The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-02
THE DEADLY DAMP.
Another Pennsylvania Coal Mine Horror =
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Another Pennsylvania Coal Mine Horror
An Explosion Burics Over Fifty Men.
WHKEsBARRE, Pa, Nov. 26.-Shortly
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 at the foot of the shaft which was
occupied by the fire boss. No work 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 ambulances and wagons.
LATER DISPATCH.
The accident in the COyngham shaft oc-
CURED at ten minutes past seven this morn
ing, while tie men were getting ready TO go
to work. About fifty meE. miners and
laborers, were sitting at the foot OF the
shaft awaiting for the inside boss when
terrible explosion took place. Only
three or four, as far as can be as
certained, escaped without injury. Most
OF the men were sent to their homes at
once and as they are scattered far and near,
long distances from the shaft, no account of
the result of the injuries at this writing can
be obtained. 1t is known, however, that
several, possibly twelve or fifteen, will die,
others will be Scared and manned
for life. The disaster was caused
by Cornelius Boyle, a mine
laborer, who stepped into a worked
out chamber which was filled with gas with
a lighted lamp in his hat. Boyle will die.
Many mules were killed and wounded. The
damage to the inside workings of 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.
WIIKEsBARRE, Pa, Nov. 27.-The scene
at the COnyngham colliery while the injured
men were being taken from the shaft was
terrible. A 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
We're taken out of the pit they were brought
TO the engine house, and the women made
desperate efforts to gain entrance. Their
entreaties and frantic demonstrations Of
grief were terrible, but 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 house was covered with
wrthing human forms so disigured by the
fire as to be 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 mad
been taken out and carried away.
The recovery of the following is believed
to be hopeless: Hugh Sweeny, aged 81,
lsbOrer, unmarried; Edward Kerns, aged
90, laborer, unmarried; Richard Coulter,
aged 26, miner. wife and family; COndy
Shannon, aged 81, miner, wife und large
family; Thomas OBrien, aged so, 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; Michael O'Brien,
aged 80, labOrer, unmarried; Daniel Ferry,
aged 81, miner, wife and large family; John
DOugherty, aged 81, laborer, unmarried;
Denis McCabe, aged 40, miner, unmarried.
HOW 1T OCCURRED.
While the miners were engaged in genial
chats the laundering report of an explosion
.
second the frantic men hurried to the foot
of the shaft, all anXiOusly peerlng upward.
In less time than it takes to tell it the
deadly gas flame circled around their heads
and agOniZng screams rent the air. Many
fell at once in heap, while Others, less i'll
iured, dropped on their knees and put their
blistered heads into the stream of water
that ran along the gangway. The fact that
the men were i'll such close proximity 10 the
shaft rendered their removal to the surface
m expeditions matter. In two hours all
were safely taken up. As they came I'D to
the surface, two or three at time, the
hOrrOrStr cken crowds at tue mouth of the
shaft peered anXiOusly at the faces of the
men. 1t was impossible 10 recognize any
Of them at that time. In some Instances
the skin had been ripped off in masses,
leaving the purple flesh exposed, which in
turn was begrimed with coal dirt to an
extent that made the facial Disagreement
horrible TO look at. AS each man was
lifted from the cage a thick blanket was
thrown completely over him and lie was
hurried away to one of the neighbOring
offices. Some were taken TO their homes
All sorts of cOnveyances were sent TO the
scene. II was a cruel sight to see many of
the sufferers passed into common coal carts
and jOlted over rickety roads and DaVementS-
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