Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-23
GIVEN Up TO THE GRAVE.
NANTICOKE's BURIED MINERS
BEYOND RESCUE.

Heartrending Denominations of GRE
jR the Little Vilage-Brsvs Word
of a Spartan Father who Loses TIVE
SONS and = Daughter-NO Shaft TO b'
Sunk.
WILKEsBARRE, PA, Dec. 22.-Ihert
was no rest for Nanticoke last night. Il
is impossible to describe in words Inc
CONSERVATION, dismay and agony Wnicl
spread through the village when IL was
learned after midnight that all enor's to
get the men out alive were abandoned
The town never saw such sight as tna'
witnessed from > to O'Clock this morn
ing. No one thought of rest. The whole
population was out on the streets DIS
cussing in the widest manner the de-
cision, and exclamations OF despair, cries
of agony and mutUerings of discomfort
were heard on every street corner and IN
almost every household. The relatives OF
the victims were in the widest agony oil
despair.
MANY AT DEATHS DOOR.
Several we're seized with commissions.
FANNIE Sarver, sister Of the two SarVer
brothers, was prostrated with violent hts,
aud at O'Clock this morning it was fear
ed that she would die.
Mrs. Kiveer, the old mother Of the three
Kiveler brothers. was at deaths door from
weakness and the shock, and many other
relatives and friends OF the victims were
completely Frustrated.
The officials In charge of the rescue
work were forced to abandon all WORK
from the air shaft by several irresistible
conclusions. Investigations at an early
hour this morning. showed that the sand
rock snd culm had fallen to such an eX-
tent that the mine in which the lmprlson-
ed men were confined, was now filled to
the roof, and that the men were dead and
beyond all human help.
AsECoND CAVE IN.
A second cave in took place during the
night, which was OF very large proportions,
and the real extent OF the damage done can
hardly be guessed, but 1t Is great. rms
fall brought with it volumes of black,
damp ami sulphurous gas which has filled
the mine and put peremptory stop to all
work. At 6 O'Clock this morning 1t was
learned that the bodies OF the victims
could not be recovered for at least
month, and since this news has spread
throughout the mining region most IN
tense excitement has prevailed. Every
effort will now be made 10 work n towards
the men from the slope. The csrrying-up
gangways will be pushed as rapidly as
possible. though the work will be long
ana tedious, as there is about 5000 feet of
gangway also filed up and said to be
packed to the roof. Twenty-thTee men
and boys are in the mine.
The officials Of the company are now
going to sink a shaft directly over the
slope where the miners are supposed to
be. 1t is thought that by doing this they
IAN reach the victims in about four days.
THEIR FATE SEALED.
The fate of the men in the slope is
sealed, and the only thing that remains
is tOrecOver the bodies of the victims, and
restore them to their families and friends.
Little has been done to-day except to
clear away debris preparatory to begin
ming anew, and render the machinery and
appliances more substantial. The opera
lions at the slope will be kept up, and all
the debris removed as fast as possible.
The most practical miners are of the
opinion that when the deAd men are found
it will be in their chambers. II they have
been caught in the fall OF sand and culm,
then the victims will he found one by one
as the excavation continues. and IL may
be TWO months before the last body is re-
covered.
THE FINANCIAL LOSS.
The loss to the company is said to he
estimated at $3.50, 900, and will be greater
in the cost of sinking the shaft, in loss of
time and clearing OF the mine of the de-
bris. sand and rock which is wedged in a
solid mass in the gangways.
Michael Sarver, father OF the two Sar-
Yer brothers, was among the last who
came out of the shaft this morning. He
wept like child. He is very old and has
been lifelong toiler in the mines. In
spite of age ne is as strong and rugged as
ever and insists uDon working every mo-
ment that the officials will allow him.
He expressed himself to-day as entirely
satisfied with the work being done to ex-
tricate the men. He did not place any
blame for the disaster on any one, holding
that it was entirely accidental.
sPARTAN-LIKE BRAVERY.
81 have twoof as fine sons as ever father
had, living down there he said, land az
good daughter as man could wish. H.
ing dead at home, but it IS the will d
Sod. and say, Ills will be DONE Ii is
a terrible affair, and Others are suferin.
as much as l am. | Will go down AGAR
as soon as they will let me, and / viii
work day and night to rescue them, deaC
or alive"
NO SHAFT TO BE SUNK.
WILKEsBARRE. PA, Dec. -, IL T. M
The PROJECT Of sinking a shaft over III,
workings OF the slope has been abandoned
IL is said IL would be necessary to 20 dow
$50 feet 10 reach the nearest gangway. ant
20 do this would take three months o
more. The company will continue tn
work OF clearing the Distracted tunnel II
the hope OF gaining an entrance to tn
fatal chamber within the next zen days.
The Racing az New Orleans.