Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-31
FIVE DIE In A COAL MINE.
A SURVIVORS THRILLING STO-
RY OF AN EXPLOSION.

Helpless Among the Dead and wounded
Mt the Rott0m of the Dark Pit Await
ing the Coming of Rescuers-Names of
Those Killed aud Injured.
SCRANTON, PA, Aug. 30.-A terrible
explosion occurred in the Fairtown col
llery this morning which resulted in the
death OF five men. Two others were Sc
riously injured. John II. Hosle and j,
Gallagher were standing at the head Of
the slope at the time OF the accident and
felt the force Of the explosion as the rush
OF air came out of the mouth of the mine.
They at once started to go in and ascer-
tain the extent of the damage. Inspec-
tor Blewett happened to come along about
this time and he and Gallagher with
party entered the mines, going down to
the third or lower vein and then followed
the air course, stopping to repair dam
ages to the brettlee, etc, as they went
along. Their progress was necessarily
slow and the course they followed took
them to the right hand side of the mines.
They came at last to a point where they
found repairs necessary and returned to
the foot Of the mines tor more material,
when they learned that groans had been
heard in the east gangway. They worked
q
gone In the mines before the accident
near or about the entrance of one Of the
chambers, short distance from the foot
Of an inside plane, about 150 feet from
where the heading branches of. Three of
them were alive and three were dead.
THE KILLED.
the killed were:
Hugh Conners, of Bellevue, aged 40
years. He leaves wife and five small
children.
Edward Gaughan, of Capouse avenue,
aged 45 years. He leaves wife and eight
small children.
Michael Prllee, aged 45 years. He was
married, but leaves no children.
The first man brought TO the surface,
about II O'Clock, was John Main. He is
about % years old aud unmarried. He is
badly burned about the face and arms.
John Kerrigan was alive when found
and told the story of all, but he died be.
fore being brought to the surface. He
was 35 years old and married.
The next was John Conner. He is
about 81 years old an1 unmarried. He has
two large scalp wounds a bad cut on the
knee and another on the arm. His face
and hands are badly burned. He was
taken to a hospital
The body of Edward Pierce, the fire
boss, was found about 150 feet from the
Others.
THE STORY OF A SURVIVOR.
Patrick Conner says that he and the
others waited for some time at the mouth
of the mine for the fire boss. At last he
came from another vein. He said he had
not been In the lower vein yet, but told
them to come on and he would see If
everything was all right. They went to
the foot or the new road when Pierce
went ahead. He carried a safety lamp
and they had naked lamps. They stood
waiting for him when suddenly there was
afasb, aud an explosion followed quickly.
Conner fell fiat on his face. He felt that
he was In too exposed position, and
leaped TO the side Of the pillar. To this
action he probably owes his life. When
the explosion was over he called out TO
the men in total darkness. Kerrigan,
Nain and Prylee answered him, bnt no
word came from Gaugan or Conners.
COMING OF THE REsCUING PARTY.
Kerrigan wanted him to try go with
him to the foot, and he rose TO do so, but
he felt so sick that he could not 90 and
had to lie down again. They waited there
in the blackness of night. sick, wounded
and helpless, with their dead comrades
lying near them. at last they heard
voices. and Conner called. Presently the
voices came nearer them. Then they saw
lights approaching, and soon the rescuing
party were with them. The position in
which the bodies were found bears out his
statement. He could not tell whether
Pierce ignited the gas or whether Is was
ignited by their lights. The explosion
came like fash, too quick for any one TO
tell anything about 1t. They had no reason
TO expect to find any gas there. How the
fire originated is a mystery.