The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-27
DREADFUL DE SASTER.
Miners Killed by WI tolesale From
the Result OF an Explosion.

the Result of an Explosion.
UNIoNTowN, Febrl larry 20.--The
little village OF West 4eisenring, four
miles north of here, was this NOR
ming the scene of th most terrific
explosion ever knew In this region.
The Connellsville Coal and Iron
Company, Of which Judge Leisen-
ring, of Mauch Chu nix, is president
has 200 coke ovens here which have
been in operation about a year.
The works gave employment to
about 100 men nd quite a little
town has sprung Up named after the
president OF the co mpany. The coal
Is obtained by means of a shaft
which reaches the mine at dis
tance OF 400 feet from the surface.
This morning a part OF the force
who had worked during the night
left the mine title alter three o.
clock and seventy others took their
places, making the usual morning
shit at about $50 o'clock, while
the men were digglr 6, suddealy and
without warning, there occurred an
explosion that shook the mine in
every apartment, and threw the men
into the utmost CONSERVATION. The
scene of the explosion was in an
apartment fully SUI feet from the
bottom of the shaft and therefore
about ], 200 feet from the opening at
the surface, yet the report was heard
outside for a considerable distance
and the conclusion was so great that
the top of the derrick, 100 feet high
was knocked of. Two mules were
standing at the bottom of the shaft,
500, feet from where the explosion
occurred, and the rush of the air was
so great that one Of them was blown
through a wooden cage, sha,tering
1t. The other mule died from sutfO-
cation. The awful scene that ensued
among the terror stricken miners
cannot be described. All their
lamps were blown out and they
were left in darkness and confu-
sion. They had net recovered from
the shock before they found them
selves unable to breathe. The ex-
plosion, which was caused by fire
damp, a term which miners apply
to the carboRated hydrogen or coal
gas that issues from crevices of roofs
in mines, left the mine filled with
damp, which contains no oxy-
gen, and renders it impossible for
life to be sustained for any length Of
time. This afterdamp is densest in
the upper part of the mines and
the men therefore congregated near
the bottom. But even here they
did not long fad relief.
ONLY ONE MAN ESCAPES.
Of att the men who were in the
heading where the explosion occur
red, Dick Balsley alone escaped to
tell the awful story. When the ex-
plosion came and all the lights were
blown out, Dick Balsley was Just
changing his clothes. He at 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 to his
companion with instructions to take
the same precautions. He then
started for the mine entrance, bid
ding his companion follow. They
ran over the bodies of men and shat
tered wagons. They could see
nothing but could hear the groans
of dying men presently Balsley =
companion protested that they were
not going the right direction and
turned back and perished. Balsley
pushed OIL until he finally saw light
and was taken out. His escape is
regarded by experienced miners as
one of the most marvellous on rec
ord. He says that some of the mer
kept their heads under water as long
as they could and would chang,
from water to after-damp Intil
finally they succumbed.
; FRIENDS AWAIT RESULT IN BREATH
, LESS SILENCE.
When the terrible explosion be
came well known the families OF
the miners gathered about the shaft
a and awaited developments in breath
? less suspense. Balsley's story CAV,
them little ground to hope that any
r of them could be got out alive S.
4 dangerous was the afterdamp that i
} was fully two hours before any vol
] unteers could enter the mines
2 Many were on hand ready to max,
/ a search but were unable TO do ST
= until all hope of rescuing the unfor
tunates alive had fed. 1t was about
eight o'clock when the first bod,
was brought out. 1t was that o
Michael Ripko, Hungarian, whose
! wife and two children were waiting
= and weeping at the shaft. Hi,
: face bore no marks of violence anC
! he had evidently died from suffoca
= ton. The work of rescuing the
bodies then went on rapidly, it be
I, ing done by willing volunteers, anc
!, at noon nineteen bodies had beer
/, carried out of the shaft. The com
: pany's books were then examined
,, and the roll called. 1t was founC
that all the men were accounted for
> The work proceeded with quiet
ness and orderamid subdued sob!
and wringing Of hands of the grie
stricken families. The bodies wer,
taken to their homes near by anC
6 laid out. Coroner Baton, of thi:
! place, with many citizens went
= from here and the inquest began a
: $3.50. No testimony was taken ex
! cept that which identified th'
: dead.
Trahsfixed by an Iron Rod