The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-04-11
An Appalling oolliery nisastnr.


AL O'Clock Monday afternoon a terrible
mine accident occurred at the Cuyler Gallery,
operated by S. NJ. IIealon & Co., situsted
al Raven Run, Schuylkill county by which
ten perso ne lost their lives. At the time
mentioned an extensive caye.iu took lace
four hundred feet from the bottom Of the
slope. The wind occasioned by the cave in
had such a force as TO throw wagons of the
track, knock out timbers and otherwise
cause great damage. Ten hands who worked
inside of the point where the top gave way
are imprisoned Their names aud occup pa
tions are as follows:
Frank Mclaughlin, driver, aged 10.
Bernard Smith, driver, aged 20
John Cavanaugh, laborer, aged 81
William Anderson, miner. aged As leaves
wife and four children.
Mike Herrity, miner, aged 80; leaves a
wife and six children.
Benjamin Maurer, miner, aged 81 leaves o
wife and three children.
NJ. Mervins, miner, aged 30 leaves a wife
and two children,
Daniel Kennedy. miner, aged ~ leaves
wife and seven children.
Nicholas Purcell, miner, aged 80 leayos
wife and six children.
The cave.in occurred ON what Is known rs
level No. and swept everything ahead Of
1t to leyel No. 4, increasing in size ond
velocity as it went. Rescuing party after
rescuing party have been going into the
mine since the accident occurred, but have
been unable 10 reach the entombed men.
William lIeaton, one OF the owners Of the
mine, accompanied by Mine Inspector,
Mauch line, went down at four o'clock.
They returned after being down two hours
aud reported they were unable to reach the
men. The gangways were blocked ,timbers
were knocked out aud the mine was work.
ing. They considered the situation a
hopeless one. Another party of miners
made an attempt to go down through an
abandoned airway, but after reaching level
No. their course was impedcd and they
were compelled to return to the surface.
The opinion is ventured pr ctcal miners
that with all available help to clear a road
through it will be week or ten days
before the men can be reached. At seven
O'Clock the inside foreman, Charles Esgar
headed body OF men and went down the
mine by the trayelingway. An hour later
they returned, stating their course was
blocked.
Th ere is no doubt wbaieyer that the i'm
prisoned miners are dead. The supply of
fresh air has been entirely cut off and even
ii they are alyo at present before they can
be rescued they will all have parshed. The
greatest excitement prevails. Thousands
Of people were on the scene all afternoon
and evening. Women and childfcn are
weeping and only the stoutest and strong
est miners are yeniuring in the mine.
Continued cave-ins are expect. The coal
and rock is cracking at all points and it is
considered dangerous for any one to venture
close to the point where the gangways are
blocked. The cause Of the cave in is not
exactly known. Different theories have
been advanced for it. The colliery was not
working Monday. The men who have lost
their lives were engaged in timbering.
Had the mine been 10 full operation oyer
one hundred men and boys would have
met the fate of the ten. The operators and
superintendent are doing all in their power
and say they will spare no pains or expense
to reach the bodies
The CGyler Coliery has been operated
for years by lIeaton & Co. and was always
considered a fine operation. The lease of
the colliery expires in June, when the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company will take hold of u. Three mules
were killed by the force of the cavern.
Attempts will be made 20 reach the men,
but as no other means is known for the
purpose than those Indicated but little
progress will be made. The damage done
TO the colliery cannot be ascertained at
present, but it will reach fully 500, 900.
Mr.. Heaton, the superintendent, said that
work could not be resumed before two
months, If then. The colliery may be
permanently ruined. He continues; "We
cannot tell TIL the mine settles. The pillars
of the colliery had been pretty extensively
honeycumbed and this may have been the
cause of the caYe in. The old mintrs say
nothing like it has eyer occurred within
their recollection in the Schuylkill coal
region" At 7.30 O'Clock another rush of
stuff took place and the report 1t mado
could be heard on the surface.
LATER The ten men entombed at Guy
Ter Collery are thought to be dead, and the
bodies cannot be reached tor about week.