Huntsville gazette., 1885-04-04
MINE EXPLOSION.

C'even Men Instantly Killed in . Coal
Mine at McAllister, L. T.-Narrow Escape
of Thirty Others Who Had just Left the
Mine After Their Days Work.
McALLLsTER, l. t., March 29.-Mine
No. Z at this place was the scene Friday
evening at half-past Ave O'Clock G. the
most deplorable calamity that has ever
occurred in this quarter of the globe-an
explosion by which eleven lives were lost.
As usual in such cases nobody seems to
know what caused the explosion; and in
fact if those charged with the manage
agement and control Of the mines are to
be believed, there was no cause. But it
occurred just the same. 1t was, as stated
above, about half-past five O'Clock, and
the men were quitting work for the day.
There had been about forty men in the
mine, but most of them had come out.
Many had gone to their homes, though
some still fingered about the entrance to
the pit waiting for those who had not yet
come out, when, without the least pre-
monitory hint, those about the mouth OF
the mine heard an explosion and saw .
volume of smoke, dust and debris hurled
up from the bowels of the earth.
The alarm was given and in few min
utes the greatest excitement prevailed.
The entire population gathered about the
scene of the disaster, and preparations
were Immediately made for an investiga-
ton. Among those gathered at the
mouth of the pit were the wives, children,
relatives and friends of the poor fellows
underground, whose fate was unknown,
and their cries and piteous pleas that
something, anything, everything be done
for the relief or rescue of their loved ones
were enough to spur those who were at
work TO the utmost exertion.
EVERYTHING was confusion at the begin
ming but order was soon established, ana
q rescuing party entered the mine. Inc
explosion was not followed by a contla-
grafton, hence there was no great obstacle
to the progress of the searcherS. They
soon found that the damage to property
was inconsiderable, and this led to hope
that the results might not be as bad as
was generally believed. They had not
gone far before they were shocked by
finding that all the men who were below
when the explosion occurred, had been
killed.
They began bringing the dead bodies
of the victims out. This work was
speedily accomplished, and count made,
when it was found the following had been
killed outright:
James Aiken, John Williams,
Thomas Aiken (son Martin Williams (son
of James,, OF john,
Joseph Peel, Robert Matterson,
John Gold, John A. Mccoy,
w. C. Peterson, Joseph Stephenson
Brat Cox
None of the bodies were burned; mol
were any of them very badly mutilated.
Some of them had legs or arms broken;
but it vas evident they had been ki.!ed
by the explosion or concussion.
| The scenes on the surface when the
bodies were brought outSwere OF the mos
heartrendng character None OF the
victims were disfigured sufficiently to
prevent recognition, and all were prompt
ly claimed by friends and taken away
Eight of the eleven poor fellows left wives
ard children. Masonic and Odd Fellows
lodges took cha ge of the funerals OF sucf
| the victims as belonged to these
frateInitics and funerals were held yes
terday. The rest will be buried to-day