Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-23
GENERAL NEWS.
TIE CHARGES AGAINST SENATOR
PAYNE.
Frightfui Coliiery Explosion-The e
Silver Question = American
Opera-Foreign Items.
ESPECIAL DIsPArcHEs TO THE Reooan-us1ox.l
DOMESTIC.
Shocking Coillery Disaster.


state, yesterday. imprisoned 81 miners in
the drifts below, and caused intense excite
ment on the surface. The air is so foul in
the mine that it is impossible for search
party to enter, but efforts are making 10
purify the atmosphere sufficiently to enable
a rescuing party to go down.
SECOND DISPATCH.l
WHEELING, January 22d-There is no
hope for any of the miners entombed at
Newbury. 1t is expected to recover the
bodies tonight.
THIRD DIsPATCHI
WHEELING, January 22d.-The origin of
the disaster is variously determined by ex-
perts, who vary in their theories The
generally accepted theory is that Nick
Williams, who was cutting ditch through
the brattis at the extreme end of the work
ing, to let the water off. knocked down a
door to give him better chance at his
work. The door played an important part
in the system of ventilation, which was
thus deranged. Foul gas collected
a miners lamp. One of the last men to
come out of the mine before the explosion
says he heard Nick Williams say he was
going to knock the door down, and as he
came out he heard heavy pounding, as
though the door was being battered down
The State Inspector of Mines, on his recent
visit here, recommended the company to
put in flue, but this had not been done.
There is much talk of an indefinite kind
about foul air in the mine, but your re-
porter has not found miner who does not
say that the air was good.
FOURTH DISPATCH.l
WHEELING, January 22d.-James Wilson,
the shipping clerk, was standing fifty feet
east of the shaft when the explosion came
He says: Il heard a thud, which was ac-
companied with dense mass of fog and
mud. Before had time to realize the
situation, in half minute a second shock
came, a terrific burst of gas ripping off the
weather boarding and demolishing the
portion of the shaft, thus covering much of
| it; but this caught thirty nine poor fellows
lown there and / think their doom is
sealed. The engineer blew his whistle,
and this, following the first noise, was
all the notice the town needed. The
people knew there was something wrong
at the mine and those whose hus-
oands and fathers and brothers were
down there knew that, too. There was a
,ilsh to the works. Women came flocking,
and then began the pitiful scenes which
YOU have seen here. 1t was terrible sight
There was hope then, and we at once began
putting water down the shaft to scatter the
after-damp and create a draught Men
Eried their best to get down in the bucket,
but they only got part way down, for their
amps went out"
| When the men did finally succeed in
getting to the bottom the scene of wreck
,, and confusion was horrible. Men, mules.
shattered cars and all sorts of debris were
,oiled up in confusion. The men trod on
! 4 body before they knew how near
they were to it. From the wreck
below, it is supposed that the explosion
was vioieht enough to blow the men
| out of the most remote rooms, though ex-
perts differ as to whether the shock would
| necessarily be fatal.
Coroner Jones, of Terra Alta, summoned
a jury 10 be present at the works at 3
o'clock. but progress was slower than the
| Coroner expected, and the inquest was
postponed for an hour. 1t then became
apparent that there was little probability
of any bodies being brought up tonight,
and the inquest was adjourned until s
o'clock tomorrow morning.
Fighting the War Over Again.
WAsHINGToN, January 22d-The debate
in the House to-day upon the resolution
offered some days ago by Representative
Boutelie, of Maine, to inquire into the al
legged erasures of memorial subscriptions
and the dismissal of Union soldiers at the
Norfolk navy yard. was very exciting.
There was intense feeling displayed on
both sides. Mr. BOutelle referred to the at
tempts in the South to keep alive the Con-
federate victories during the late war, and
to glorify the memory of Confederate SOL
diers. Mr.. Wise, of Virginia, who was the
speaker on the Democratic side, de
| MED the allegations made by Boutelle,
and the general impression is tonight
that Wise had the best of the argument
He was severe on the Malone rule iE Vir-
ginia, and instanced Colonel Mosebv and
General Longstreet as Confederate officers
whom the Republicans had taken into their
confidence and honored with responsible
positions. Each speaker was loudly ap-
plauded by his colleagues on his side of
the chamber This debate, it is believed, is
the commencement of a contest between
the two parties, on what may be called the
Sherman line During the campaign in
Ohio last fall, Senator Sherman constantly
alluded in his speeches to the fact that the
South had more than her share of Repre-
sentatives in Congress, on account of the
practical Acknowledgement of the negroes
in that section. He was reelected to the
Senate on that assertion. 1t is understood
that Senators Sherman, Logan, Harrison,
Malone and Hoar, and certain Republican
members of the House, will try to bring
the subject of the actual political condition
in the South more closely to the attention
of the country than it has ever been.
The President and the !" Information 4"
Matter.
WASHINGTON, January 22d.-Private Sec
retary Lamont said TO-DAY, in regard to the
reported attitude of the President on the
subject, that as yet the President has not
received any requests from the Senate for
information as to official changes, and con-
sequently there can be no truth in the re-
ports that be has receded from the position
which he had been called on to take. Mr..
Lamont added that the President has never
made any statement as to what position he
weuld assume in case such requests are
made.
Senator Payne and the Ohio Investiga-
ton.
WASHINGTON, January 22d. = Senator
Payne tonight mailed a letter to the
Chairman of the recently-appointed inves-
tigating committee OF the lower house of
the Ohio Legislature, of which the follow
ing is copy
UNITED STATES SENATE
WASHINGTON ID. CO., January 20, 1886
Hon. Thomas A. ColrgiH, Chairman Columbus
O.-SlE: As one branch of the General Assem-
bly, has appointed special committee, of which
you are Chairman, to investigate the conduct of
the Democratic caucus which in January 1884,
nominated candidate for United States Sena-
tor. and as the matter is thus raised to point of
respectability and placed in charge of intelli-
gent and honorable gentlemen. | propose to
give it appropriate attention. For myself in
yite the most thorough and rigid scrutiny Ny
private correspondence and books of accounts
viii be cheerfully submitted to your inspection
If you desire it. only insist in case any testi-
mony is given which in the slightest degree incul
pates me, that may be afforded an opportunity
ofappear1ng before your committee lam very
respectfully, your obedient servant
II. B. PAYNE.
The National Board OF Trade.
WASHINGTON, January 22d.- The Ma
uonal Board of Ira lie adjourned sine die
to-day, and the delegates were given a ban
quet this evening. After adjournment the
members of the Board called at the White
House in body. and paid their respects to
the President. Short addresses were made
by Mr. Fraley, President of the Board, and
Mr.. Patterson, of New Jersey. to which the
President made a brief response, saving
that their visit reminded him of the i'm
portance of the interests represented by
the Board, and giving assurance that they
would receive due consideration at his
hands,
Plenty of Cigarmakers.
NEW YoRE January o1d = President