Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-22
NANrICoKE's PRISONERS.
The Rsscuing Party Pushing on Full of
Hope.

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WILKEsBARRE, PA, Dec. 21.-The situ-
alton at Nanticoke is unchanged. All 80
o'clock this afternoon the relief party
were still pushing towards the imprisoned
men, and were spurred on to greater
efforts by signal they had received which
inGicated that there is life beyond. Tap
ping upon an iron air pipe was heard by
the rescuers, and they naturally conclude
that there is yet good grounds for hope that
at least some OF the men may be rescued
alive. 1t is the opinion of some OF the
best miners that they cannot reach the
men for some days, owing to the extent Of
the distractions. Others are sanguiue
enough to expect that they will reach the
men within the next ten hours at the
longest.
FALL OF SAND ROCK.
WILKEsBARRE, PA, Dec. II, IL p. NJ
About 8 O'Clock this evening the work Of
the reseuing party was suddenly inter-
rupted by another fall of sand rock and
culm. The men were working on a steep
incline when a vast mass of debris came
crushing down towards them with great
violence. They fed for life, and, although
they escaped uniDjured, several of them
had very narrow escapes. The work OF
digging for the imprisoned men is for the
time being suspended, but the officials
In charge are making strenuous efforts
TO overcome the difficulties and continue
their labor. They hope to have matters
so arranged in an hour or two that the
work may be proceeded with.
NOT FROM THE SURFACE.
The fall of sand and culm did not come
from the surface, as was feared at first,
but from an upper chamber. The officials
In charge, after an exploration, thought il
could be overcome with a few hours
work, and at II 10 o'clock tonight a new
gang Of 30 men were preparing to 90
down. Three men, James Turner, John
Absal0m and Joseph Warne, We're caught
in the fall, Though not badly injured, they
were eXtricated with great difficulty. The
men who were at work are now afraid TO
re-enter the mine, and there now appears
to be no possible hope OF rescuing the Inn
prisoned men alive.
FACED BY STARVATION.
They have been imprisoned since Friday
morning, aud even though they may have
lived for the time In the breastworks they
mast now die OF starvation if from no
other cause. IL is believed IL will take
several days 10 penetrate the mass OF
earth now Obsiructng the passages. The
excitement around the mine is
indescubable. Women and children
who have hardly closed their
eyes since Friday are made nearly crazy
| by the fresh calamity. Screams and
walls Of anguish from the women rend the
air, while the disheartened and exhaust
ed miners SIT around the mouth of the
mine in sullen despair. Crowds Of people
for miles around are coming TO view the
scene of desOlatiOn. The town OF Nanti-
coke is a place OF mourning and lamenta-
tion.
ALL ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE ABANDONED.
WILKEsBARRE, Dec. %, A. M.-At
1890 o'clock this morning the mine Off
cials at NanticOke decided TO abandon
work in the air shaft on account of the
cave-in and the presence Of fire damp.
All attempts 10 get the missing men out
alive have now been abandoned, but work
through the tunnel will be pushed steadily
forward. IL will probably be about two
weeks before the bodies Of the missing
men are reached.