nine
teen bodies had been carried out. The
company's books were then examined
and roll was called and 1t was an
nounced that all were accounted for
and work proceeded. There was per
feet quiet and order, unbroken only by
sobs and subdued weeping Of stricken
families. The bodies were taken t
the homes near by and laid out. The
coroner OF this place went from here
and the inquest began at half past 8
No testimony was taken except that
which identified the dead.