The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-24
THE NANTICOKE HORROR.
The Imprisoned Men Will Not Be Rescued
Alive, and Some May Never Be Found.

WILKEsBARRE Pa, Dec. 3D. Work was com
smenced this morning on the tunnel to where
the bodies of the men are supposed TO be. Work
will be pressed night and day, with strong
force of miners, laborers and rock men. 1t is
hoped the bodies of the victims will be recovered
IN less than months time.
message was sent from here this morning,
to the effect that there is possibility of the inn
prisoned men being yet alive, and that the COM
any were going to drill in several places. put
down pipes, and thereby furnish the victims
with fresh air. This is denied on good authority
The mine is full of black damp which is an
agency of sure death. They will not be rescued
alive and it is more than probable that some of
them will never be found.
1t Is now considered a certainty that all the
imprisoned miners are dead. The most expe-
yIenced miners In the valley say that when black
damp and gas made their appearance, it was not
long before the men were choked to death.
While it is thought the bodies may be recovered
in two weeks, ii is quite probable that even that
gratifying circumstance may never take place.
The company however. is doing all in its power
TO recover the bodies. and the cost of the under
taking will not be considered. Work has to be
nopped in the Ross vein both at Nanticoke and
Morgantown. but all the other works of the Sus-
qnehanna Coal Company were put in operation
to-day.
The scene where this desperate struggle for
rescue against time and tons of earth has been
80 tirelessly pressed is strange one To day,
by the kindness of Supern tendent Morgan a re-
porter was allowed to visit the of the
rescuers' labors. After descending the air shaft
subterranean journey of nearly mile begins.
The ganeways are none too high and the route
hes through side passages where one must bend
low In three places it was necessary to crawl
through holes never intended for the passage of
the men. the usual gangways being choked up
No word can describe the black darkness of the
tortuous labyrinth, or the exhausting efforts the
men must make, even before reaching the place
where the real work begins. Suddenly the visitor
emerged upon a higher passage, and hundred
feet beyond could be the lights of the labor
ers. The atmosphere was hot and foul The
compressed air escaped with Kissing noise from
hose which led far away to a pump throbbing
near the air shaft. Through the opening of the
narrow tunnel the long line of fifty safety lamps
could be seen cleaning like yellow FIRE flies. the
more distant ones seeming mere sparks From
the distance came the sharp sound of q pick
welded with strong and steady strokes. Inside
the men were passing buckets OF shale backward.
lifting full buckets with the right hand and
swinging back empty ones with the left. Think
Ang of the solid wall of earth to be pierced, one
Duld only watch the heroic party of rescue in
silence
The scene in the open air was scarcely less re-
markable than that underground Over the air
shaft is built tall structure containing the en-
: CINE, the fan and the pulley by which
the rescuers are lowered. 1t takes nearly an
hour to lower fifty men by the crude apparatus
even when two of them sit in the loop of rope at
once. The relief gang appears over an hour be-
fore the time of the men below is mp. Plctur-
esque-lookng fellows they are they stand in
groups waiting for their turn to he lowered, with
their lamps on their caps. but unlighted, for only
safety lamps can be used where they are at
work. Each man has strapped from his shoulder
o can of tea or coffee. They converse among
themselves in low tones 1t is significant in
dex of the common anxiety that no one in giving
an order. speaks much above a strong whisper
One of the men, to-day, whose brother is among
the prisoners. begged Superintendent Morgan to
allow him to go down again. He had already
served in three shifts, but bis anxious brain
would allow his body rest. The superntend
ent firmly but kindly refused his request and
sent him home. In no instance has any man
shirked, and volunteers have been more numer-
GUS thar the need.