Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-04
A e oE DEATH.

TweSve Miners Suffocated by Gas In o
ponn.ylyanta Mine-Tho Accident Caused
nv the Breaking of q Machine Which
Furnished the Fresh-Air Supply-Ago.
MIXING Scenes at the Mouth of the Pit.
Wu.KEsBARRE. Pa, Aug. 12.-The
mine of the West End Coal Company at
Macanaqua, about eighteen miles down the
valley, was the scene yesterday of the
most terrible accident in this region for
fifteen years. The fan which furnished
fresh air'to the mine broke down, the col
liery filled with gas, and a great lumber OF
men were a%sphyxiated. Twelve are known
to be dead. Nine others were seri-
ously injured. This terrible loss Of
life was the result of an oversight,
if not a neglect of duty, OH the
part of Christopher Coonrad, the mine boss.
The fan broke down at eleven o'clock Sun
day night, when the night shift was just
quitting work, and the gas was accumulate
ing all night. Coonrad says he told the
men on the day shift that the mine was not
safe, and that they should not go down.
They, on the contrary, say he told them to
60 to work that the mine was safe and the
fan would be working in an hour.
About sixty men went down about seven
o'clock yesterday morning and had hardly
got to their working places when they be-
gan to feel the influence of the gas. These
sutfOcating fumes are very sudden in their
action on the human system, and almost
before the men were aware of their danger
they became unconscious or crazed. Some
one reached the foot of the slope and gave
the alarm, which was rapidly con-
veyed to the surface and help was sum.
moned from all sides. A few of the men
in the mines succeeded in reaching open
air, but the majority were brought out ill
sensible by relief parties that fought their
way through the deadly gas until they
stumbled over unconscious forms, or until
they themselves dropped to the ground
overpowered. The first relief party went
too far, and all were Frustrated. One of
the number, Peter Boraski, who had gone
III to rescue his brother, was brought out
dead.
The work of getting out the men, both
dead and alive, lasted until six last evening.
At one p. IN operations were abandoned for
q time, all the leaders having been overcome
by gas, it being certain that those then in
the mine were dead. At that time only
three dead bodies had been recovered.
Among those who were overcome by
the gas were Major G. NJ. Conyngham, Of
this city, and John Seasoale, of Shicks-
hinny, both stockholders in the West End
Coal Company. AT 4:30 operations were
resumed and six more bodies were recov-
cred. There were still three known to be
in the mine, and there may be more.
While the work OF rescuing was going or
the most terrible excitement prevailed out
side the mines. Hundreds of people had
gathered, among them being the wives,
mothers and children of the men below.
Many threw themselves on their knees and
prayed aloud. Others seemed bereft of
their senses, and ran through the crowd
shouting the name of some relative
md calling for help. AS each
victim was brought to the surface
the body was surrounded by an eager
throng, and the Shrek of gony thai fire.
quently rose from The group testified to the
recognition of the purple, and distorted face
of some relative or friend. Over sixty men
were brought out unconscious. Those who
revived are little the worse for the expe-
rience, and in a few days will be all right
again.
No one was hurt externally, and no dam
age was done to the colliery, which will re-
sumo work as soon as the fan is repaired.