Savannah morning news., 1885-08-12
MINERS KILLED BY GAS.
HEROIC EFFORTS TO SAVE THE
DOOMED MEN.

Doctors and WOrkmen succumb while
Trying to Save Their Fellows-Ths
Breaking OF the Fan the Cause Of the
Horrible Disaster - MocaBnqua, Pa.s
the Scene.
WILKEsBARRE, PA, Aug. IL. - The
mine Of the West End Coal Company, ope-
rated by Conyngham, Teasdell q Co., at
Mocanaqua, was the scene Of peculiar
and terrible accident. This morning, just
before the night shift went OF duty, the
fan broke. The boss knew this and so did
the men on the day shift before they en-
tered the mine, but Notwithstanding they
went into the mine, taking the great risk.
There were about thirty in all, who were
supplied with safety lamps. as it was
well-known that gas would accumulate.
About seventy-dye men were in the mlne
at the time work began.
OVERCOME BY THE GAS.
The workmen repairing the fan were
the first who were overcome with gas, and
about an hour later the same fate was
shared by many miners in the mine. Be-
fore the men fairly realized their danger
more than twerty were unconscious.
Those who could then escaped. AS they
did so superintendent j ohm Teasdeil, with
a corps OF men as n relief, went down
into the mine to assist the men in making
taeir escape. After being in the mine
h If au hour Superintendent Teasdell be-
came unconscious, as did several Of his
men, who were with difficulty rescued.
Others went down and in the face OF i'm
mense difficulties, and in spite of being
continually overcome by gas, got out all
but ten men. Three of those brought OUT
were dead, and those in the mine are be-
yond doubt dead.
NAMES OF THE DEAD.
The dead as far as learned are: James
Whalen, William Vineby, Peter Bofnitz-
ki, John Dilday, and Herman Mead.
Among those seriously overcome with gas
and badly injured are: Burt Tromer,
Charles Hutchinson, John Andrews, John
Teasdell, Jr., Henry Group, John Eastby,
William Good and Fred Herne. Several
others were badly hurt. DIR. Hughes, a
prominent physician Of Shickshinny, went
down into the mine to assist the Injured
men and was overcome by gas. He was
rescued with difficulty and was brought
to the surface seuseless. Six hours after
the accident supt. John Teasdell who is
also part owner OF the mine, was still un-
conscious.
THE BOSS IN A BAD LIGHT.
The boss at the mine Of the West End
Goal company says tnat ne nOEue0 the
men before they entered the mine that
the fan had stopped, and that it was not
safe for them to enter, as the mine was
filling with gas. This is denied by the
miners and laberers, who, on the con-
trary, say that he told them TO 90 to work,
saying that the fan was broken, bur that
it would be repaired and put In working
order in an hour.
THE FATAL FUMES.
When they entered the mine every
thing appeared to be all right until they
began TO smell the fatal air and sulphur
fumes, and before they could get out
manv were overcome and suifocated. Th0
disaster Is considered singular In it's ma
ture, and stands alone and unprecedented
in the history of mining. II could have
been easily fOreseen and prevented. but
by one of those singular oveTsights the
cause of the disaster escaped notice. The
death roll is IL. Those who were over
come with gas and brought senseiess from
the mine are now doing well and are out
OF danger. William Price, laborer,
aged y years, has since died, making the
number OF deaths 10.