The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-12-25
In a Living Grave.

uS l. >oai
operates extensive coal mines in Nan
ticoke Owing to the fact that Penn
sylvania is not governed strictly by the
coal combination, but mines as much
coal as it pleases, its collieries are kept
running the year round, which makes
Nanticoke a very prosperous place.
Friday morning the men employed in
the mlnrs went TO tn ir work as usual
About 10 o'clock "a miner named Sibert
was employed in blasting coal in No. l
Slope Rock channel, when a fearful
crash occurred. The roof of the mine,
Just above the place where he was
working, fell in by the force of the ex-
plosiou, letting in through many crevic-
es great volume of water, which
carried with it large amount of quick
sand. The men employ ed on the work
ings were terror-strcken, andsas soon
as possible word was given to reach
the mines. The men employed in
the gangways dropped their crow bars
and picks and in az instant dashed for
the slope or main gangway' which led
TO the surface.
FLEEING FROM TIE FLOOD.
The water rushed after them, gain
ing steadily upon :them, and before
some of the men could reach the bottom
of the slope, preparatory to being
hoisted TO the surface, the water had
gained upon them several feet. and 1t
was with the greatest difficulty that
they reached a place of safety. In
some instances the water was up to their
neck; when brought to the surface
many of them tainted from exhaustion.
But they were the fortunate ones.
There were others who did not hear
the word of warning or the noise of
the rumbling water in time and they
were cut off from escape. They could
not make their escape as the others did,
because the water was as high as the
roof, The way leading to the man.
way, another means of escape, was
blocked by the sand and this shut off
escape in that direction. The road to
the air shaft was also closed, but before
this latter state of affairs was brought
about some of the men, who were near
at hand, succeeded in reaching the
mouth of the air shaft in time to be
brought to the surface. They were
almost overcome, however. The only
way they could be rescued was to let a
rope down to the men and this being
tied securely around their waists they
were hauled up.
THE SEARCH FOR TIE MISSING.
After this shift of men had been
safely landed it was found that twenty
seven others were still missing. An.
other res"uing party went down the
air shaft, but returned quickly with the
information that the passageway was
blocked and that the men we've hem
med in. The only thing now to dc
was to go and dig the men out. The
officials of the mine at once summoned
their most experienced men and pu
them to work. a temporary derrick
was erected over the fanhouse, ant
with the aid of picks, shovels, crow
bars and timbers were let down to thu
bottom. After working for an hou
the first 'shift' came out and were sue
ceeded by fresh men. Those who haC
been working below when they return
ed 10 the surface were covered from
head to foot with mud and quicksand
They worked like Trojans below, bu
stated that there was an immens'
amount of sand and debris blocking NJ
the passageway.
TIE IMPRISONED MINERS
The names of the miners known Il
be imprisoned are as follows:
Oliver Kivler. miner, aged 27, mar
ried, with three children. William
Kivler, laborer, aged Il, single, sol
of Oliver Kivler. Frank Kivler, min
er, aged 32, married, Thomas CHI
ford, door-tender, aged IA. William
Delaney, driver boy, aged IA. Will
lam Elkie, driver, aged 10. Isaac Sar
yer, miner, aged 2S, married. JON
Sarver, laborer, aged 22. Androy
Lowe, miner, aged "a, married. Joh
Shut, miner, aged 2s, married. Joh
Hawk, miner. aged 80, married. An
gust Mitul, miner, aged 40, marrie
Ed. Hargranes, laborer aged II. Ed
Mathews, .laborer, aged 10. Abrar
Lewis, miner, married, aged AZ, an
several Polander laborers whose name
we could not ascertain.
INTERVIEW Win A SURVIVOR.
| Among the survivors was Harr
Perkins, man who lives midway be
tween Wilkes Barre and Nanticok'
lie is miner, and drives, down an
back to No. slope morning an
night. He was in the old working a
the time the water rushed in. III
realized the danger and rushed towar
the mouth of the slope, but the waie
which was already three feet dee
W hen he started, rapidly increasing i
volume, and before he had gone
hundred feet along the gangway
was up 10 his neck. Finally he ha
] a. I,t thn taol, ,yau not IN ana