The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-20
ANOTHER MINE DISASTER.
A Broken Fan in Pennsylvania Coal Mine
Causes the Death of Twelve Men.

Broken Fan in a Pennsylvania Coal Mins
Causes the Death of Twelve Men.
WTLKEsBARRE, Pa, August 12.-ShOrtly
here that a terrible explosion of gas lad
taken place in the west end of the coal
cOmpahy's mines at Mockaqua, fifteen miles
from here. 1t seems that the fan engine that
supplied fresh air to the west end mine at
MOckaqua broke, deriving the miners OF
air. Four men were brought to the surface
dead and four or FIVE more are still in the
mine and can not be reached owing to the
impure air. Just before the night shift
went off duty the fan broke. The boss
knew of this and so did the men of the day
shift before they entered the mine but not
withstanding this they went into the mine
taking great risk. There were about thirty
men in all who were
SUPPLIED WITH SAFETY LAMPS,
as it was well known that the gas would
accumulate. About seventy-five men were
in the mine at the time when the work be-
gan. The wOrkmen repairing the fan were
the first overcome with the gas. About an
hour later the same fate happened to many
more in the mine. Before the meE fairly
realized their danger moro than twenty
were unconscious. Those who could then
escape did so. Superintendent John Teas-
dale and several of his men became I'M
conscious and were with difficulty res
cued. Others went down and in the face OF
immense difficulties and in spite of
being continually overpOwered with
gas got out all but ten men. Four
of those brought out were dead. Among
those seriously overcome with gas and
badly injured are Burt Tromer. Thomas
Hutchinson, John Andrews, John Teas
dale, jr., Henry Group, John Eastley. Will
liam Good, Fred Howe and others whose
names can not be learned at present writing.
The boss at the mine says he notified the
men before they entered the mine that the
fan had stopped, and that it was not safe
for them to enter, and the mine was filling
with gas. This is denied by the miners and
labOrers. They, on the contrary, say that
he told them To 90 to work,
THAT THE FAN WAS BROKEN
but could be repaired and put in working
order in an hour. When they entered
everything appeared to be all right until
they began to smell the fatal sulphur
fumes, and before they could get out many
were overcome and suffocated. The disas-
teI II COu5iucIcu sluSuldC III us 0aLuI6, ana
stands alone and unprecedented in the bis
tory of mining. 1t could have been easily
foreseen and prevented, but being one of
those singular oversights, the cause escaped
notice. The death roll is twelve, and as
now fully ascertained is as follows: James
Whelan, aged 81. miner, widOwei
with six small children; Hiram q.
Mead, aged 40, married, two chill
dreD. William Zientv aged "a lahOrer sim
gle; John Billy, aged 40, miner, married,
five childen; William Price, labOrer, aged
So; Jau:es Fry, aged 81, miner, married,
two children; Nicholas Bertels, aged So |
miner. five children; Wilson Rymer, aged
2s, labnrsr, married, two children; Anthony
BOraski, aged "A, miner, single; Johr |
miner, married, three children |
Labin V. Yurskofski, aged 20, miner, sin 1
pie