Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-22
THE ENTOMBED MINERS.
Second Fail nj Nuuucoks Mine Render
Rescue Almost Hopeless.

Rescue Almost Hopeless.
by telegraph to the Dispatch.l
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, December 81.
The situation at Nanticoke is I'M
changed. At 80 this afternoon the
relief party were still pushing towards
the imprisoned men, and have been
spurred on to greater efforts by a sig
nal they had received which indicates
that there is life beyond. Tapping
upon an iron air pipe was heard by the
rescuers. and they naturally conclude
that there is yet good grounds of hope
that at least some of the men may be
rescued alive. 1t is the opinion of
some Of the best miners that they can
not reach the men for some days. owing
to the extent Of the distractions. 9th
ers are sanguine enough to expect that
they will reach the men within the next
ten hours at the longest.
THE WORK or RESCUE CHECKED.
WILKEsBARRE. PA. December 81.
About Q o'clock this evening the work
of the rescuing party was suddenly in-
terrupted by another fall of sand, rock,
and culm. The men were working on
a steep incline, when a vast mass of
debris came crashing down toward
them with great violence. They fed
for their lives; and although they
escaped uninjured, 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 labOrs. They hope to
have it arranged in an hour or two so
that the work may be proceeded with.
AsCENEOr MOURNING AND LAMEN-
TATION.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa. December q.
The fall of sand ard culm at No. Slope
in Nanticoke. this evening, did not come
from the surface, as was feared at first,
but from an upper chamber. The Off
cialS in charge, after an exploration.
thought it could be overcome with few
hours work, and at IL: 20 p. NJ. a new
gang Of ninety men were preparing to
go down.
Three men-James Turner. John
Absalom, and Joseph Warne-were
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 rcScuing the
imprisoned men alive. They have
been imprisoned since Friday morning.
and even though they may have lived
for 4 time in the breastworks. they
must now die Of starvation, if from
no other cause. 1t IS believed
that it will take several days
to penetrate the mass Of earth
now obstructing the passages. The
excitement around the mine is indie
scribable. 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 disheartened and exhausted miners
sit around the mouth OF the mine in
sullen despair. Crowds Of people for
miles around are coming to view the
scene Of desolaton. The town Of Nan
ticoke is a place Of mourning and la.
mentatiOn.
WILKESBARRE, December 22.-At
1890 this morning the mine officials at
Nanticoke decided to abandon work in
the air.shaft on account of a caye.in
and the presence Of frc-damp. All
attempts to get the missing men out
alive have been abandoned, and work
through the associations will be pushed
steadily forward. 1t will probably be
two weeks before the bodies Of the
missing men are reached.