Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-27
SICKENING DISASTER.
PORTY-TwO MINERS PEARPULLY BURNED
BY AN EXPLOSION
OF Gas in Pennsylvania Shah-Twslvs Ofths Vic
tins Given Up For LOst-A Horrible Scene in
the ImprOvissd HOspital-Ths Re
suit Of CarelsSsness.

WLKEsBARRE, Pa, November o.
Shortly after the miners and laborers en-
tered the Conyngham shaft this morning
an explosion ofgas took place, and nearly
every man in the mine was seriously in
jured. At first all was confusion, and but
very little information regarding the acci-
dent could be learned, but at 10 o'clock it
was stated that the explosion had occurred
in a shanty at the foot of the shaft which
was occupied by the fire boss. No work
was done yesterday, and consequently
there was a larger quantity of gas than
usual in the shaft. The work of remov-
ing the victims then began, and they were
taken to their homes or to the hospital in
ambulanees and wagons. The shaft is
known to contain considerable gas,
and is owned and operated by the
Delaware and Hudson Company.
LATER DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
LATER-The accident in the Conyngham
shaft occurred at ten minutes past seven
this morning, while the men were getting
ready to 90 to work. About fifty men,
miners and laborers, were sitting at the
shaft awaiting for the inside boss, when the
terrible explosion took place, and only
three or four men, so far as can be ascer-
tanned, escaped without injury. Most Of
the men were sent to their homes at once,
and as they are fcattered far and Zeal, long
distances from the shaft, no account of the
result of their injuries can, at this writ
ing, be obtained. 1t is known, however,
that
TWELVE OR FIFTEEN WILL DIE
and others will be SCARED and manned for
life. The disaster was caused by COrne-
lius Boyle, mine laborer, who stepped
into wOrked-Out chamber which was
filled with gas, with a lighted lamp upon
his hat. Boyle will die. Many mules
were killed and wounded, and the damage
to the inside workings of the shaft are
great.
Fire bosses Williams and VIM. Evans
are reported fatally burned. There is
great excitement in and about the shaft,
and the full knowledge as to the exact
number of those hurt and the character
obtained at present.
The explosion was the most serious that
has occurred in the anthracite coal fields
this year. 1t is now definitely known that
FoRTY-Two MEN ARE SEVERELY BURNED,
others slightly injured. Twelve of the
men will die of their injuries The scene
at the cOlliery, while the injured men
were being taken from the shaft was ter
rible. A crowd of several hundred persons
had gathered at the mouth of the shaft,
among them 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 despe-
ate efforts to gain entrance. Their en-
treaties and frantic demonstrations
of grief were heartrending, but
they were sternly kept out
side the building while the blackened,
scorched and bleeding victims of the dis
aster were wrapped in blankets soaked in
oil The floor of the engine house was
covered with
WRITING HUMAN FORMS,
so disigured by fire to be unacceptable.
As fast as possible they were taken to the
hospital or to their homes, and 20 rapidly
was work done that by nine o'clock, every
one had been taken out and carried away.
The recovery of the following is believed
to be
HOPELESS.
Hugh Sweeney, aged -, laborer, un.
married.
Edward Kearns, aged %, laborer, un-
married.
Richard Coulter, aged 26, miner, wife
and family.
Condy Sannon, aged 81, miner, wife
and large family.
Thomas O'Brien, aged 30, miner, wife
and large family.
Cornelius Boyle, aged 38, miner, wife
and family, reported dead.
John Common, aged 40, miner, wife and
family.
Christopher Brundage, aged 30, laborer,
unmarried.
Daniel Ferry, aged 81, miner, wife and
large family.
John DOugherty, aged 81, laborer, un-
married.
Denis McCabe, aged 40, miner, unmar-
ried.
DEAD.
$40 p. m.-Cornelius Boyle died from
the effects of his injuries. Two miners,
names unknown, are missing, and it Is
believed that they were blown into 4
dump containing 30 feet of water and were
drowned