The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-02-28
A OOAL-MINE HORROR.
Explosion OF Flre.Damp In . Coal.
Mine at West Leisenring,
Pennsylvania.
Nineteen Men Killed Out Of 4 Total
Of Seventy in the Mine ct
the Time.
TELEGRAM from Uniontown. Pal

The little mining village Of West Leisenring,
four miles north Of here, was this morning
the scene Of the most terrific explosion ever
known In the coke region. Tho Connellsville
Coal and Iron Company, OF which Judge
Leiscnring Of Mauch Chunk, 10 President,
have 200 coke ovens here which have been ID
operation about year. The works give eu-
ployment to about one hundred nion, and
quite little town has sprung up named after
tho President OF the company. Tho coal for
tho ovens Is obtained by means OF shaft,
which reaches tho coal at distance OF 400
feet from the surface. This morning q
part OF tho force who had worked nil
night left the mines little after
o'clock, and seventy others took their
About $50 o'clock, while the men were dig.
ging, suddenly, without warning. there oc.
CURED an explosion that convulsed the mine
IN every apartment and threw the men into
the utmost CONSERVATION. The scene or tho
explosion was in one OF the apartments, fully
800 feet distant from tho bottom OF tho
shaft, and therefore about 1000 feet from
the surface opening, yet the report was
heard on the outside for Q considerable dis
lance. and caused such Jar that the top OF
a derrick 100 feet high was knocked or.
Two mules were standing nj the bottom of
the shaft, 500 feet from the explosion, and
the rush of air blew enc OF them through
wooden cage, shattcring 1t to pietes. The
other mule died OF GuhOc0tiOn
The awful scene that ensued among tho
terror-strickcn miners cannot be described.
Ali Of their lamps were blown out, and they
were left in darkness and confusion. They
had not time to recover from the shock before
they found themselves unable to breathe.
The explosion Of the flre damp-a term which
the miners apply to tie light carbonatcd NY
drogcn or ccal-gas that issues from the crew.
ices In the most Of the mincs-lcft tie mine
filled with after damp. which contains no OK
yecn and renders II impossible for life TO he
sustained for any time. This after-damp was
densest in the npperra of the mine, and the
men lowered near the bottom, but evel there
they did not long find relief.
Of nli the men who were In the heading
where the explosion occurred, Dick Bals.ey
alone escaped 10 tell the awful Story. When
the explosion came, and all the lights were
blown out, Balsley was just changing his
clothes. lie at once wound part of his o.hes
tightly around his face and mouth to keep the
foul air from choking him, and gave the rest
OF his garments to companion with instruc-
then started for the main entrance, bidding
his companion 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 Bals!cy's companion protested
that they were not going In the
right direction, and turned back. He per-
ished. Ea!slcy pushed on until finally he saw
light. and was taken out. His escape IL re-
knrded by experienced miners as ono of tho
most marvellous on record. Hcsays that some
men kept their heads under water as long rs
they could. and were forced to change from
water to after-damp, and ut last they gave up
the unequal struggle.
When the news Of the explosion flashed
around. the families OF the men gathered
about the shaft, ana were crazy with sns-
pense. Balsley's story gave them little
ground for hope that any could be got oct
alive. So dangerous was the after-damp that
itwas fully two hours before any volunteers
could enter the mine. Many were on hand
ready to make the search, but were unable
to do so until the hope of rescuing the unfor-
tunates alive had quite fed. 1t was about s
o'clock when the first body was brought out.
1t was that OF Michael Ripk0 Hungarian,
whose wife and two little children were wait
ing and weeping ut the shaft. The face bore
no marks Of violence, and the man had evil
IDENTIFY died Of suffocation. The work of res
cuing the men went on rapidly by willing
volunteers, and ut moon nineteen bodies had
been carried out. The company's books were
then examined, the roll called, and 1t was an
nounced that all the men had been accounted
for
Work proceeded In quiet and order amid
the sobs and subdued weeping OF the stricken
families. The bodies we're taken to the
homes near by and laid out. Coroner Baton,
Of this place, with many citizens, went from
No testimony was taken except that which
identified the dead. nineteen In number.
Most Of tho dead bore no visible marks of
violence, but had died Of sufocation. Their
faces were generally very black, smoke and
dust having been blown into the skin. The
last man taken out alive was Henry Wilson,
who had managed to subsist on the air in the
very bottom Of the mine till rescued. He was
almost gone. Many OF those who were In
other Parts OF the mine suffered severely.
Dick Balsicy reports that the men acted
much like horses In burning stable. They
were tewildcred, and, not knowing which
way to 20, refused TO move In any direction.
Some OF them were SO burned that the flesh
dropped on them in places when removed.
The scene ut the afflicted homes tonight is
heartrending beyond description. In Hack
In the house OF the Hungarian. Rlp1O, Is per.
haps the saddest sight of all. This family
seem advanced far beyond their average
countrymcn In civilization, and their home
was cheerful and attractive. The dead hus
hand and father lies upon a bed: his weeping
wife sits at his head kissing and caressing
him, while two little children stand by and
call him in vain.
After identifying the bodies Coroner Bat
ton adjourned the inquest until Saturday
morning. The company will bear all the ex-
pense Of the funerals. which will take place
tomorrow and next day. The accumulation
of so much gas In this mine as to cause such
an explosion Is o matter of much surprise.
No accident ever before occurred here, and
1t was regarded as Il very safe mine. The
fire boss, with lamp, made the usual exam
ination last night, and pronounce every
thing all right Men hal left other mines
to work bee ause there was no danger felt.