The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-23
Was hurFielly put up to make an enclo-
sure, n which the work might go on with

out interference,
As soon as the shaft was sufficiently re-
paired the cage was put on to take down
larger working force, in the hope OF
bringing up some bodies and the begin
ming Of the inquest, Coroner Jones, OF
Terra Alta, summoned the following Jury
TO be present at the works at s o'clock:
Gus j. shaeller, James MCGEE, 7. D.
Howard, ], O. Mayer, Jas. F. Stuck, ]. o.
Howell, VIM. Shaw, o, A. Holmes, Jas.
Harrington, Wm. Lawrence, John Meme
few and Frederick Richter.
INQUEST POSTPONED.
But the progress was slower than the
Coroner expected and the inquest was
postponed ior an hour, 1t than became
apparent that there was little probability
otapy bodies being brought up tonight,
and the inquest was adjourned until S
O'Clock tomorrow morning. The work in
the mine will continue through the night
by relief parties, composed in part OF men
who have fathers and brothers below, At
this hour the crowd still stands about
discussing the chances OF life and death,
people from along the railroad, and iAm.
ers for miles back in the country, eager to
do something and nothiTg g for them 10 do.
ORIGIN oETHE HORROR,
The origin Of the disaster ia yariously
determined by experts, who vary in their
theories, The generally accepted theory,
which is that OF tho company's represent
atiyes, is that MCWilliaIns, who was cut
ting q ditch at the extreme end Of the
working 10 let the water OIL, knocked
down a door to give him better chance
ut the work, The door played an import.
ant part In the system OF ventilation which
was thus derauged. The lou gRs collect
ed in great volume and was fired by q
miners lamp.
One OF the last men 10 come ont Of the
mine before the explosion says he hoard
MCWilliams say he was going to knock
he heard q heavy pounding aS
though the door was being battered
down. The State Inspector OF Mines in
his recent visit here recommended the
company TO put in On air shaft, but this
had not been done yet. There is much
talk Of All indefinite kind about foul air
in the mine, but | have not found miner
who does not gay the air was good, though
| have not been able to talk with all. Mac.
kali 4 Co.'s manager who came out from
Baltimore to-day, says they have never
had trouble with tho air, and have always
kept ahead Of water. One fear has been
that theentombed men would he drowned,
but fortunately the pumps have not been
stopped since tho explosion. Il
TUE SHIPPING CLERKS STORY.
Mr.. James Wilson, shipping clerk was
standing fifty feet east OF the shaft when
the explosion occurred. lie says: Il
heard q thud which was accompanied
with dense mass OF fog and mid. Before
| had time to realize the situation, in half
q minute tho second shock Clrne, terrific
burst Of gas ripping oil weather boarding
and desmVlishing the upper part Of the
shalt, But 1t had caught THU
ty.nine poor fellows down there
and think their doom is
sealed, The engineer blew bis whistle.
This following the llrit nois3 was all the
notice tho town needed. The people |
knew there was something wrong at the
mine, and those whose husbands aud
fathers and brothers were down there
knew that, too, There was o rush 10 the
works. The women Camo AOCking and
then began the pitliul scenes which you
have Been here, 1t was terrible night.
rherc waa hope then, and the mon AT
once began putting water down the shaft
TO scatter the alter damp and create q
draught. Mentried their best 10 get down
in the bucket, but they only got part Of
the way, as their lamps went out. Super
iptendent LaXtOn took that party down.
A big chunk Of ice hit hint Oh the shoulder
and nearly knocked bin out OF the bucket.
Engineer Steel went down during Thurs.
day 10 oil the pump, and overcome by the
black damp he fell and cut his face and
bruised himself badly, but he is still on
duty.
TIE NINE owEERs NOT BLAMED.
Fireman Carroll, an intelligent observer,
says: "There was nothing the matter with
the air in the mine it was good. You may
Judge what the men thought OF 1t when
they could 90 down at seven in the morn.
ing and come UP at four in the afternoon.
Sometimes they would sleep down there
four and Ave hours. / don't know what
caused this, but | don't think the company
can be blamed, nor do think there 10 any
disposition Of that kind. The people are
crazed with grief and are not responsible |
for what they think and say.
At TIE poTIoM OF THE SHAFT.
AT the bottom Of the shaft Is a scene Of
wreck and confusion, men, mules, uhStter,
tered cars and oil Horts Of debris are piled
up promiscuously. Men trod on a body
before they knew how near they were 10 |
the dead. From the wreck below 1t Is
supposed that the explosion was violent
enough 10 blow men out OF the most re.
mote rooms, though experts differ as to |
whether the shock would necessarily be |
fatal. The idea is advanced that the most |
experienced miners, knowing tho nature |
ot gas, II they were not killed at once,
would have thrown themselves on their |
facen, there being the least foul air on |
the floor. This gives tho friends some |
grounds for hope, but 1t Is go slight that II |
is not encouraged. II is believed by some |
OF the men, who are familiar with the |
mine that the rooms In the extreme pot. |
tions Of the workings are comparatively
free from gas, and that they may Afford
refuge 10 those In or near them.
These glaaps Of hope are met by the al:
fliCted families with means Of despair they
do not hope. DR.. r. +. LanhRtn has stood
at the shaft all day, but there Is likely 10
be less need OF physicians than Of under.
takers.
DEATH AND DISTINCTION.
Tonight the resCue party has got back
In the working about six hundred feet,
a.ji,.. a.,t,, jnstprntinr nlobO thn rat