The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-02-28
DEADLY FIRE DAMP.

Nineteen Miners i'm Pennsylvania Colliery
Killed by nm Explosion OF Fire Damp
The Bodies all Itccovered--A Large Num-
Der Of widows and Orphans Left to
Mourn.
UHI0NTowN. Pa, Feb. 20.
The little mining village OF West Leisen.
ring, four miles north Of here, was this
morning the scene Of the most terrific ca
plosion ever known in the coke regions.
The Connellsville Coal and Iron Company
have 1000 coke ovens here which have been
in operation about year. The works give
employment to about 100 men and quite n
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-
vulsed the mine in every apartment and
threw the men into the utmost consterna.
tion. The scene of the explosion was In one
Of the apartments, fully 500 feet distant
from the bottom Of the shaft, and therefore
about 200 feet from the surface opening,
yet the report was heard on the outside for
a considerable distance, and caused such
jar that the top of the derrick a hundred
feet high was knocked off, Two mules
were standing at the bottom Of the shaft,
500 feet from the explosion, and the rush 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
| terror-stricken miners can not be de-
scribed ALI 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
fire damp left the mine filed wilh niter
| damp, which contains no oxygen, and rem
ders IL impossible for life TO be sustained
foran 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
OF 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 ont Baisley was just changing
| his clothes He az 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 20 mis- COM
panion, with Instructions to take the same
precautions. He then started for the main
/ entrance, bidding his companion to follow.
They ran over the bodies Of men and over
shattered wagons. They could see nothing,
but could hear the groans Of dying men.
Presently Balsley's companian protested
that they were not going IN the right direc-
tion and turned back. Like Lots wife, be
perished. Balsley pushed on until he flu
ally saw the hight and was taken out
When the news OF the explosion was
flashed around the families Of the men gath
cred about the shaft and were wild with
suspense Balsley's story gave them little
ground TO hope that any Of the miners
would be got out alive. So dangerous was
the after damp that II was fully two hours
before any volunteers could enter the
mines. Many were on hand ready TO make
the search, but were unable 10 do so until
hope Of rescuing the unfortunates alive had
quite fed.
Ii was about eight O'Clock when the first
body was brought out ~ was that OF
Michael Ripko, a Hungarian. His face
bore no marks OF violence and he had evil
IDENTIFY died from suifocation.
The work OF rescuing the men now went
on rapidly by willing volunteers and at
noon nineteen bodies had been carried out.
The company's books were then examined,
the roll called, and IL was announced that
all the men were accounted for.
Coroner Baton Of this place, with many
citizens, went from here and the inquest
UGgdn aI ofbV OfCiDchs NO htbllinOn1 was
taken except that which identified the
dead, the list Of whom is as follows;
THE DEAD.
Michael Helfern Irish, bruised in the face;
leaves wife and six Chi dren.
John buckley, Irish, unmarriedi no visible
Patfiek Kennedy, irish, burned in face; un-
married and only child Of widow;
james Tracy. irish, badly burned In the face
james Baker, Irish, terribly burned IN face;
leaves wife and two children.
David Lloyd, Welsh, unmarried; burned IN
head and face.
WI liam Davis. Welsh, single; no marks.
Thon as McGarr. llish, badly burned; leaves
: wife and three children IN Cumberland Coun-
ty, England.
john Hart. American, single; no marks.
! Michael Rpko Hungarian; wife and two
GGcorEe Calls. Hungarian; leaves wife in tho
faniei Buckncr, colored; leaves wife and
/ two children.
John Murray, Irish, wife and one child.
Q Peter Walters, Irish, single; brother Of Mrs
Murray M
/ William Soaring. native; wife and four chill.
. Joe Baker Hungarian: leaves wife.
Andy Warmus, dcrnnn; single.
Alban \. Hackney Of this county; wife and
g. H. May, nat We Of Maryland.
Most of the above bore no visible marks
Of violence. but had died from suffocation.
2 Their faces were very black, the smoke and
dust having been blown into the skin.
The last man taken out alive was Henry
! Wilson, who had managed to subsist on aiE
. in the very bottom OF the mine until res
+ eued. He was almost gone. Many Of those
5 who were in other parts Of the mine sui
/ fered severely.
Y After identifyingthe bodies Coroner Bar
Q ton adjourned the inquest until Saturday
0 morning. The company will bear all tbs
h expenses Of the funerals which will take
v place tomorrow and next day
4 N The accumulation Of 20 much gas IN this
:. nina as TO Cause such an axploai0l ia
4 matter Of much surprise, No accident oyel
d before peoaFrea lsfe, ea,d u WAS fegafdes
!, Al HYpsY SAFE Asnel