Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-10-29
DEATH I'M THE PIT.
Terrible Gas Explosion In Pennsylvania
Coal Mine-Onc Man Instantly Killed,
Seven Fatally Injured ana Others Hurt
More or Less Seriously.

Terrible Gas Explosion In II Pennsylvania
Coal Mine-Onc Man Instantly Killed,
Seven Fatally Injured ana Others Hurt
More or Less Seriously.
WuKEsB,RRE, Pa, October PA
few min utes before eight O'Clock yester-
day morning two successive explosions
of gas in No. 2 mine of the Delaware g.
Hudson Company, at Plymouth Junction,
startled the people liv ing In the vicinity,
as we as those who were at work
around the mine buildings. Flames in
stantly shot up In the air twenty feet
above the farmhouse. There was loud
report and then for a time all was still.
The mine in which the accident occurred
is about mile north OF Plymouthbor-
ough, and three miles tIom here. 1t has
been idle since January, but the company
had resolved to reopen it, and carpenters
and laborers were In the main gangway
making the necessary repairs prepara-
tory to the resumption Of mining opera
tions next week. There were three gangs
of men at work, one in each OF the three
seams.
Just before eight O'Clock Polander
named Zolinsky went into an unused
chamber about three hundred yards from
the foot of the shaft carrying
naked lamp. Instantly there
was loud explosion, aud many
of the men In the mine were knocked
down, but no one was burned or serious
lv injured. They soon recovered from
the shock and resumed their work. Five
.,t, lat ian NJ
Cured which was much more serious in
IL results, not only to those in the mid
die gangway, but those in the veins
above and below.
Superintendent Robert Meyers was III
the lower gangway, and was knocked
down by the shock. Those IN the mid
die gangway, however, were the only
ones seriously affected. Sixteen men
were prostrated, one OF them being
killed outright, and eight others GER
tonly fatally injured, while it is proba-
able that only two or three out of all
the wounded will recover.
When the news of the accident spread
| throughout the valley the excitement be-
| came intense, and hundreds of persons
who had relatives and friends working in
the mine fockcd to the breaker. The
women and children OF the men who
were in the pit sent up a wall that was
most heartrendng.
As soon as possible rescuing party
was organized, and the injured men were
| brought out of the mine, all terribly
burned, but with one exception, still liy-
ing. AS they were brought to the sur
face there was an oppressive, ominous
silence until the condition of the injured
mtn became known, and then weeping
and wallirg'was renewed.
The first man brought out by the relief
party wcs Thomas Howard. He was cut
In the back and terribly eiirHAd about the
heaG-ln face. the others were brought
up in the following order: Jos. Thomas,
David Grimes, John Wood, Frank Spin
nett, L lward |, Jones, John Lavensky,
Thos. Collins, Anthony Spinnett, John Ia
linsky, Thos. McDermott, +. Llmfraux,
John Kerst, Sandy Love, John Cooley.
All tn sc were found lying near the foot
of the shaft in the main gangway. None
of them were able 10 stand up, and one
or two were unconscious. Dennis Titus
was found dead two hundred feet away.
His body was the last brought out. JOS.
Thomas died three hours after being
brought out.
At eight O'Clock last night Thomas
Collins died. lie was a much esteemed
man aud was prominent in local poll
tics. 1t is certain that seven or eight
of the other wounded men will die.