The Osceola times., 1886-12-04
THE DEADLY DAMP.
Another rennsyivanis Coal Mine HORROR
An Explosion Buries over Fifty Mem

Another rennsyivanis Coal Mine Horror
An Explosion Buries Over Fifty Men.
Nu.KEsBARRE, Pa, Nov. 26.-Shor'ly
after the miners and laborers entered the
Conyngham shaft this morning an eXplo'
sion Of gas took place. Between twenty
and thirty miners are said to be killed,
badly burned or seriously injured. This
shaft is known to contain considerable gas
and is owned and operated by the
Delaware & Hudson Coal Company
The explosion occurred In a
shanty a. tho foe, of the shaft, which was
occupied by the fire boss. 10 0ors was
done yesterday, consequently there was
larger quantity of gas than usual IN the
shaft. The men are new being removed
from the pit and taken TO their homes or TO
the hospital in Gmhulenees and wagons.
LATER DISPATCH.
The accident in the COyngham SHAFT 0c-
CURED Mt ten minutes past seven this morn
ing, while the men were getting ready TO 20
TO work. About fifty men, miners and
labOrefa. were sitting at the foot OF Tie
shaft awaiting for the inside boss when a
terrible explosion took place. Onlg
three or four, as far as can be as
cerianed, escaped without injury. Most
OF the men were sent to their homes al
once and as they are scattered far add near,
long distances from the shaft, no account of
the result OF the injuries at this writing can
be obtaiucd. It Is known however that
several. possibly twelve or fifteen, Nlll dioi
others will be Scared and maiEed
for life. The disaster was caused
by Cornelius Boyle, mine
aborer, who stepped into worked
out chamber which was filed will gas with
lighted lamp in his hat. Boyle will die.
MANY mules were Killed and wounded. The
damage to the inside workings Ut the SHAFT
is great Fire Bosses William Williams and
William Evans are reported fatally burned.
There is great excitement in and about the
shaft
TERRIBLE sCENEs.
WuKEsBARRE, Pa, Nov. 27.-The scene
at the COnyngham cOlliery while the injured
meh wefu being taken from the shaft was
terrible. \ crowd Of several hundred per-
SONS had gathered at the mouth OF the
shaft, among them the wives, mothers and
daughters OF the Injured men. As they
were taken out Of the pit they were brought
to the engine house, and the women made
desperate efforts TO gaia entrance. Their
entrealies and frantic demonstrations OF
grief were terrible, bui they were kept out
side the building while the blackened,
scOrched and bleeding victims were
wrapped in blankets soaked IN oil The
floor Of the engine hCJse was covered with
writhng human forms so disiigured by the
fire as 10 I've unacceptable. As fast as
possible they were taken to the hospital or
To their homes, and So rapidly was the work
done that by nine o'clock every one had
been taken oat aud carried away.
The recovery of she following is believed
to be hopeless: Iugh Sweeuy, aged 81,
laborer, unmarried; Edward Kerns, aged
30, laborer, unmarried; Richard Coulter,
aged 2G, miner, wife and family; COndy
Shannon, aged Of, miner, wife Nnd large
family; Thomas O'Bhen, aged 80, miner,
wife and large family; Cornelius Boyle,
aged IS. miner, wife and family, reported
dead; John Cannon, aged 40, miner, wife
and family; Christopher Brundage, aged
35, laborer, unmarried; Michel O'Brien,
aged 80, laborer, unmarried; Daniel Ferry
aged 80, miner wife and large family; John
Dougherty aged 81, laborer, unmarried
Denis McCabc, aged 40, miner, unmarried.
HOW 1T OCCURRED.
While the miners were engaged in genial
chats the laundering report of an explosion
rang through the dark corridors and in q
second the frantic men hurried to the foot
OF the shaft, all anXiously peprng upward
In less time than il takes to tell ii the
deadly gas fame circled around their head,
and agoniZ ny screams rent the air. Many
fell at once In a heap, while Others, less in
iured, dropped on their knees and put theii
blistered heads into the stream Of waic'
that ran along the gangway. The tact that
the men were in such close proximity to the
shaft rendered their removal TO the surface
m expeditions matter In two hours al
were safely taken up. As they came up tC
the surface, two or three at a time, The
houoistr cSen crowds at the mouth of the
shaft pcered alNiOusly at the faces of The
men. It was impossible to recognize any
OF them at that time In some instances
the skin had been ripped off in masses
leaving the purple flesh exposed, which ii
turn was begrmed with coal dirt to al
extent that made the facial dislguremen
horrible to look at. AS each man wa
lifted from the cage a thick blanket wa
thrown completely over him and he wal
hurried away TO one of the neghbOrul
Offices. Some were taken to their homes
All sorts Of cOnveyaDces were sent TO th'
scene. iL was a cruel sight to see many o
tie sufferers passed into common coal cart
and i0lted over rickety roads and Dayements