Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-24
DESPAIR AT NANr1ooKE.
Unable TO Reach the Twonty-threc
uRuFIed Miners.

WmKEsBARnE, Pa, Dec. N.--There have
been no developments at the flooded mine
this morning. The latest official message
was that the rescuing party who are work.
ing on the gang-way from theair-shalt, had
reached the first chamber In which II was
hoped some OF the men would be found.
The air In the chamber was good and ap-
parently fresh, but no signs OF any person
was found. A new gang of so men went
into the mine at 9 o'clock this morning, and
are exerting themselves to the utmost to
rescue, II possible, their fellow miners, but
when the next chamber may be reached Is
hard to say.
1t is fully believed that the missing men
were caught In the sand and culm at the
time the cave-in occurred and that they are
dead beneath the distractions. The last
messenger connected with the exploring
party came out Of the slope at 11.20 o'clock.
He reports that none OF the men have as
yet been discovered and all hope Of ever
seeing their comrades alive again has been
abandoned by the rescuing party. They
arc making vigorous search, butt appears
TO be almost certain that the unfortunate
men have persisted in the gangway, and
that when their bodies are found they will
be under the mass Of sand and culm.
wILKRsBARnE, Pa, Dec. 22.-There was
no rest for Nanticoke last night. 1t is i'm
possible to describe In words the consterna-
ton, the dismay and agony which spread
through the village when 1t was learned
after midnight that all efforts to get the
men out alive were abandoned. The town
never saw such sight as that witnessed
from to o'clock this morning. No one
thought OF rest. The whole population was
out on the streets discussing In the widest
manner the decision, and ordinations Of
despair, cries of agony and mutterings OF
discomfort were heard on every street
corner and In almost every household.
Relatives of the victims were in the
widest agony OF despair, several were
seized with commissions. Fannie Sarver,
sister OF the two Sarver brothers was pros
trated with violent fits, and at a. m. Il
was feared she would die. Mrs. Kiveler, the
aged mother of the three Kiveler brothers,
was at deaths door from weakness and the
shock, and many other relatives and friends
Of 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 Mt an early hour this morn
| ing show that sand rock and culm had
fallen to such an extent that the mine in
which the imprisoned miners were confined
| was then filed to the roof and that the men
are dead and beyond all human help. A
second cave-ln took place during the night
which was OF very large proportions, and
/ the real extent of the damage done Gun
hardly be guessed but it is great. This fall
brought with it volumes of black damp and
sulphurous gases which has filled the mine
and put peremptory stop to all work.
At 0 o'clock this morning It was learned
| that the bodies OF the victims cannot be re.
covered for at least a month and, since this
news has spread throughout the mining
region, the most intense excitement has
prevailed. Every effort will now be made
70 work in towards the men from the slope
The clearing up gangways will be- pushed
as rapidly as possible, though the work will
be long and tedious, as there are about
5000 feet of gangway also filled up anG
said to be packed to the roof.