Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-21
IMPRISONED IN A MINE.
Small Hopes OF the Men Confined
In q Coal Mine.
The Colliery Surrounded by an
Excited Crowd.
WLKEsBARRE, Pa. Dec. 10.

miners at Nanticoke have been able to obtain
plenty of fresh air. they will undoubtedly be
still alive, and there is good hope of rescuing
them. Many experienced miners believe,
however, that in their position they cannot
get any new supply of air, and, that having
exhausted what little was in the workings,
they must now be perishing from suffocation.
The relief measures we're begun as soon as
the other men were brought to the surface
At hrst but little could be done for the water
was five feet deep, and it was impossible to
dig away the sand and ulm which blocked the
gangways.
Last evening, however, the water subsided,
having all run off to the lower levels of the
mine. and effective work was commenced in
earnest. Two gangs of men were set to
work excavating from different points toward
where it is believed the men are. One party
of 60 began work from the foot of the air
shaft. This is the nearest point to where the
men are, but great difficulties are encounter
ed. There is no hosting apparatus at the air
shaft. The men and tools are sent down by
a derrick.
The workers are obliged to throw hehind
them the material thev excavate and this hin.
ders them. The gangway being blocked w
at one end, they could get no circulation OF
air until tubes we're brought and air forced
through them from compressor used fol-
rock drills to the place where the men were
at work. The rescuers are working with the
greatest possible energy tonight. The though,
that their comrades are perishing IN the other
side Of the mass of rock, sand and dirt nerves
every arm with grand strength. The gang.
are relieved every four hours, aud 60 men
have been constantly at work since last even
rfy yip fron ha
rection of the slope toward the same point
They have further to go but better facilities
The air is pure and they have powerful hoist.
ing engines to carry out the excavated mate
rial.
Whether the men can be reached in time
to save any lives cannot definitely be told
There is but little ground for hope, but
the efforts will not be abandoned until the
fate of the imprisoned men is determined
The people Of Nanticoke are in the greates
excitement and nothing is thought or talked
of but the disaster. Business is partially
suspended, and the colliery is surrounded by
hundred of persons, among whom are many
relatives of the imprisoned men, eager &c
learn how the work goes on below and to gair
a hope that their friends may be rescued
The officials at the Office of the Susquehann,
Coal Company at Nanticoke state this even
ing that there are "a men in the fatal slope
and not 20 as generally understood. The,
state further that the disaster was precipitatet
by the collapse of the passageway of the tun'
mel to the extent of five feet, cansing de-
preston, which brought down into the tunnel
a "a foot vein of lake quicksand
The vacuum created by this break created
an arch, and through heavy fssure in tn,
roof, a mass of culm, estimated at 5000 tons
with the contents of pond of water over
head, containing over 10000, 900 gallons
poured in, flooding both No. l and No. :
slopes, and choking up the tunuel and carry
ing with it 50 miners who were at work there
OF these men, "a were, in all probability
caught before they could gain the chamber
that pitched upward, and they are supposed
to be in this quicksand and culm, not having
been able to reach place of safety in time.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Dec. 20.
Today was the gloomiest Sunday ever wit
messed at Nanticoke. Thousands of peopl,
poured into the town in vehicles, on horse
back and afoot, Hundreds of them gathered
a groups around the various workings wher.
they discussed the situation of the imprison
ed men. A message was brought here from
Nsnticoke this morning to the effect that w
Elkes has been found in the gangway and ev
identity had been dead for several hours. A
the CompaDy's Office this was denied. They
state that the situation remains unchanged
from that of yesterday, although they hourly
expect to reach the fatal spot where the en-
tombed men are supposed to be. There is Mt
hope of rescuing any of the victims alive
No. ! colliery, where the accident occurred
employs GOO men and boys. The loss to tn,
company will be large and the next three
months will be consumed in making repairs
During that time the hands will be giver
work on other collieries OF the company.
At o'clock this evening the rescuing party
struck mass of wet sand and 45 additiona
men were sent in to remove it with bucket
as fast as it was thrown out.
At 8 o'clock an official report was received
at the company's Office here to the effect tha
the rescuiDg party were within few feet o
the fatal chamber.
At l1.30 message was brought saying tba
the relief party were still working vigorousl
but had not yet reached the imprisoned min
ers. From the present outlook it is doubtful
if they can gain entrance to the fatal chambe
before tomorrow.
A report received from Nanticoke at %
this morning, says that the rescuing part
finally reached the spot where the missin
miners were supposed to be imprisoned, bu
they were not there. The relief party ar
now pressing forward to another chambe
with hopes of finding the missing men in
few hours.