The Osceola times., 1885-04-04
TERRIBLE MINE EXPLOSION.

Eleven Men instantly Killed In Coal
Mine at McAIIister, I. T.-Narrow Escape
ofThirty Others who Had just Lett the
Mine After Their Days Work.
McALusTER, !. t., March 29.-Mine
No. at this place was the scene FRIDAY
evening at half-past Ave O'Clock OF the
most deplorable calamity that has ever
occurred In this quarter OF the glooe-an
explosion by which eleven lives were lost
As usual in such cases nobody seems to
know what caused the explosions; and In
fact II those charged with the manage
acement aud control of the mines are to
be believed, there was no cause. But IL
occurred Just the same. TWAS, as stated
above, about half-past five O'Clock, ana
the men were quitting work for the day.
There had been about forty men In the
mine. but most of them had come out.
Many had gone to their homes, though
some still fingered about the entrance 10
the pit waiting for those who had not yet
come out, when, without the least pre-
monitory hint, those about the mouth OF
the mine heard an explosion and saw
volume of smoke, dust and debris hurled
up from the bowels of the earth.
The alarm was given and in a few min
utes the greatest excitement prevailed.
The entire population gathered about the
scene of the disaster, and preparations
were Immediately made for an lnvestiga-
tion. Among those gathered al the
mouth of the pit were the wives, children,
relatives and friends OF the poor fellows
UNDERGROUND, whose fate was unknown,
aud their cries and pteous pleas that
something, anything, everything De done
for the relief or rescue of their loved ones
were enough to spur those who were al
work to the utmost exertion.
Everything was confusion at the begin
ming, but order was soon established, ana
a rcscuing party entered the mine. The
explosion was not followed by confil-
grafton, hence there was no great obstacle
to the progress of the searchers. They
soon found that the damage TO property
was inconsiderable, and this led to hope
that the results might not be as bad as
was generally believed. They had not
gone far before they were shocked by
finding that all the men who were below
when the explosion occurred, had been
killed.
They began bringing the dead bodies
of the victims out. This work was
speedily accomplished, and count made,
when it was found the following had been
killed outright:
james Aiken, John Williams,
Thomas Aiken (son Martin Williams (son
of James,, oil John),
Joseph Peel, Robert Matterson,
John Gold, John A. Mccoy,
W. c. Peterson, Joseph Stephenson,
Brat Cox
None of the bodies were burned; nor
were any of them very badly mutilated.
Some of them had legs or arms broken;
but 1t was evident they had been Killed
by the explosion or conclusion.
The scenes on the surface when the
bodies were brought outawere OF the most
heartrending character None OF the
victims were distllured sufficiently to
prevent recognition, and all were prompt
ly claimed by friends and taken away.
Eight of the eleven poor fellows left wives
and children. Masonic and Odd Fellows,
lodges took cha &c of the funerals of such
OF the victims as belonged to these
frateinities and funerals were held yes
terday. The rest will be buried to-day.